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Ryohei Komiyama

こみやま りょうへい

Komiyama Ryohei

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1916-05-12 （Ueda, Nagano, Japan）
Died
2012-04-13 （Ueda, Nagano, Japan (home)） age 95
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Ueda, Nagano (birthplace) → Tokyo (childhood–young adulthood) → Tokyo (editorial and publishing career) → Ueda, Nagano (from 1990s)

Career

Occupations
editor, businessman, publisher executive, writer
Active Years
1939-2012
Memberships
Children's Books 'Article 9' Group (founder/member)
Influenced By
Eiichi Sugimoto
Influenced
Sachio Imae, Kenjiro Haitani

Education

Okura Commercial School (night division; predecessor of Tokyo Keizai University)
Period: 在学期間不詳（夜間部在学）
Country: Japan
Attended Okura Commercial School night division. Involved in leftist student circle during studies and was later detained by special police.
Tokyo Commercial College (pre-war specialist course; predecessor institution related to Hitotsubashi University)
Period: 〜1939年
Year of Graduation: 1939
Country: Japan
Completed specialist course in 1939. Engaged in magazine editing while a student.

Awards

Robo no Ishi Literary Prize — Special Prize
1998
Work: Chikuma River (Part 1)
Organization: Robo no Ishi Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Shinmai Prize
2001
Work: For achievements as an editor
Organization: Shinano Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Chaplin: The Artist of Laughter and Tears

1964 biography (children/young readers)

A child-friendly illustrated biography introducing the life and art of Charles Chaplin.

biographyfilmjoy of expression

What Is an Editor: Creativity in Times of Crisis

1983 essay / publishing studies

An essay collection discussing the role and function of editors and challenges in publishing from postwar to contemporary times.

publishingeditorial theorypostwar culture

Chikuma River — Toward Tomorrow's Sea (Chikuma River series)

1997 novel (long-form)

A long-form series centered on homeland and youth, depicting regional and personal renewal and hope.

localityyouthrenewalhope

Bibliography

  • Chaplin: The Artist of Laughter and Tears (1964)
  • What Is an Editor: Creativity in Times of Crisis (1983)
  • Creating Children's Books (1984)
  • Seeking the True Image of Publishing (1985)
  • Chikuma River — Toward Tomorrow's Sea (1997)
  • Chikuma River, Part 2: Youth's Wanderings (1997)
  • Chikuma River, Part 3: Return of Youth (2000)
  • Chikuma River, Part 4: Youth Reborn (2002)
  • In Search of an Independent Spirit: The Era of Quarterly 'Riron' (2008)

Translations by Author

  • History of Animal Societies (co-translation, 1957)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, practical proseeditorial, logical structuringemphasis on locality and human warmth
Recurring Motifs
the world of publishing and editingpostwar reconstructionlocal pride and regional renewalchildren and education

Health

  • fracture (Feb 2012)
    2012年2月
    Suffered a fracture after a fall in Feb 2012, limiting late-life activities; later died of senility.

Legacy

A prominent postwar editor and publisher who nurtured numerous children's authors and intellectual readers through his editorial work. Contributed to regional culture and promotion of children's books, and is respected for his essays on the role of editors.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Publishing Club (associated)

Archives

  • Ryohei Komiyama's Editors' Room (personal archive / web archive available)

Quotes

  • Thank you, thank you. It was interesting, wasn't it?
    Source: Last words to his eldest daughter (reported) (2012)

Trivia

  • Founded the publishing company Rironsha in 1947 as an editor and executive.
  • Received the Robo no Ishi Literary Prize (Special Prize) in 1998 for Chikuma River and the Shinmai Prize in 2001.
  • Was one of the founding members of the 'Children's Books — Article 9' group established in 2008.
  • No funeral or farewell ceremony was held per his wishes.