Japanese Literary Awards

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Makoto Ueno

うえの まこと

Ueno Makoto

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-01-01 （Amagi (now Asakura), Fukuoka, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Fukuoka City (grew up) → Nara City (work/research) → Tokyo (Kokugakuin University)

Career

Occupations
Japanese literature scholar, Manyo scholar, Folklorist, University professor, Researcher, Author, Radio personality
Active Years
1984-
Affiliations
Nara University (Professor emeritus, former professor), Kokugakuin University (Specially appointed professor), International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Visiting professor), Nara Prefectural Manyo Cultural Museum (former deputy director, Institute of Manyo Ancient Studies)
Memberships
East Asian Ancient Studies Association, Japanese Mountain Asceticism Study Association, Kojiki Studies Association, Japanese Folklore Society, Japanese Literature Association, Jodai Literature Association, Manyo Society, Folklore Performing Arts Association
Influenced By
Shinobu Orikuchi, Susumu Nakanishi

Education

Fukuoka University Ohori High School
Period: 〜1979
Year of Graduation: 1979
Country: Japan
High school graduate
Kokugakuin University, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Degree: 学士
Period: 1980s
Year of Graduation: 1984
Country: Japan
Undergraduate degree
Kokugakuin University Graduate School, Literature
Graduate School of Letters / Ancient Japanese Literature (doctoral program)
Period: 1990 (単位取得満期退学)
Year of Graduation: 1990
Country: Japan
Left doctoral program after completing coursework
Aichi Gakuin University (degree conferred)
Degree: 博士（文学）
Period: 1998
Year of Graduation: 1998
Country: Japan
PhD (Doctor of Letters) by dissertation ('The Literary Space of Ancient Japan — Manyo Elegies and Funerary Rituals')

Awards

Japanese Folklore Society Research Encouragement Award
1992
Organization: Japanese Folklore Society
Result: 受賞
Jodai Bungaku-kai Prize
1998
Organization: Jodai Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Kadokawa Cultural Foundation Arts and Letters Award
2009
Work: Soul of Ancient Studies
Organization: Kadokawa Foundation
Result: 受賞
Ritsumeikan Shirakawa Shizuka Memorial Oriental Character Culture Award (Excellence Award)
2018
Work: Reading the Ancient World from the Manyoshu
Category: 優秀賞
Organization: Ritsumeikan University
Result: 受賞
Japan Essayists' Club Award
2020
Work: The Manyo Scholar Puts Away the Grave and Sends Off His Mother
Organization: Japan Essayists' Club
Result: 受賞
Nara Newspaper Cultural Prize
Organization: Nara Newspaper
Result: 受賞
NHK Broadcasting Anniversary Commendation
Organization: NHK
Result: 受彰

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Literary Space of Ancient Japan — Manyo Elegies and Funerary Rituals

1997 Scholarly monograph 320 pages

A scholarly study that examines Manyo elegies and funerary rituals to elucidate the literary and cultural space of Asuka–Nara Japan and its expressions of death.

Manyo elegiesfunerary ritualsancient views of life and deathliterary history

Soul of Ancient Studies

2008 Thought / Research 240 pages

Using Shinobu Orikuchi's thought as a starting point, this book reexamines ancient religious views and concepts such as 'marebito' from a contemporary perspective.

Orikuchi Shinobumarebitoancient religionfolklore studies

The Manyo Scholar Puts Away the Grave and Sends Off His Mother

2020 Essay 220 pages

An essay juxtaposing personal loss with ancient funerary views,描ing the intersection of daily life and ancient literature.

lossfunerary ritualsManyoshufamily

Bibliography

  • The Literary Space of Ancient Japan — Manyo Elegies and Funerary Rituals (Yuzankaku) 1997
  • Bath-time Reading of Manyo Elegies (Sekai Shisosha) 1998
  • Soul of Ancient Studies (Shincho Sensho) 2008
  • The Manyo Scholar Puts Away the Grave and Sends Off His Mother (Kodansha) 2020
  • Lectures on the Manyoshu: The True Face of the Oldest Anthology (Chuko Shinsho) 2020

Adaptations

  • Nara Centennial Hall Manyo Opera Lab productions (original/script/supervision)
  • Manyo Song Journey - Ancient Capitals - (CD, 2002)

Translations of Works

  • Sensory Translation of the Manyoshu (NHK Publishing) 2019 (modern Japanese translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Accessible, lecture-like proseCombines primary sources with on-site perspectivesStyle midway between academic and popular exposition
Recurring Motifs
Manyoshuancient funerary and life-death viewsrituals and performing arts transmissioninfluence of Orikuchi Shinobu

Legacy

A scholar who significantly contributed to popularizing Manyo studies and ancient Japanese culture. Acts as a bridge between academia and the public through lectures, radio, and on-site guides.

Museums

  • Nara Prefectural Manyo Cultural Museum Nara Prefecture (detailed address omitted)

Academic Societies

  • East Asian Ancient Studies Association
  • Japanese Folklore Society
  • Jodai Literature Association
  • Manyo Society
  • Japanese Literature Association

Archives

  • Nara University Library (holds research materials)

In Popular Culture

  • Commentary activities on MBS Radio program 'Makoto Ueno's Manyo Song Calendar'
  • Appearances on NHK Radio classical literature lectures

Quotes

  • Poems are the voices of ancient daily life. My task is to read the breath of an era from them.
    Source: Collected from books and lectures

Trivia

  • Has long hosted the MBS radio program 'Makoto Ueno's Manyo Song Calendar'.
  • Frequently leads Manyo walks and on-site lectures in Asuka and Heijo-kyo.
  • Has been involved in creating opera scripts and stage texts based on Manyo themes.