Japanese Literary Awards

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Haruhiko Kindaichi

きんだいち はるひこ

Kindaichi Haruhiko

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1913-04-03 （Morigawa-cho, Hongo, Tokyo (then Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture; now Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo)）
Died
2004-05-19 （Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan） age 91
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Hongo, Tokyo (birthplace) → Suginami, Tokyo (Narimune / Shōan areas) → Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo → Kyoto (worked at Kyoto Sangyo University) → Oizumi (now part of Hokuto City), Yamanashi (holiday home) → Kōfu, Yamanashi (place of death)

Career

Occupations
linguist, Japanese linguist, researcher of traditional Japanese music, university professor, author, dictionary editor, NHK lecturer
Active Years
1940-2004
Affiliations
Tokyo Dai-ju Middle School (Japanese language teacher), National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (researcher), Nagoya University (associate professor), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (associate professor / professor), Kyoto Sangyo University (professor), Sophia University (lecturer / professor), Keio University (invited faculty), Tamagawa University (visiting professor), Tsuda University (Japanese Language Education Center, advisor), Tokyo University of the Arts (faculty of music, lecturer), Musashino University (visiting professor)
Memberships
Japanese Society for Language, Phonetic Society of Japan, Linguistic Society of Japan, Linguistic Research Society, Society for Research in Asian Music
Influenced By
Kyōsuke Kindaichi, Shirō Hattori, Hisao Tanabe
Influenced
Masumi Kindaichi (son), Hideho Kindaichi (son), Numerous Japanese linguists and dictionary editors, NHK announcers and language educators

Education

Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo)
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Degree: 文学士
Period: 1934-1937
Year of Graduation: 1937
Country: Japan
Graduation thesis examined accent history of Japanese using the Kanjin-in manuscript 'Ruiju Myoigosho'.
University of Tokyo
Graduate School, Faculty of Letters / Japanese linguistics and traditional music studies
Degree: 文学博士
Period: 1962
Year of Graduation: 1962
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis 'A Historical Study of Japanese Accent Using Melodies of Old Buddhist Music' (published as research on 'Shiza Koshiki').

Awards

Purple Ribbon Medal
1977
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
NHK Broadcasting Culture Award
1977
Organization: NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize by the Minister of Education (Criticism)
1983
Work: 'Jūgoya Otsuki-san' (biography of Motoori Nagayo)
Category: 評論
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Art Encouragement Prize)
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1983
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Japan Society of Children's Literature Award
1983
Organization: Japan Society of Children's Literature
Result: 受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (Third Class)
1986
Organization: Government of Japan (honours)
Result: 叙勲
Mikkyo Cultural Arts Award (Shingon Buddhism)
2000
Work: Study of the 'Shiza Koshiki'
Organization: Shingon Buddhist organizations
Result: 受賞
Person of Cultural Merit
1997
Organization: Government of Japan (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Result: 選出
Honorary Villager of Oizumi / Hokuto
2000
Organization: Hokuto City
Result: 選出
The 46th Japan Record Awards — Special Achievement Award (posthumous)
2004
Organization: Japan Record Awards (organizers)
Result: 追贈
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award (Record Division)
1964
Work: 'Shingon Shōmyō' (supervised record)
Category: レコード
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Japanese Language

1957 Popular introduction (Iwanami Shinsho)

A clear, popular introduction to the structure, history, and characteristics of Japanese. It became a bestseller and long-selling title.

Japanese phonology and accenthistory of the languagepopularization of language education

Study of the Shiza Koshiki (A historical study of Japanese accent using melodies of old Buddhist music)

1964 Academic doctoral thesis / music and linguistics research

Using melodies of Heike biwa and Buddhist chants as clues, this doctoral research examines the historical development of Japanese accent from the Kamakura period onward.

history of Japanese accentrelation between traditional music and languagehistorical phonology
Adaptations
  • [Audio recording (record)] Shingon Shōmyō (supervised record) (1964)

Characteristics of the Japanese Language

1980 Essay / General audience

Organizes features and expressions of Japanese from a modern viewpoint and presents them accessibly to the general reader.

expression in Japaneselanguage and culture

On Heikyoku (Heike chanting studies)

1997 Music culture research / scholarly

A study of Heikyoku (including Heike biwa) that explores the intersection of traditional music and the Japanese language.

traditional Japanese musicrelationship between language and music

Meikai Classical Japanese Dictionary (editorial / supervision involvement)

1953 Dictionary (editorial work)

Contributed to compilation and supervision of a classical Japanese dictionary widely used in education and research.

dictionary compilationclassical Japanese studies

Bibliography

  • The Japanese Language (Iwanami Shinsho, 1957)
  • A Historical Study of Japanese Accent Using Melodies of Old Buddhist Music (Doctoral thesis / Sanseidō, 1964)
  • Characteristics of the Japanese Language (NHK Publishing, 1981)
  • On Heikyoku (Sanseidō, 1997)
  • Studies in Japanese Phonology (Tōkyōdō Shuppan, 1967)
  • Collected Works of Haruhiko Kindaichi (13 vols., Tamagawa University Press, 2003-2006)

Adaptations

  • Supervised recordings of Buddhist chants and related audio releases

Style & Themes

Literary Style
colloquial and accessible prosepopularizing style that explains specialist topics for general readersinterdisciplinary (bridging linguistics and traditional music)
Recurring Motifs
history of Japanese phonology and accentcomparative and genealogical study of dialectsrelationship between traditional music and languagepopularization of language knowledge

Health

  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
    2004-05-19
    Hospitalized and died (age 91)
  • Tuberculosis (hospitalization in youth; diagnostic anecdotes)
    1938（入隊中の入院）
    Related to discharge from military service; affected early health history
  • Traffic accident (while in Hawaii)
    1968
    Fined; reported as a minor legal penalty without recorded long-term sequelae

Legacy

Established historical study of Japanese accent and pioneered genealogical research of dialectal accents. Made significant contributions to popularizing Japanese linguistics through NHK and widely read books, and achieved interdisciplinary scholarship linking traditional Japanese music and language.

Museums

  • Hokuto City Haruhiko Kindaichi Memorial Library Hokuto City (Oizumi area), Yamanashi, Japan

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Society for Language
  • Phonetic Society of Japan
  • Linguistic Society of Japan
  • Society for Research in Asian Music

Archives

  • Hokuto City Haruhiko Kindaichi Memorial Library digital archive (donated collection)
  • NHK Archives (lectures and program appearances)

In Popular Culture

  • Waratte Iitomo! (Fuji TV) — regular appearance (1988)
  • Ishoku Kashu Concours (NTV) — appearance and first prize (1975)
  • Language commentary on TV and radio (longstanding relationship with NHK)

Quotes

  • I decided I would become a scholar like my father.
    Source: Memoir / recollection (youthful statement) (1932)
  • Regarding the suspect's recorded speech: this pronunciation has features of southern Ou (Tōhoku) or northern Kanto.
    Source: Asahi Shimbun (newspaper report / interview) (1963)

Trivia

  • In his youth he aspired to be a composer and studied under Motoori Nagayo, but later turned to scholarship.
  • Responsible for standard accent markings in the 'Meikai Kokugo Jiten' and heavily involved in dictionary compilation.
  • Appeared on TV and in commercials, contributing to popular awareness of language topics.
  • Donated his collection to a memorial library in Oizumi (now Hokuto City), Yamanashi.
  • Experienced military service and hospitalization in his youth.