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Yasumi Kobayashi

こばやし やすみ

Kobayashi Yasumi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1962-08-07 （Kyoto Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2020-11-23 （Osaka Prefecture, Japan） age 58
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Science fiction writer, Horror writer, Mystery writer
Active Years
1996-2020
Affiliations
Mystery Writers of Japan, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Club (SAC), Japan SF Writers Club (former member)
Memberships
Mystery Writers of Japan, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Club (SAC)

Education

Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering Science
School of Engineering Science
Degree: 修士
Country: Japan
Completed master's program

Awards

Japan Horror Novel Award — Short Story Prize
1995
Work: The Toy Repairer
Category: 短編賞
Organization: Japan Horror Novel Award
Result: Winner
S-F Magazine Reader Award (Domestic)
1998
Work: The One Who Sees the Sea
Organization: S-F Magazine
Result: Winner
Seiun Award (Japanese Long Form)
2012
Work: Tengoku and Chikoku
Category: 日本長編部門
Organization: Seiun Award
Result: Winner
Keibundo Grand Prize (Literary)
2014
Work: Alice Kill
Category: 文芸書部門
Organization: Keibundo Bookstore
Result: Winner
Seiun Award (Japanese Long Form)
2017
Work: Ultraman F
Category: 日本長編部門
Organization: Seiun Award
Result: Winner
Japan SF Grand Prize — Achievement Award
2021
Category: 功績賞
Organization: Japan SF Grand Prize
Result: Winner (posthumous)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Toy Repairer

1996 Horror / Short story collection

A short-story collection centered on "The Toy Repairer." It became a bestseller and was adapted into a film.

toysmemoryboundary between human and machine
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Toy Repairer / はくぶん (2002)

The One Who Sees the Sea

2002 Science fiction / Short stories

A collection of SF short stories including the title story "The One Who Sees the Sea," which won an S-F Magazine reader award.

seatimeexploration

Tengoku and Chikoku

2011 Science fiction — Novel

A long-form SF novel composed with connected shorter pieces. It won the 2012 Seiun Award (Japanese Long Form).

giantsspacecivilization

Ultraman F

2016 Science fiction — Novel

A novelization/expansion of a tokusatsu hero work. It won the 2017 Seiun Award (Japanese Long Form).

heroescombathumanity

Alice Kill

2013 Mystery / Literary

A mystery-leaning novel that won the 2014 Keibundo Grand Prize (Literary).

crimepuzzle solvinghuman relationships

Bibliography

  • The Toy Repairer (1996)
  • Jinju Saiku (1997)
  • The One Who Sees the Sea (2002)
  • Tengoku and Chikoku (2011)
  • Ultraman F (2016)
  • Alice Kill (2013)

Adaptations

  • The Toy Repairer (film adaptation 2002)
  • Kage no Kuni (TV drama on "Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari" 2003)
  • Dokkiri Tube (TV drama on "Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari" 2011)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A style blending hard-SF ideas with horror descriptionsSharp worldbuilding focused in short storiesIntricate mystery-style plotting
Recurring Motifs
toys and dollsmemory and identitybodily transformation / invasion

Health

  • cancer
    〜2020年11月
    Died of cancer on 23 November 2020. Continued writing activity through 2019–2020.

Legacy

Known for crossing horror, SF and mystery, Kobayashi left a strong record in both short and long forms. His bestseller "The Toy Repairer" was adapted to film; multiple Seiun Awards and other prizes cement his standing in Japanese SF.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of Japan
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Club (SAC)

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptation of "The Toy Repairer" (2002)
  • TV drama adaptations (e.g. "Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari")

Trivia

  • He previously worked as a developer at Sanyo Electric.
  • "The Toy Repairer" sold over 150,000 copies in book form and became a bestseller.
  • He was grouped with fellow Kansai writers in a circle nicknamed the "manga quartet."