Japanese Literary Awards

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Yasushi Kasahara

かさはら やすし

Kasahara Yasushi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1938-01-01 （Obama, Fukui, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
picture book author, illustrator, novelist
Affiliations
Fukui Broadcasting, Gakushū Kenkyūsha (Gakken), Freelance (Illustrator)
Memberships
Japan Karate Association, Fukui Prefecture Hometown Ambassador

Education

Meiji University
Faculty of Law
Country: Japan

Awards

Oda Sakunosuke Prize
1990
Work: Summer's End
Organization: Oda Sakunosuke Prize Selection Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Summer's End

1990 Short story

An award-winning short story that sensitively portrays characters' emotions and scenes at the end of summer.

season (summer)losscoming of age

Wolf Road

1992 Novel

A novel that includes the story 'Summer's End'; mixes human relationships and incidents in a longer narrative.

human relationshipsmysteryanimals (dogs)

The Indomitable Dog

1993 Novel

A novel about human relationships centered on a dog and tackling adversity.

dogsbondsadversity

Shadow Doberman

1994 Detective / Mystery novel

A tense mystery involving a Doberman, notable for its animal-centered detective elements.

mysterydogsjustice

I'm Goemon the Pug

1994 Children's novel (Gakken series)

A children's story featuring Goemon the pug as the protagonist; illustrated by Toshiaki Sekiya.

dogsadventuregrowing up

Goemon Goes!

1999 Children's novel

A volume in the Goemon series; includes stories that deal with life and bonds.

friendshiplifeadventure

Three-Person 400-Km Adventure

2000 Children's adventure novel

A children's adventure novel about three people traveling roughly 400 kilometers together.

adventurefriendshipchallenge

Yosaku — I'll Always Be By Your Side

2000 Picture book

A picture book published by Kobunsha that gently depicts bonds with animals.

bondsanimalscomfort

The Case Files of Detective Dog Hoover

2004 Animal-centered detective novel

The first in an animal-detective series where a former senior detective from the Metropolitan Police and the famous dog Hoover solve cases together.

mysterydogspartnership
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] The Case Files of Detective Dog Hoover (TV adaptation) (2008)

Cry of the North

2006 Novel

A mid-to-long length novel set against relationships between humans and animals.

naturesolituderenewal

Bibliography

  • Summer's End
  • Wolf Road
  • The Indomitable Dog
  • I'm Goemon the Pug
  • Shadow Doberman
  • Goemon Goes!
  • Three-Person 400-Km Adventure
  • Yosaku — I'll Always Be By Your Side
  • The Case Files of Detective Dog Hoover (Naiken Hoover series)
  • The Sealed Key — The Case Files of Detective Dog Hoover II
  • Hoover on the Shinkansen — Narrow Escape
  • Hoover and the Female Detective 'Wild Cat'
  • Hoover and Chura's Fist
  • Hoover's Calamity
  • Hoover: The Crooked Muzzle
  • Hoover: A Detective's Pride
  • Hoover: The Cat That Came on a Rainy Day
  • Cry of the North
  • Goemon Goes! Facing Life

Adaptations

  • The Case Files of Detective Dog Hoover (TV drama: Wednesday Mystery 9, 2008, starring Kotaro Satomi)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
animal-centered narrationchildren's literature tonestraightforward, accessible prose
Recurring Motifs
dogsfriendshipjusticeinvestigation and mystery solving

Legacy

Known for mystery novels and children's works centered on animals—particularly dogs. The 'Naiken Hoover' series was adapted for television, and he has served as a hometown ambassador for Fukui Prefecture, contributing to his public recognition.

In Popular Culture

  • The Case Files of Detective Dog Hoover (TV adaptation, 2008)

Trivia

  • A devoted animal lover who once kept a 'dog language' notebook in junior high school
  • Holds 5th dan in karate, affiliated with the Japan Karate Association
  • Served as a hometown ambassador for Fukui Prefecture