Japanese Literary Awards

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Hisako Kimishima

きみしま ひさこ

Kimishima Hisako

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1925-02-15 （Tochigi Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2023-06-08 （Japan） age 98
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Chinese literature scholar, Ethnologist, Translator, Editor, Children's literature researcher, University professor
Active Years
1950-2023
Affiliations
National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku), Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University, Minzu University of China (Honorary Professor), Yunnan University (Honorary Professor)

Education

Keio University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Chinese Literature
Country: Japan
Tokyo Metropolitan University (graduate school)
Graduate School (Literature)
Country: Japan
Completed master's course (year unknown)

Awards

Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
Work: 'White Dragon, Black Dragon' and 'Chinese Myths'
Organization: Sankei
Result: winner
Japan Translation Culture Award
Work: Translation of 'Journey to the West'
Organization: Japan Translation Culture Award Committee
Result: winner
Iwaya Sazanami Literary Prize
2010
Work: For overall contributions
Organization: Iwaya Sazanami Memorial Association
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

White Dragon, Black Dragon

1964 Children's folktale collection (translation)

A collection of Chinese folktales translated and edited for children.

dragonsfolkloremorality tales
Translations
  • Translated from Chinese sources into Japanese

Chinese Myths: The Giant Who Divided Heaven and Earth

1983 Mythology study and translation

A study and translation of Chinese creation myths and legends with cultural commentary.

creation mythsethnic culturemyth interpretation

The Dog That Bites the Moon — Chinese Folktales

1984 Children's folktale collection (translation)

A translated collection of folktales from various regions of China aimed at children, emphasizing narrative quality.

folktalesanthropomorphic animalstraditional culture

Journey to the West (translation)

1975 Classical literature (translation / children's edition)

A translation and juvenile edition of the Chinese classic 'Journey to the West', published in multiple volumes.

adventureBuddhist elementsmonsters and mythology

The King and His Nine Siblings

1969 Folktale, children's translation

A representative folktale translated from Chinese sources, accompanied by scholarly commentary.

familymagicfolk tradition

Bibliography

  • The Rock That Plays a Flute (Poplar Publishing), 1973
  • Chinese Myths: The Giant Who Divided Heaven and Earth (Chikuma Shobo), 1983
  • The Dog That Bites the Moon — Chinese Folktales (Chikuma Shobo), 1984
  • Journey to the West (Fukuinkan), 1975-76
  • The King and His Nine Siblings (Iwanami Shoten), 1969
  • The Long-Haired Girl Changfamei (Fukuinkan), 2013

Translations of Works

  • Journey to the West (multiple Japanese translations / reprints)
  • Japanese translation of 'Touyaya From the Moon' (Xiao Ganniu)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, child-accessible narrative voiceFaithful translations that respect the source cultural context
Recurring Motifs
dragonscreation mythsanthropomorphic animalsethnic folklore

Legacy

Through translations and research on Chinese folktales and myths, she made significant contributions to Japanese children's literature and folklore studies. Her long academic career at the National Museum of Ethnology and as a university professor, together with numerous children's translations, influenced later generations.

Trivia

  • Honorary Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology and Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University.
  • As a representative of the Chinese Children's Literature Research Association, she introduced many Chinese folktales to Japanese readers.