Japanese Literary Awards

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Seiji Kodokoro

こどころ せいじ

Kodokoro Seiji

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1970-03-10 （Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
2000-
Nominations
Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize nominee (Rule, 2003), Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize nominee (Approach, 2004), Naoki Prize nominee (July Seventh, 2005), Naoki Prize nominee (Interruption, 2006), Naoki Prize nominee (Enemy's Shadow, 2008)

Awards

Mephisto Prize
2000
Work: UNKNOWN
Organization: Kodansha Mephisto Editorial Department
Result: Winner
Ikeda Akiko Memorial 'Watakushi, Tsumari Nobody' Prize
2010
Work: Line
Organization: Ikeda Akiko Memorial Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
2017
Work: Ikusa no Soko
Category: 文学・芸術部門
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: Winner
Japan Mystery Writers Association Award
2018
Work: Ikusa no Soko
Category: 長編および連作短編集部門
Organization: Japan Mystery Writers Association
Result: Winner
Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
2003
Work: Rule
Organization: Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominee
Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
2004
Work: Approach
Organization: Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominee
Naoki Prize
2005
Work: July Seventh
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominee
Naoki Prize
2006
Work: Interruption
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominee
Naoki Prize
2008
Work: Enemy's Shadow
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominee

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

UNKNOWN

2000 Mystery

Debut novel dealing with an incident inside the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Winner of the Mephisto Prize.

Self-Defense ForcesIncidentClosed-space mystery

The Boys' Locked Room

2000 Mystery

A collection of early short stories and linked pieces; ranked in the 2001 Honkaku Mystery Best 10.

YouthLocked-roomFriendship

Unfinished

2001 Mystery

A novel recognized in the 2002 Honkaku Mystery Best 10.

Incomplete narrativeInvestigationMemory

Rule

2002 Literary/Mystery

A work that was shortlisted for the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize.

RulesConflictSociety

Turning Point

2003 Mystery

Collected linked stories originally serialized in magazines.

ChoiceFatePast

Approach

2003 Literary/Mystery

A work that was shortlisted for the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize; serialized in magazines before book publication.

ApproachPursuitPsychology

July Seventh

2004 Literary Fiction

A novel that was a candidate for the Naoki Prize.

TimeMemoryHuman relationships

Interruption

2005 Mystery

A work that was a candidate for the Naoki Prize; serialized in magazines then published.

InterruptionSecretsConflict

Enemy's Shadow

2007 War/Mystery

A novel containing elements of war and military life; candidate for the Naoki Prize.

WarMilitaryFear

Line

2009 Literary/Mystery

One of the works central to the writing recognized by the Ikeda Akiko Memorial 'Watakushi, Tsumari Nobody' Prize.

BoundariesEthicsConflict

Two Shackles

2010 Literary Fiction

Contains short stories and linked pieces.

ConstraintChoice

Ninjian'e

2011 Literary Fiction

A work published by Shueisha.

Human drama

Lieutenant

2014 Military fiction/Literary

An original full-length novel; a work dealing with military subjects.

MilitaryCommandResponsibility

Ikusa no Soko

2017 War literature/Literary fiction

A long novel on the theme of war. One of his representative works; winner of the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award and the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award.

WarTraumaEthicsHistory

Survival

2018 War/Military Fiction

A work continuing themes related to Ikusa no Soko.

SurvivalWar

Dreams of Burma

2020 Historical/War

A novel with Burma as its subject; serialized in magazines prior to book publication.

WarColonial historyMemory

In the Forest Before the Enemy

2023 War/Military Fiction

A recent war novel serialized in magazines before book publication.

CombatNatureLife and death

Bibliography

  • UNKNOWN
  • The Boys' Locked Room
  • Unfinished
  • Rule
  • Turning Point
  • Approach
  • July Seventh
  • Interruption
  • Enemy's Shadow
  • Mefena-boun no Tsudou Michi
  • Line
  • Two Shackles
  • Ninjian'e
  • I Won't Lose Even If I Die
  • Lieutenant
  • Ikusa no Soko
  • Survival
  • Dreams of Burma
  • In the Forest Before the Enemy

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Precise, hard-edged proseRealistic military depictionsRestrained emotional expression
Recurring Motifs
Psychology of battleDiscipline and dutyClosed spacesConflict among comrades

Legacy

A contemporary Japanese novelist known for works on military and war themes informed by his Self-Defense Forces experience. He gained literary recognition with works such as Ikusa no Soko, which won the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award and the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award.

Trivia

  • His experience joining the Japan Air Self-Defense Force after high school is said to have influenced his writing.
  • Debuted in 2000 after winning the Mephisto Prize.
  • Ikusa no Soko won both the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award and the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award.