Shosetsu Gendai Newcomer Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 28 (1977) award
Kenichi Kawakami
かわかみ けんいち
Kawakami Kenichi
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1949-08-07 （Sambongi (Sanbongi) Town, Kamikita District, Aomori Prefecture (now Towada City), Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Aomori Prefecture (birthplace) → Oizumi Village, Yamanashi Prefecture (moved, self-sufficient lifestyle)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist
- Active Years
- 1977-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aomori Prefectural Towada Technical High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
Aomori Prefectural Towada Technical High School
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 28th Shōsetsu Gendai Newcomer Prize | Tobe, Joe! The Soul of B.B. Is Watching | — | Shōsetsu Gendai (magazine) | winner |
| 2001 | 17th Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize | Tsubasa wa Itsumademo (Wings Forever) | — | Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize Committee | winner |
28th Shōsetsu Gendai Newcomer Prize
1977
Work:
Tobe, Joe! The Soul of B.B. Is Watching
Organization:
Shōsetsu Gendai (magazine)
Result:
winner
17th Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize
2001
Work:
Tsubasa wa Itsumademo (Wings Forever)
Organization:
Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize Committee
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Tsubota Joji Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 17 (2001) award
Samurai Japan Baseball Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (2010) special award
Works
Major Works
Tobe, Joe! The Soul of B.B. Is Watching
1978 NovelHis debut novel, depicting sports and youthful passion.
sportsyouth
Tsubasa wa Itsumademo (Wings Forever)
2001 Youth autobiographical novelAn autobiographical coming-of-age novel that drew attention after making Book Magazine's best ten.
coming-of-ageautobiographygrowth
Amemasu no Kawa
1990 NovelA novel about nature and human relationships; later adapted into a film.
naturehuman relationships
Adaptations
- [Film] Amemasu no Kawa (2004)
If April Comes, She...
2005 NovelA story of love and youth; adapted into film known as 'AOGRA'.
romanceyouth
Adaptations
- [Film] AOGRA (2006)
Konshin
2007 NovelA novel delving into life and human relationships; later made into a film.
lifehuman drama
Adaptations
- [Film] Konshin (2013)
Bibliography
- Tobe, Joe! The Soul of B.B. Is Watching
- Southpaw Soul: Novel of Pitcher Yutaka Enatsu
- Ta・O・Ru
- The Failed Professional Golfer
- The Manager and the Lads
- Dad, Take Me to the Ballpark
- Wimbledon of the Universe
- Amemasu no Kawa
- Tsubasa wa Itsumademo (Wings Forever)
- If April Comes, She...
- Konshin
- Topping
Adaptations
- Amemasu no Kawa (Film, 2004)
- AOGRA (Film adaptation of If April Comes, She..., 2006)
- Konshin (Film, 2013)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear, easy-to-read proseOften deals with youth and sports
- Recurring Motifs
- sports such as baseball and golfnature and rural landscapesself-sufficient living and local lifeconflicts of youth
Legacy
Known for sports novels and autobiographical youth works; several of his novels have been adapted to film. He is also noted for moving to the countryside and maintaining a self-sufficient lifestyle while continuing to write.
Archives
- Aomori Prefectural Museum of Modern Literature (holds related materials)
In Popular Culture
- Film adaptations of novels (e.g., Amemasu no Kawa, AOGRA, Konshin)
Trivia
- Made his debut by winning the 28th Shōsetsu Gendai Newcomer Prize in 1977.
- Moved to Oizumi Village in Yamanashi Prefecture and lived a self-sufficient life.
- Several works have been adapted into films.