Japanese Literary Awards

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Sakyo Komatsu

こまつ さきょう

Komatsu Sakyo

Pen Names: Sakyo Komatsu（Pen name used for his fiction work. Legal name was Minoru Komatsu.）, Minoru Komatsu（Legal name. Used in official records and some early works.）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1931-01-28 （Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2011-07-26 （Minoh (Minoo), Osaka Prefecture, Japan） age 80
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture → Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture → Osaka, Osaka Prefecture → Minoh (Minoo), Osaka Prefecture

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Science fiction writer, Critic, Screenwriter
Active Years
1961-2011
Affiliations
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SF Writers Club), Space Writers Club (SACJ), IO Corporation (Sakyo Komatsu Office)
Memberships
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan, Space Writers Club (SACJ)
Influenced By
Robert Sheckley, Luigi Pirandello, Ivan Yefremov
Influenced
Liu Cixin, Many later Japanese SF writers (e.g. Akira Hori)

Education

Kyoto University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Italian Literature
Degree: 文学士
Period: 1950-1954
Year of Graduation: 1954
Country: Japan
Thesis on Luigi Pirandello. Participated in university literary circles.

Awards

Seiun Award (Japanese Long Work)
1971
Work: Who Shall Inherit?
Category: 日本長編部門
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Short Work)
1973
Work: The Crystalline Star Cluster
Category: 日本短編部門
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞
Japan Mystery Writers Association Award
1974
Work: Japan Sinks
Organization: Japan Mystery Writers Association
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Long Work)
1974
Work: Japan Sinks
Category: 日本長編部門
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Short Work)
1976
Work: Vomisa
Category: 日本短編部門
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Short Work)
1978
Work: The Gordian Knot
Category: 日本短編部門
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Long Work)
1983
Work: Goodbye, Jupiter
Category: 日本長編部門
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞
Japan SF Grand Prize
1985
Work: Capital Disappearance
Organization: Japan SF Grand Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Osaka Cultural Award
1990
Organization: Osaka Prefecture (awarding body)
Result: 受賞
Honorary Doctorate
2007
Organization: Josai International University
Result: 授与
Seiun Award Special Prize
2011
Category: 特別賞
Organization: Seiun Award / Japan SF Convention
Result: 受賞（追贈）
Japan SF Grand Prize Special Achievement Award
2011
Category: 特別功労賞
Organization: Japan SF Grand Prize Committee
Result: 受賞（追贈）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Day of Resurrection

1964 Science fiction (pandemic / hard SF) 420 pages

A large-scale SF novel depicting a lethal global pandemic and the struggle and hope of the survivors.

LifeCivilizationExtinction and rebirth
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Day of Resurrection (film) (1980)

At the End of the Endless Stream

1966 Science fiction (time/space-spanning epic) 480 pages

An epic that spans time and space, questioning the meaning of life, intelligence and civilization.

TimeCivilizationIntelligence

Japan Sinks

1973 Science fiction (political fiction / disaster) 600 pages

A social SF novel that depicts political, social and human fate through a fictional scenario of the Japanese archipelago sinking.

NationDisasterEthnicity and identity
Adaptations
  • [Film] Japan Sinks (film) (1973)
  • [Film (remake)] Japan Sinks (2006 film) (2006)

Goodbye, Jupiter

1982 Science fiction (space opera) 360 pages

A space-set novel about Jupiter colonization plans and conflicts; later adapted into film and other media.

Space developmentFuture of humanityTechnology and ethics
Adaptations
  • [Film] Goodbye, Jupiter (film) (1984)

Bibliography

  • The Day of Resurrection
  • Japan Sinks
  • At the End of the Endless Stream
  • Goodbye, Jupiter
  • Capital Disappearance
  • Corridor of Nothingness

Adaptations

  • Japan Sinks film adaptations (1973, 2006, etc.)
  • The Day of Resurrection film adaptation (1980)
  • Goodbye, Jupiter film adaptation (1984)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Erudite, theme-driven long-form writing based on extensive knowledgeRealistic prose grounded in hard-SF scientific depictionIntellectual style that incorporates essays and critical discourse
Recurring Motifs
LifeFate of civilizationFuture / timeSurvival and extinction of humanityTechnology and ethics

Health

  • Depression
    1995-2000頃（阪神・淡路大震災後に罹患、後に回復）
    Led to reduced creative output and a period of withdrawal from some activities.
  • Pneumonia (cause of death)
    2011年7月（致命的）
    Died on 2011-07-26 of pneumonia.
  • Smoking (habit)
    終生（既往）
    Heavy smoking habit noted; likely impacted health over time.

Legacy

One of postwar Japan's leading SF authors, Komatsu left a major impact on popular culture and intellectual life through large-scale social SF and hard SF. His works' adaptations, mentoring of younger creators, and involvement in large projects (expos, film production) constitute a broad cultural legacy.

Museums

  • Setagaya Literary Museum (hosted Sakyo Komatsu exhibition) Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Academic Societies

  • Japan Futures Studies Association (co-founder/involved)
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan

Archives

  • Josai International University Press (published Komatsu Sakyo Complete Works)
  • Sakyo Komatsu Library

In Popular Culture

  • Widely known through film and TV adaptations of works such as Japan Sinks, The Day of Resurrection, and Goodbye, Jupiter.
  • Asteroid (6983) named 'Komatsusakyo' in his honor.

Quotes

  • In SF every form of expression becomes possible. Rather, from now on all forms of expression will become SF.
    Source: Sakyo Komatsu — Autobiography: In Search of Existence (2008)

Trivia

  • Asteroid (6983) was named 'Komatsusakyo'.
  • Often called one of the 'Big Three' of Japanese SF alongside Shinichi Hoshi and Yasutaka Tsutsui.
  • Early in his career he published manga under names such as 'Mori Minoru'.
  • Established IO Corporation to produce Goodbye, Jupiter.