Japanese Literary Awards

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Kinya Katsuo

かつお きんや

Katsuo Kinya

Pen Names: Katsuokinya（Pen name used for children's literature (kana form)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1927-09-20 （Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan）
Died
2020-04-04 age 92
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan → Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan → Kanazawa, Japan

Career

Occupations
children's author, university professor, translator, writer
Active Years
1953-2020
Affiliations
Aichi Prefectural University (Professor Emeritus), Baika Women's University (former professor)

Education

Kanazawa University
Faculty of Education / Department of Education
Year of Graduation: 1953
Country: Japan

Awards

Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1969
Work: Tenpō no Hitobito
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Izumi Kyōka Memorial Kanazawa Citizens' Literature Prize
1973
Work: Noto no Oike-zukuri
Organization: Kanazawa City (memorial prize)
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Society Award
1977
Work: Reimeiki no Rekishi Jidōbungaku
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Society
Result: 奨励賞
Japan Children's Writers Association Award
1981
Work: Nanatsubanashi Hyakumangoku
Organization: Japan Children's Writers Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Society Award
2000
Work: Denki Jidōbungaku no Ayumi
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Society
Result: 受賞
Ishikawa TV Prize
2000
Work: Denki Jidōbungaku no Ayumi
Organization: Ishikawa TV
Result: 受賞
Iwaya Konpaku Literary Prize (Special Prize)
2001
Category: 特別賞
Organization: Iwaya Konpaku Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Chunichi Cultural Prize
2003
Organization: Chunichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tenpō no Hitobito

1968 Children's literature

A historical children's work set in the late Edo period (Tenpō), depicting local life and characters.

historylocal communityhuman relationships

Noto no Oike-zukuri

1973 Children's literature / regional folktales

Stories for children based on folktales and traditions from the Noto region.

folktalesregional culturenature

Nanatsubanashi Hyakumangoku

1980 Children's literature

A collection of short stories set in the rich Kaga (Hyakumangoku) region, retelling local traditions and historical episodes for children.

regional historytraditionhistorical education through stories

History of Biographical Children's Literature 1891–1945

1999 Non-fiction / scholarly

A scholarly study tracing the development of biographical children's literature in Japan; recipient of a society award.

children's literature studiesbiographyhistory education

Bibliography

  • Tenpō no Hitobito
  • Ido-hori Kichizaemon
  • Ansei 5, July 11
  • Searching Tatsumi Irrigation
  • Did the Camel Fly?
  • White Rice Ball (short stories)
  • Gokayama Life: Continued Tenpō People
  • Noto no Oike-zukuri
  • Nanatsubanashi Hyakumangoku
  • Early Period Historical Children's Literature
  • History of Biographical Children's Literature 1891–1945
  • Burn, Takao Castle!
  • Voices Falling from the Mountain
  • Seventeen Years in the Storm: Nagaya Hachinai's Renewal
  • The Person: Nankichi Niimi

Translations by Author

  • I'm the Captain's Child: Chinese Children's Stories (translation)
  • Grandma's Birthday (translation)
  • Today We Rest (translation)
  • Thief, Thief (translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
narration that carefully retells historyeducational style emphasizing regional culture
Recurring Motifs
local folklore and traditionshistorical figures and eventseducational perspective for children

Legacy

Kinya Katsuo was a children's author and scholar known for retelling regional history and folklore for young readers. He produced numerous children's books and scholarly works on children's literature, taught at the university level, and received several society and cultural awards.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Society
  • Hokuriku Children's Literature Association

Trivia

  • Born Kinya (surname became Katsuo by adoption).
  • Published mainly under the pen name 'かつおきんや'.
  • Professor emeritus at Aichi Prefectural University, former professor at Baika Women's University.
  • Died on April 4, 2020, at age 92.