Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Waka Kawaji

かわじ わか

Kawaji Waka

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1961-01-01 （Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan (birthplace) → Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan (resident)

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
2003-
Affiliations
CBS/Sony (Sony Music Records), Japan Film Directors Association (administrative staff)
Influenced By
Kazuma Mitani

Education

Nihon University College of Art
College of Art / Department of Film
Country: Japan

Awards

Shogakukan Bunko Novel Prize
2003
Work: Autumn Goldfish
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: 受賞
Hokkaido Yukari Book Award
2018
Work: Gainamon: The Life of Matsura Takeshiro
Organization: Hokkaido Yukari Book Award
Result: 受賞
Nakayama Yoshishige Literary Award
2019
Work: Gainamon: The Life of Matsura Takeshiro
Organization: Nakayama Yoshishige Literary Award
Result: 受賞
Funahashi Seiichi Literary Award
2020
Work: Gainamon: The Life of Matsura Takeshiro
Organization: Funahashi Seiichi Literary Award
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Autumn Goldfish

2003 Historical fiction (jidaigeki)

Debut novel set against Edo customs; a character-driven story that depicts inner lives through everyday details.

Edo customsfemale perspectiveeveryday details

Sasairo no Beni: A Bakumatsu Female Acupuncturist's Love Tale

2006 Historical novel

Set in the Bakumatsu era, this novel tells of a female acupuncturist's life and love.

Bakumatsu periodvocation and liferomance

Kyōfū Musume: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales

2007 Historical fiction

A human drama around Kuniyoshi and his school; the first volume of a series incorporating the world of ukiyo-e.

ukiyo-ehuman dramaartisan worlds

Adabore: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.2

2007 Historical fiction

Second volume in the Kuniyoshi series, continuing to explore the human relationships around the pupils of Kuniyoshi.

ukiyo-emasters and pupilshuman relationships

Oni Furisode: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.3

2009 Historical fiction

Third volume in the series; depicts conflicts and affections of people living within Edo customs.

Edo cultureconflictaffection

Ukiyobukuro: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.4

2010 Historical fiction

Fourth volume that delicately portrays the lives and customs of common people.

commoner lifecustom depiction

Inochi-ge: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.5

2011 Historical fiction

Fifth volume; themes revolve around life, death, and fate.

life and deathfate

Nipponchi! Kuniyoshi School Meiji Ukiyo-e Tales

2020 Historical novel

A continuation set in the Meiji era; portrays people and art changing amid the tide of modernization.

Meiji eramodernizationart history

Solitary Night Breeze / Monchirashi no Otama

2010 Historical fiction

A series centered on 'Monchirashi no Otama', depicting Edo life from a woman's perspective.

women's livesEdo everyday life

Shinshi Osha: Anecdotes from Bakumatsu Naval History

2012 Historical novel

A novel that weaves anecdotes of Bakumatsu naval history into a narrative, portraying vocation and historical context.

Bakumatsunaval historyoccupation-themed fiction

Widow's Reader: For the Days That Will Come

2012 Essay/Novel

A collection focusing on the lives and feelings of widows, combining narrative and essayistic elements.

loss and renewalwomen's lives

Dozeuya Sukeshichi

2013 Historical novel

A tale of Edo commoners and artisans, centered on trade and human relations.

Edo commonerstradehuman relations

Playful Transcendence: Ito Jakuchu

2016 Biographical novel

A biographical novel based on the life of the Edo painter Ito Jakuchu.

art historylife of an artist

Gainamon: The Life of Matsura Takeshiro

2018 Biographical novel

A biographical novel about Matsura Takeshiro, the explorer who traveled Ezo; focuses on local history and exploration.

explorationregional historybiography

Bibliography

  • Autumn Goldfish
  • Sasairo no Beni: A Bakumatsu Female Acupuncturist's Love Tale
  • Kyōfū Musume: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales
  • Adabore: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.2
  • Oni Furisode: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.3
  • Ukiyobukuro: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.4
  • Inochi-ge: Kuniyoshi School Ukiyo-e Tales Vol.5
  • Nipponchi! Kuniyoshi School Meiji Ukiyo-e Tales
  • Solitary Night Breeze / Monchirashi no Otama
  • Shigure-gokochi: Monchirashi no Otama
  • Shinshi Osha: Anecdotes from Bakumatsu Naval History
  • Widow's Reader: For the Days That Will Come
  • Dozeuya Sukeshichi
  • Playful Transcendence: Ito Jakuchu
  • Gainamon: The Life of Matsura Takeshiro

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Period-historical narrativeFact-based long-form and biographical novels
Recurring Motifs
detailed depictions of Edo customsstories of artisans, artists and historical figuresfemale perspectives and everyday life

Legacy

Recognized as a jidaigeki writer who carefully depicts Edo customs and real historical figures. Her regional-history and biographical works have raised interest in local histories and earned her multiple literary awards.

Archives

  • National Diet Library data (ID: 00932925)
  • VIAF (ID: 260012964)
  • ISNI (ID: 0000000380872433)
  • CiNii (author ID: DA16906379)

Trivia

  • Born in 1961 in Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo.
  • Graduated from Nihon University College of Art, Department of Film. Worked at CBS/Sony and in administrative roles at the Japan Film Directors Association before becoming a novelist.
  • Made her debut with 'Autumn Goldfish', winning the Shogakukan Bunko Novel Prize (2nd edition).
  • 'Gainamon: The Life of Matsura Takeshiro' won the Hokkaido Yukari Book Award (2018), Nakayama Yoshishige Literary Award (2019), and Funahashi Seiichi Literary Award (2020).
  • Authority identifiers (ISNI, VIAF, NDL) are registered for the author.