Japanese Literary Awards

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Lily Franky

リリー・フランキー

Rirī Furankī

Pen Names: Elvis Woodstock（Pen name used for songwriting and other music activities）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1963-11-04 （Kokura, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (now Kitakyushu)）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Kokura (now Kitakyushu) → Miyata Town (now Miyawaka) → Beppu, Oita Prefecture → Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture → Fussa, Tokyo

Career

Occupations
actor, illustrator, voice actor, broadcast writer, essayist, writer, musician, lyricist, composer, radio personality, designer, photographer, art director, picture book author, novelist
Active Years
1989-
Affiliations
Gunpowder Co., Ltd.
Influenced By
Nancy Seki, Boy George, Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Education

Oita Prefectural Geijutsu Junior College Attached Midorigaoka High School (now Oita Prefectural Geijutsu Midorigaoka High School)
Country: Japan
High school graduation
Musashino Art University
Country: Japan
Graduated after repeating a year; graduation project involved Famicom gameplay footage.

Awards

Honya Taisho (Booksellers Award)
2006
Work: Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
Organization: Honya Taisho Committee (Booksellers' vote)
Result: 受賞
Blue Ribbon Award (Newcomer)
2009
Work: Gururi no Koto
Category: 新人賞
Organization: The Association of Tokyo Film Journalists (Blue Ribbon Awards)
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize - Best Supporting Actor
2014
Work: Like Father, Like Son
Category: 助演男優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize - Outstanding Leading Actor
2019
Work: Shoplifters
Category: 主演男優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize - Outstanding Supporting Actor
2017
Work: SCOOP!
Category: 助演男優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Kinema Junpo Best Ten - Best Supporting Actor
2013
Work: Like Father, Like Son / The Devil's Path
Category: 助演男優賞
Organization: Kinema Junpo
Result: 受賞
Itami Juzo Award
2013
Organization: Itami Juzo Memorial Committee
Result: 受賞
TAMA Film Festival - Special Award
2015
Work: Nobi (Noi/Grave of Fires)
Category: 特別賞
Organization: TAMA Film Festival
Result: 受賞
TAMA Film Festival - Best Film (as participating cast)
2018
Work: Shoplifters (Best Film)
Category: 最優秀作品賞
Organization: TAMA Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Boston Society of Film Critics - Ensemble Performance Award
2018
Work: Shoplifters
Category: アンサンブル演技賞
Organization: Boston Society of Film Critics
Result: 受賞
GQ Men of the Year (Actor of the Year)
2018
Organization: GQ Japan
Result: 受賞
JAPAN CUTS - CUT ABOVE Award for Outstanding Performance in Film
2016
Work: The Shell Collector
Organization: JAPAN CUTS
Result: 受賞
ACC CM FESTIVAL - Performance Award
2014
Work: Daiwa House (TV CM) / Hino Motors (Radio CM)
Category: 演技賞
Organization: ACC (All Japan Federation of Commercial Broadcasters Associations)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad

2005 Memoir / Autobiographical novel

A long autobiographical work recounting his life with his mother. Originally serialized and later published as a best-selling volume that was adapted to TV drama, film and stage.

familymother-child relationshipmemorynostalgia
Adaptations
  • [Film] Tokyo Tower (film adaptation)
  • [TV drama] Tokyo Tower (TV drama)

Oden-kun

2001 Picture book / Children's book

A picture-book series featuring distinctive anthropomorphic oden characters; adapted for animation and beloved by a wide audience.

childrenhumorfriendship
Adaptations
  • [TV animation] Oden-kun (anime)

Lily Franky's Life Advice

2009 Essay

A collection of essays and short columns offering his distinctive perspective on life and people, sometimes in a Q&A/advice format.

life reflectionshumorhuman observation

Bibliography

  • Joshi no Ikizama
  • Nobody's Famous Quotes
  • Goodbye, People of Japan
  • Oden-kun: What's Your Dream?
  • For Those Who Have Become Worn Out
  • Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
  • Lily Franky's Life Advice

Adaptations

  • Tokyo Tower (film, TV drama, stage)
  • Oden-kun (animation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
plainspoken narrative voiceconversational and immediate proselight, often illustrated expression
Recurring Motifs
familynostalgiafood and drinkurban life

Legacy

A multi-talented figure active across writing, illustration, acting and music. After the success of Tokyo Tower he became regarded as a bridge between contemporary Japanese pop culture and popular literature.

In Popular Culture

  • Regional bookstore campaigns in Fukuoka offering illustrated book covers as purchase bonuses
  • Wide media exposure through frequent radio, TV and commercial appearances

Quotes

  • I take on every job I'm asked to do. There is no reason to refuse.
    Source: Interviews / biographical summaries
  • (On the publication of Tokyo Tower) If you don't want anyone to see you cry, it's dangerous to read this on the train.
    Source: Reviews / reader comments (at time of publication) (2005)

Trivia

  • Uses the pen name 'Elvis Woodstock' for songwriting and related music activities
  • Graduation project at university was a recording of Famicom gameplay
  • Won the Blue Ribbon Award newcomer prize at age 45 (one of the oldest recipients) for Gururi no Koto
  • Served as a selection committee member for a children's non-fiction literature prize at the Kitakyushu City Literary Museum