Murasaki Shikibu Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1991) award
Akiko Ishimaru
いしまる あきこ
Ishimaru Akiko
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1935-04-26 （Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Japanese literature scholar, University professor
- Active Years
- 1975-2006
- Affiliations
- Toyo Women's Junior College, Department of English Literature (Lecturer), Tokyo Keizai University, Faculty of Business Administration (Lecturer → Associate Professor → Professor; later Professor Emerita)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters | Faculty of Letters | Department of Art History | 学士 | ～1965 | Japan |
| The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters | Faculty of Letters | Department of Japanese Language and Literature | 学士 | ～1968 | Japan |
| The University of Tokyo Graduate School, Graduate School of Humanities | Graduate School of Humanities | Master's Program | 修士 | ～1971 | Japan |
| The University of Tokyo Graduate School, Graduate School of Humanities | Graduate School of Humanities | Doctoral Program | — | 1971-1975 | Japan |
The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Art History
Degree:
学士
Period:
～1965
Year of Graduation:
1965
Country:
Japan
The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Japanese Language and Literature
Degree:
学士
Period:
～1968
Year of Graduation:
1968
Country:
Japan
The University of Tokyo Graduate School, Graduate School of Humanities
Graduate School of Humanities
/ Master's Program
Degree:
修士
Period:
～1971
Year of Graduation:
1971
Country:
Japan
Completed master's program
The University of Tokyo Graduate School, Graduate School of Humanities
Graduate School of Humanities
/ Doctoral Program
Period:
1971-1975
Year of Graduation:
1975
Country:
Japan
Completed doctoral coursework and withdrew after earning credits (did not obtain doctorate)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Murasaki Shikibu Literary Prize | Biography of Princess Shikishi | — | — | 受賞 |
Murasaki Shikibu Literary Prize
1991
Work:
Biography of Princess Shikishi
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Women and Men of the Manyoshu
1986 Literary studies / Classical studiesSurveys the women and men appearing in the Man'yoshu, providing context for the poems and exploring social and personal relationships.
ManyoshuClassical literatureGender relationsLove
Biography of Princess Shikishi
1989 Biography / Classical studiesA biographical study tracing the life of the poet Princess Shikishi, reconstructing her poetry and its Buddhist context, including connections to Hōnen.
Heian literatureFemale poetsBuddhism
Women Who Bloomed in History: Flowers of Genji, Flowers of Heike
1991 History / Biographical essaysA collection of historical essays interpreting the lives and cultures of women connected to the Genji and Heike clans.
Medieval historyWomen's historyGenpei (Genji-Heike)
Women Who Bloomed in History: Heian Flowers
1992 History / Biographical essaysFocuses on women active during the Heian period, analyzing their cultural roles and works.
Heian periodFemale cultureBiographical studies
Women Who Bloomed in History: Asuka Flowers, Nara Flowers
1993 History / Biographical essaysExamines the roles of women, religious beliefs, and culture in the Asuka and Nara periods.
Asuka periodNara periodWomen's history
Hōnen Through His Letters: His Character
1995 Religious history / Biographical studyUses Hōnen's letters to illuminate his character, thought, and interactions with contemporaries.
Pure Land BuddhismReligious historyEpistolary studies
A Devoted Journey Through Yamato: Flowers and Love in the Manyoshu
1996 Classical studies / EssayInterprets Manyoshu poems from perspectives of flowers and love, connecting them to regional landscapes.
ManyoshuRegional cultureExpressions of love
Arishima Takeo: Study of Author and Works
2003 Literary criticism / Author studyAnalyzes Arishima Takeo's works and authorial image, reexamining them within the context of modern Japanese literature.
Modern literatureAuthor studiesArishima Takeo
A Hundred Flowers Bloom: Women Who Lived in Edo
2004 History / Biographical essaysA collection of essays introducing the lives of various women who lived in the Edo period.
Edo periodWomen's history
Eventful Lives: Women of the Medieval and Sengoku Periods
2005 History / Biographical essaysDepicts the eventful lives of women who lived from the medieval to the Sengoku periods.
Medieval eraSengoku periodWomen's history
The Moonlit Messenger
2014 Short fictionA short story (part of a short fiction release), published by Jodo Shu Publishing as JP Bunko.
Short storyBuddhist elements
Letters of Hōnen: Words of Love and Compassion (ed. & trans.)
1991 Translation / Modern-language translationAn edited modern-language translation of Hōnen's letters, conveying his character and teachings.
HōnenModern translationBuddhism
Kagerō Diary (Modern Translation)
1997 Translation / Modern-language translationA modern-language translation of the Kagerō Diary with commentary aimed at general readers.
Diary literatureModern translationWomen's life
Letters of Shinran with Letters of Eshin-ni (ed. & trans.)
2013 Translation / Religious historyAn edited translation of letters by Shinran and Eshin-ni, exploring their lives and ideas.
ShinranPure Land BuddhismLetters
Bibliography
- Women and Men of the Manyoshu (Kodansha, 1986)
- Biography of Princess Shikishi (Asahi Shimbunsha, 1989)
- Women Who Bloomed in History: Flowers of Genji, Flowers of Heike (Kosaido, 1991)
- Women Who Bloomed in History: Heian Flowers (Kosaido, 1992)
- Women Who Bloomed in History: Asuka Flowers, Nara Flowers (Kosaido, 1993)
- Hōnen Through His Letters: His Character (Jodo Shu Publishing, 1995)
- A Devoted Journey Through Yamato: Flowers and Love in the Manyoshu (Shodensha, 1996)
- Arishima Takeo: Study of Author and Works (Meiji Shoin, 2003)
- A Hundred Flowers Bloom: Women Who Lived in Edo (Seiryu Publishing, 2004)
- Eventful Lives: Women of the Medieval and Sengoku Periods (Seiryu Publishing, 2005)
- The Moonlit Messenger (Jodo Shu Publishing, JP Bunko, 2014)
- Letters of Hōnen: Words of Love and Compassion (ed. & trans., Jinbun Shoin, 1991)
- Kagerō Diary (Modern Translation) (Asahi Shimbunsha, 1997)
- Letters of Shinran with Letters of Eshin-ni (ed. & trans., Jinbun Shoin, 2013)
Translations by Author
- Letters of Hōnen: Words of Love and Compassion (1991, ed. & trans.)
- Kagerō Diary (Modern Translation) (1997)
- Letters of Shinran with Letters of Eshin-ni (2013, ed. & trans.)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Scholarly yet accessible prosePrefers readability in modern-language translations of classical texts
- Recurring Motifs
- Reassessment of women's history and female-authored literatureBuddhism and biographical studiesBridging classical and modern literature
Legacy
A scholar well-versed in both modern and classical Japanese literature, she produced many accessible modern-language translations and commentaries. As Professor Emerita of Tokyo Keizai University, she contributed to education and research and is recognized for biographical studies of women and Buddhist figures.
Trivia
- Born in Fukuoka Prefecture on April 26, 1935.
- Won the Murasaki Shikibu Literary Prize in 1991 for 'Biography of Princess Shikishi'.
- Originally specialized in modern literature (notably studies on Arishima Takeo) but has authored many modern translations and commentaries on Japanese classical texts.