Japanese Literary Awards

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Joko Iwase

いわせ じょうこ

Iwase Jōko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1950-08-25 （Kuga Town, Kuga District, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Resident of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan

Career

Occupations
children's literature author, writer
Active Years
1977-
Influenced By
Yoshitomo Imae
Nominations
Hans Christian Andersen Award (recommended by JBBY) 2022, Hans Christian Andersen Award (recommended by JBBY) 2024

Education

Yamaguchi Prefectural Iwakuni Commercial High School
Country: Japan
After high school she worked as a civil servant
Seibo Women's Junior College (auditor)
Children's literature (auditor)
Country: Japan
Studied children's literature as an auditing student after hearing a lecture by Yoshitomo Imae

Awards

Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award
1978
Work: Asa wa Dandan Miete Kuru
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1991
Work: "It's Not a Lie," Said Tanigawa-kun
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Shogakukan Literary Prize
1991
Work: "It's Not a Lie," Said Tanigawa-kun
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: 受賞
IBBY Honour List
1990
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Result: 選出
Robō no Ishi Literary Prize
1994
Work: Stegosaurus; Mayoi Tori Tobu (The Stray Bird Flies)
Organization: Robō no Ishi Literary Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Award
2008
Work: That Warmth Does Not Disappear
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Noma Children's Literature Prize
2014
Work: A New Child Comes
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
JBBY Award
2014
Work: A New Child Comes
Organization: Japan Board on Books for Young People (JBBY)
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (Grand Prize)
2015
Work: You'd Be Better off Not Knowing
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 大賞受賞
Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize
2021
Work: Another Turning Point
Organization: Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Children's Welfare Culture Award
2022
Work: That Girl, That Girl, That Me
Organization: Unknown
Result: 受賞
IBBY Honour List
2024
Work: Midday Ghosts
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Result: 選出

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Asa wa Dandan Miete Kuru

1977 Children's literature

Debut work following Nanaa, a third-year junior high student in a town with a U.S. base, depicting her growth and struggles from summer to the end of the second term. Through a jazz café and anti-base activities, she grapples with gaps between children and adults.

coming of ageself-discoverychildren and society
Adaptations
  • [theatre] Asa wa Dandan Miete Kuru (stage) / 高橋清祐 (1980)

You'd Be Better off Not Knowing

2014 Children's literature

A sensitive depiction of the inner turmoil and secrets of adolescents. Winner of the 2015 Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (Grand Prize).

adolescencesecretsrelationships

Another Turning Point

2019 Children's literature

A story seen from a child's perspective about searching for relationships and a sense of place. Winner of the Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize.

sense of belonginginterpersonal relationshipsself-understanding

Bibliography

  • Asa wa Dandan Miete Kuru
  • Watashi Neko
  • The Little Beasts' Winter
  • The Atelier's Horse
  • The Town in the Frame
  • Looking for Myself
  • "It's Not a Lie," Said Tanigawa-kun
  • Stegosaurus
  • The Lost Bird Flies
  • That Warmth Does Not Disappear
  • A New Child Comes
  • You'd Be Better off Not Knowing
  • Another Turning Point
  • Midday Ghosts

Adaptations

  • Asa wa Dandan Miete Kuru (staged by Gekidan Mingei)

Translations of Works

  • Midday Ghosts (selected for IBBY Honour List / White Ravens mention)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
delicate interior portrayals of childrenrealist narrative voice
Recurring Motifs
growing up and separationfamily and communitysearch for belonging

Legacy

Since her debut in the 1970s, Iwase has been highly regarded for her sensitive depictions of children searching for themselves amid relationships with others. Multiple major awards and selections for international lists have earned her recognition beyond Japan.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Association

Quotes

  • She specializes in depicting children who seek themselves while being unsettled by relationships with those around them.
    Source: Wikipedia (Iwase Joko)

Trivia

  • Debuted in 1977 with "Asa wa Dandan Miete Kuru."
  • Born in Kuga Town (now part of Iwakuni), Yamaguchi Prefecture.
  • Many works have been awarded or selected for children's literature honors.