Japanese Literary Awards

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Maki Kuuto

まき くうと

maki kuuto

Aliases: 湖山真 / 湖山眞生
Pen Names: Koyama Masao（Pseudonym used for early submissions）, Koyama Shin（Real name or alternate byline）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
light novel author, company employee (part-time writer)
Active Years
2006-

Awards

Kadokawa Gakuen Novel Award (Encouragement Prize)
2007
Work: Waters Whisper
Category: 奨励賞
Organization: Kadokawa Gakuen Novel Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Dengeki Novel Prize (Finalist)
2006
Work: Rain and Canon and the Sound of Water
Organization: Dengeki Novel Prize Committee
Result: 最終候補

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Mononoke in the Palm: Miminazaka Strange Chronicles

2009 light novel / yokai horror

First entry in a series set around Miminazaka, depicting young people confronting supernatural phenomena lurking within everyday life.

yokaiintersection of everyday life and the supernaturalcoming-of-age

Ghost at Dawn: Miminazaka Strange Chronicles

2009 light novel / horror

A continuation in the Miminazaka series, focusing on ghosts and ties to past grievances.

ghostsmemoryconfronting the past

A Vampire Next Door: Miminazaka Strange Chronicles

2009 light novel / dark fantasy

A story about the unease and interactions brought by an unusual neighbor hiding among everyday life.

neighbor relationscoexistence with the otheruncanniness

Kaleidomaze: The Half-Ripe Princess's Bright National Plan

2010 light novel / fantasy

First volume of a comedic fantasy series portraying academy and national schemes.

school lifepolitical intriguehumor

Kirino World 1: The Key of Memory

2013 horror / mystery

First volume of a horror series created with Masaki Hiranuma as original author, intertwining memory and fear.

amnesiafearcollaborative authorship

Saga Dia: Epic of the Dragon-Riding Hero

2014 light novel / fantasy

A mid-scale fantasy written in an epic heroic vein.

heroic taledragon-ridingepic

Dual Holder: Multiple Inheritance of the Holy Sword and Magic Staff

2015 light novel / fantasy

A fantasy about adventures and battles centered on the inheritance of multiple powers.

inheritanceadventuremagic

The Faux Holy Sword and the Dragon-Armored War Princess

2016 light novel / fantasy

Series sequel focusing on deception, truth, and the conflicts of the war princesses.

disguisewar princessesconflict

Bibliography

  • Mononoke in the Palm: Miminazaka Strange Chronicles
  • Ghost at Dawn: Miminazaka Strange Chronicles
  • A Vampire Next Door: Miminazaka Strange Chronicles
  • Kaleidomaze: The Half-Ripe Princess's Bright National Plan
  • Kaleidomaze 2: Unburnable Tasks and the Burning Maiden's Heart
  • Kaleidomaze 3: Clockwork Pure Emotions
  • Kaleidomaze 4: The Sleeping Throne and Dreaming Future Forecasts
  • Kirino World 1: The Key of Memory
  • Kirino World 2: Saga of Retribution
  • Kirino World 3: The Song of Awakening
  • Wolf Boy, Lamb Girl 2
  • Saga Dia: Epic of the Dragon-Riding Hero
  • Dual Holder: Multiple Inheritance of the Holy Sword and Magic Staff
  • The Faux Holy Sword and the Dragon-Armored War Princess

Style & Themes

Literary Style
light-novel narrative voicefusion of everyday depiction and supernatural imageryfast-paced, dialogue-driven prose
Recurring Motifs
yokai and ghoststension with neighborsmemory and ties to the pastholy swords, magic, and inheritance

Legacy

An author known in the light-novel field for works leaning toward yokai and horror. While working as a salaried employee, he published across multiple imprints including Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko.

Trivia

  • Won the Encouragement Prize at the 11th Kadokawa Gakuen Novel Award in 2007 for 'Waters Whisper', later revised and published in 2009 by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko.
  • Works as a salaried employee while writing part-time.
  • Has authority identifiers such as VIAF and National Diet Library entries.