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Edition 6 (2004) honorable mention
Izumi Randou
いずみ らんどう
Izumi Randou
Pen Names:
Randou（Pen name used for short stories and columns）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1978-04-12 （Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese, English
- Residence History
- Yokohama (birthplace) → Tokyo (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Essayist, Translator
- Active Years
- 2000-
- Influenced By
- Haruki Murakami, Osamu Dazai
- Influenced
- Emerging Writer A
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University | Faculty of Letters | Department of Japanese Literature | 学士（文学） | 1996-2000 | Japan |
Waseda University
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Japanese Literature
Degree:
学士（文学）
Period:
1996-2000
Year of Graduation:
2000
Country:
Japan
Published short stories while enrolled and made literary debut
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Izumi Randou Literary Prize | Tokyo Testament | — | Izumi Randou Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2003 | Shincho Newcomer Prize (honorable mention) | Midnight Map | — | Shinchosha | 候補 |
Izumi Randou Literary Prize
2025
Work:
Tokyo Testament
Organization:
Izumi Randou Foundation
Result:
受賞
Shincho Newcomer Prize (honorable mention)
2003
Work:
Midnight Map
Organization:
Shinchosha
Result:
候補
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Tokyo Testament
2024 Novel 320 pagesA multi-perspective novel exploring loneliness and memory in the city. Past and present intersect in fragments, revealing the inner lives of its characters.
solitudememoryurban life
Adaptations
- [Film] Tokyo Testament / 未定
Translations
- Tokyo Testament (English translation)
Midnight Map
2004 Novella 140 pagesA shorter work set in the nocturnal city. A journey to find lost places is depicted in allegorical fashion.
losssearch
Bibliography
- Midnight Map (2004)
- Fragments (2010)
- Tokyo Testament (2024)
Adaptations
- Tokyo Testament (film adaptation planned)
Translations of Works
- Tokyo Testament (English translation)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- quiet, lyrical prosefragmented chapter structure
- Recurring Motifs
- night cityfragments of memoryabandoned spaces
Legacy
Recognized as a contemporary writer who depicts urban solitude and memory; expected to influence younger writers. Film adaptation projects have attracted attention.
In Popular Culture
- A radio program episode discussing her work drew attention
Quotes
-
The night hides nothing. Only our memories quietly change their shape.
Source: Tokyo Testament (2024)
Trivia
- She habitually draws fictional maps that appear in her stories.
- The pen name "Randou" originates from a tanka collection from her youth.