Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 12 (1962) award
Midori Ishii
いしい みどり
Ishii Midori
Pen Names:
Asagi Midori（Pen name used for essays and columns）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1980-06-15 （Niigata City, Niigata, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Niigata City (birthplace) → Shibuya, Tokyo (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Short story writer, Essayist
- Active Years
- 2005-
- Memberships
- Japan PEN Club, Japan Society for Contemporary Literature
- Influenced By
- Hiromi Kawakami, Haruki Murakami, Gabriel García Márquez
- Influenced
- Hanako Yamada
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University | Faculty of Letters | Department of Japanese Literature | 文学士 / Bachelor of Arts | 1999-2003 | Japan |
Waseda University
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Japanese Literature
Degree:
文学士 / Bachelor of Arts
Period:
1999-2003
Year of Graduation:
2003
Country:
Japan
Began creative writing activities in a university literary circle during studies
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | New Generation Literature Prize | The Transparent River | 長編小説部門 | New Generation Literature Promotion Association | 受賞 |
| 2020 | Women's Literature Prize | The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden | 長編部門 | Japan Women's Literature Foundation | 受賞 |
New Generation Literature Prize
2016
Work:
The Transparent River
Category:
長編小説部門
Organization:
New Generation Literature Promotion Association
Result:
受賞
Women's Literature Prize
2020
Work:
The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden
Category:
長編部門
Organization:
Japan Women's Literature Foundation
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Transparent River
2016 Novel 312 pagesThe protagonist returns to a riverside town and confronts lost family memories. Through the flow of time and everyday details, the novel depicts loss and recovery in a calm, lyrical prose.
memoryfamilytime
Adaptations
- [Film] The Transparent River / 佐藤悠人 (2018)
Translations
- English translation: The Transparent River (trans. Emma Hayashi, 2019)
- French translation: La Rivière Transparente (2021)
Voices at the Window
2013 Short story collection 184 pagesA collection of short stories that captures everyday scenes from a window, depicting the loneliness and connections of various characters. The pieces emphasize quiet observation and narrative gaps.
lonelinesseveryday lifehuman connection
Adaptations
- [TV drama] Voices at the Window / 高橋美咲 (2015)
Translations
- English translation: Voices at the Window (trans. Daniela Sato, 2016)
The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden
2019 Novel 256 pagesFocusing on a lighthouse keeper and his family on a remote island, the novel intertwines memories held by the sea and the garden. It portrays relationships and recovery within an isolated setting.
lossrecoverythe sea
Adaptations
- [Stage] The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden / 森田翔 (2021)
Translations
- English translation: The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden (trans. Claire Nakamura, 2022)
- French translation: Le Jardin du Gardien du Phare (2023)
Bibliography
- Sound of the Night (short story, 2005)
- Voices at the Window (short story collection, 2013)
- The Transparent River (novel, 2016)
- The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden (novel, 2019)
- Fables of Short Nights (essays, 2021)
Adaptations
- Film adaptation of 'The Transparent River' (2018)
- TV drama adaptation of 'Voices at the Window' (2015)
- Stage adaptation of 'The Lighthouse Keeper's Garden' (2021)
Translations of Works
- The Transparent River (English translation, 2019)
- Voices at the Window (English translation, 2016)
- Le Jardin du Gardien du Phare (French translation, 2023)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- calm, lyrical proseuse of ellipsis and narrative gapsinternalization of psyche through detailed description
- Recurring Motifs
- seawindowswaterthe passage of seasons
Health
-
Major depressive disorder2010-2012Temporarily paused creative activities. After recovery, a noticeably more introspective tone emerged in her work.
Legacy
Since her debut, she has been highly regarded for her serene prose and depiction of memory, and is considered an important contemporary Japanese writer.
Academic Societies
- Japan Society for Contemporary Literature
Archives
- Waseda University Library Special Collections (Midori Ishii Collection)
In Popular Culture
- Her work and world were featured in an NHK documentary
- The film adaptation of 'The Transparent River' broadened recognition among general readers
Quotes
-
Words flow like a river; they can wash away the past or leave it behind.
Source: The Transparent River (2016) -
There is always another world beyond the window.
Source: Voices at the Window (2013)
Trivia
- Often writes in the morning with a freshly brewed coffee.
- Initially published primarily short stories at debut.
- Draws creative inspiration from walks with her dog.