Nihon Essayist Club Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 43 (1995) award
Kyoko Kato
かとう きょうこ
Kato Kyoko
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1929-05-26 （Tokyo）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese, English, French
Career
- Occupations
- Medieval French literature scholar, Essayist, Translator, Critic, University lecturer
- Active Years
- 1953-2015
- Affiliations
- Sophia University, Sophia University Community College, Dai-ichi Life Foundation (advisor), Institute for Community Studies (board member)
- Influenced By
- Thomas Inmorse, Joseph Rogendorff
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University | Faculty of Letters | Department of French | 文学士 | 1950-1953 | Japan |
| University of Washington | Graduate School | Master's program (English/French literature etc.) | 修士 | 1955-1957 | United States |
| Waseda University Graduate School | Graduate School of Letters | Doctoral program in French (left after coursework) | — | 1960s | Japan |
Waseda University
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of French
Degree:
文学士
Period:
1950-1953
Year of Graduation:
1953
Country:
Japan
University of Washington
Graduate School
/ Master's program (English/French literature etc.)
Degree:
修士
Period:
1955-1957
Year of Graduation:
1957
Country:
United States
Completed master's program while living in the U.S. with her husband
Waseda University Graduate School
Graduate School of Letters
/ Doctoral program in French (left after coursework)
Period:
1960s
Year of Graduation:
1965
Country:
Japan
Left after completing coursework (no doctoral degree)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Japan Essayists' Club Prize | Stanley Bennett: A Life Who Loved Japan | — | Japan Essayists' Club | winner |
| 1996 | Joseph Rogendorff Prize | A Journey Through Europe: Guideposts to Intercultural Understanding (co-authored) | — | Joseph Rogendorff Prize Committee | winner |
| 2003 | Bungei Shunju Readers' Prize | Discovery of the Draft Apology Imperial Rescript by Emperor Showa (article) | — | Bungei Shunju | winner |
Japan Essayists' Club Prize
1995
Work:
Stanley Bennett: A Life Who Loved Japan
Organization:
Japan Essayists' Club
Result:
winner
Joseph Rogendorff Prize
1996
Work:
A Journey Through Europe: Guideposts to Intercultural Understanding (co-authored)
Organization:
Joseph Rogendorff Prize Committee
Result:
winner
Bungei Shunju Readers' Prize
2003
Work:
Discovery of the Draft Apology Imperial Rescript by Emperor Showa (article)
Organization:
Bungei Shunju
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Stanley Bennett: A Life Who Loved Japan
1994 Biography / Non-fictionA biography tracing the life of foreign scientist Stanley Bennett and his engagement with Japan, portraying the scientist through his interactions with Japanese society.
BiographyJapan–US relationsHistory of science
The Death of a Spouse
1989 Non-fiction / MemoirA personal account written after the death of her husband, recounting his life, achievements, and family memories.
LossFamilyScientific biography
A Journey Through Europe: Guideposts to Intercultural Understanding
1995 Essays / Cultural commentaryA co-authored account of European experiences with reflections on intercultural understanding, combining travelogue and cultural comparison.
Intercultural understandingTravelogueComparative culture
Discovery of the Draft Apology Imperial Rescript by Emperor Showa
2003 Historical investigation / Non-fictionA non-fiction report on the discovery of documents related to Emperor Showa, examining the provenance and historical significance of the materials.
HistoryImperial documentsDocument discovery
Bibliography
- No Regrets in Youth: A Student Couple's Study Abroad Record
- To My Beloved Ryoko
- Youth in Europe: My Study in France
- The Erased Great Chief: Shadows of America's Founding
- Ryoko Who Went to America
- Try Learning English This Way?
- Introduction to International Manners: For Those Going Abroad
- On Mothers Who Nurture Children
- How to Read English Newspapers: An Introduction
- Song of the Shore: The Life of a Female Biologist
- The Death of a Spouse
- Stanley Bennett: A Life Who Loved Japan
- New England Tales: America, Its Emotional Landscapes
- Discovery of the Draft Apology Imperial Rescript by Emperor Showa
- The Art of Fighting with Words: Japanese Aesthetic and Eloquence
- Reminiscences of St. Louis: 1950s Study Abroad in America
- The Life of MUST: Looking into the Heart
Translations by Author
- What Is an Editor: The Life and Work of Saxe Cummins (translated by Kyoko Kato)
- The Painted World of Grandma Moses (translated by Kyoko Kato)
- Medieval Feasts: Food Culture in Medieval Europe (co-translated by Kyoko Kato)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear and accessible proseCareful, source-based expositionComparative reflections that promote intercultural understanding
- Recurring Motifs
- Japan–US cultural comparisonFamily and educationRe-examination of historical figures
Legacy
While rooted in medieval French literary scholarship, she contributed to intercultural understanding and historical investigation through a wide range of non-fiction and essays. Her works on English learning and numerous translations also influenced Japan's intellectual and civic discourse.
Academic Societies
- Japan Essayists' Club
Archives
- Sophia University Library (possible holding of related materials)
Trivia
- Birth surname was Fujii. Her father, Hyakutaro Fujii, was a practitioner who promoted the 'Fujii therapy'.
- Her husband was developmental biologist Yoshihiro Kato; after his death she wrote 'The Death of a Spouse'.
- She served for many years as a lecturer at Sophia University and worked as an advisor to community and corporate organizations.
- Her activities spanned non-fiction writing, translation, and publications on English education.
- She maintained a personal blog titled 'Kyoko Kato's Nonfiction Writing Course'.