Japanese Literary Awards

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Sachiko Kashiwaba

かしわば さちこ

Kashiwaba Sachiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1953-06-09 （Miyako, Iwate, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Morioka, Iwate, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Translator, Pharmacist
Active Years
1975-
Affiliations
Japan PEN Club
Memberships
Member of Japan PEN Club
Influenced
Hayao Miyazaki

Education

Tohoku Pharmaceutical University (now Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University)
Degree: 学士
Period: 1972-1976
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: Japan
Began writing while a student; won a newcomer award in 1974 and debut book published in 1975.

Awards

Kodansha Children's Literature Newcomer Award (15th)
1974
Work: Kichigai Dori no Rina
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award (9th)
1976
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (45th)
1998
Work: Miracle Family
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (54th) — Grand Prize
2007
Work: Mrs. Botan's Strange Days
Category: 大賞
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award (59th)
2010
Work: The Continuing Library
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: 受賞
Noma Children's Literature Award (54th)
2016
Work: Misaki no Mayoiga
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award
2022
Work: Temple Alley Summer (English translation of Kaimeiji Yokocho no Natsu)
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Mysterious Town Beyond the Fog

1975 Children's literature / Fantasy

Debut work. A fantasy about children encountering a mysterious town and embarking on strange adventures.

mysterious journeysloneliness and belongingnon-biological family bonds

The Mysterious Journey from the Cellar

1981 Children's literature / Fantasy

A tale of a fantastical journey starting from a cellar. One of her bestselling works and the basis for the anime film Birthday Wonderland.

adventurecoming-of-ageimagination
Adaptations
  • [Animated film] Birthday Wonderland / 原 恵一 (2019)

Misaki no Mayoiga

2015 Children's literature / Fantasy

A story set in the Tohoku region; adapted into an animated film as part of a project supporting disaster-affected areas.

regional identityrecoveryfamily and belonging
Adaptations
  • [Animated film] Misaki no Mayoiga (2021)

Temple Alley Summer

2011 Children's literature

A work set in a temple alley of a traditional neighborhood; its English translation received international recognition.

nostalgiacommunity ties
Translations
  • English translation: Temple Alley Summer

To Ano Country: The Daughters of Water and Dragons

2021 Adult novel / Fantasy

A long-form fantasy novel marking the author's first major work aimed at adult/general readers.

otherworldredefining family

Bibliography

  • The Mysterious Town Beyond the Fog (1975)
  • The Mysterious Journey from the Cellar (1981)
  • Miracle Family (1997)
  • Mrs. Botan's Strange Days (2006)
  • The Continuing Library (2010)
  • Temple Alley Summer (2011)
  • Misaki no Mayoiga (2015)
  • To Ano Country: The Daughters of Water and Dragons (2021)

Adaptations

  • 'The Mysterious Journey from the Cellar' → film 'Birthday Wonderland' (2019)
  • 'Misaki no Mayoiga' → film 'Misaki no Mayoiga' (2021)

Translations by Author

  • Translation: 'The Princess and the Pea' style titles by Gail Carson Levine (Japanese translations published by Kodansha)
  • Translation: 'Anne of Green Gables' (selected translation work)

Translations of Works

  • 'Kaimeiji Yokocho no Natsu' → English translation 'Temple Alley Summer' (award-winning translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Japanese-style fantasywarm, empathetic characterizationallegorical and fantastical narrative elements
Recurring Motifs
mysterious journeysencounters between lonely children and adultshome/town as a place of belonging

Legacy

Long-established and respected author in children's literature, regarded as a leading creator of Japanese-style fantasy. Several works have been adapted for film, and her writings have been translated and awarded internationally. Known for maintaining a career as a pharmacist while writing.

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

In Popular Culture

  • Original author of the film 'Birthday Wonderland' (2019)
  • Original author of the film 'Misaki no Mayoiga' (2021)

Trivia

  • She has continued her writing career while working as a pharmacist in Morioka, Iwate.
  • Her works have been cited as an influence on Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' in some discussions.
  • Reported cumulative sales of her works have exceeded 500,000 copies (for certain titles).
  • Several of her works have been adapted into animated films ('Birthday Wonderland', 'Misaki no Mayoiga', etc.).