Japanese Literary Awards

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Masao Kogure

こぐれ まさお

Kogure Masao

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1939-01-12 （Maebashi, Gunma, Japan）
Died
2007-01-10 age 67
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
children's author, novelist
Active Years
1962-2007
Affiliations
Japan Children's Literature Association
Memberships
Japan Children's Literature Association

Education

Gunma Prefectural Maebashi Commercial High School (night school)
Year of Graduation: 1959
Country: Japan
Graduated from night-school course

Awards

Sankei Children's Publishing Award (recommended)
1963
Work: The Sewered Rat-Colored Town
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 推薦
Akai Tori (Red Bird) Literary Prize
1977
Work: Again the Seven Foxes Ride Bicycles
Organization: Akai Tori editorial board
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Award
1987
Work: Summer Vacation on the Street Corner
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Sewered Rat-Colored Town

1962 Children's literature

Debut work. A story depicting urban life and friendship from children's perspectives.

friendshipurban lifecoming-of-age
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] The Sewered Rat-Colored Town (NHK TV adaptation) (1963)

Kappa Commotion

1978 Children's literature

First of a whimsical series featuring kappas, full of imagination and humor.

folklore creaturescommunityadventure

Kappa's Surprising Journey

1980 Children's literature

Sequel in the kappa series; depicts encounters and lessons learned on a journey.

journeyencounters

Kuu, the Tengu and the Kappa King

1985 Children's literature

A culminating work in the series incorporating various folkloric elements.

folklorefriendship

Summer Vacation on the Street Corner

1986 Children's literature

A work that carefully描ects everyday details; recipient of the Japan Children's Literature Association Award.

everyday lifechild's perspectivegrowth

Kappa Kuu and the Summer Vacation

2007 Children's literature

A longer work in the kappa series; served as the basis for an animated film.

folklore creaturesfamilyadventure
Adaptations
  • [animated film] Kappa Kuu and the Summer Vacation / 原 恵一 (2007)

Bibliography

  • The Sewered Rat-Colored Town
  • The Song of the Red Dragonfly
  • The Ragamuffin
  • The Backstreet Sun
  • The Town with Pigs
  • The Story of a Grilled Manju Shop
  • Sunday at the Walnut House
  • Hello, Himaneko
  • The Haunted House on Second Block
  • Summer Vacation on the Street Corner
  • The Battle of Shakushain
  • Riding Dreams on Bhutan's Morning Sun
  • Children's Biography: Ikkyu (revised edition)
  • Kappa Commotion
  • Kappa's Surprising Journey
  • Kuu, the Tengu and the Kappa King
  • Kappa Kuu and the Summer Vacation

Adaptations

  • The Sewered Rat-Colored Town (NHK TV special)
  • Kappa Kuu and the Summer Vacation (animated film)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
plain, accessible narration for childrena style blending humor with social concerns
Recurring Motifs
kappa (folklore creature)children's everyday lifelocal community

Health

  • lung cancer
    2006-2007
    Died of lung cancer in 2007

Legacy

Known for a wide-ranging body of children's literature, he served as director and later president of the Japan Children's Literature Association. His kappa series became popular and some works were adapted for screen.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library of Japan (holds materials)

In Popular Culture

  • The film adaptation 'Kappa Kuu and the Summer Vacation' brought wider recognition

Trivia

  • His second son is illustrator Kogure Kenjirou
  • Best known for the 'kappa' series