Mephisto Award
1 appearances
Tenju Maruyama
まるやま てんじゅ
Maruyama Tenju
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1954-01-01 （Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Nagasaki Prefecture (birthplace) → Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Mystery writer, Antiquarian bookseller, Former Ground Self-Defense Force member
- Active Years
- 2010-2013
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Mephisto Prize | Roya no Oni | — | Kodansha | Winner |
Mephisto Prize
2010
Work:
Roya no Oni
Organization:
Kodansha
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Roya no Oni
2010 Historical mysteryA historical mystery inspired by research into Yamatai. Written while the author had a visual impairment, it was his debut novel at age 56.
Yamataihistorical deductionarchaeological imaginationdisability and creativity
Roya no Tora
2010 Historical mysteryA work in the same vein as 'Roya no Oni', continuing to explore mysteries surrounding Yamatai in a historical mystery framework.
Yamataihistorymystery solving
Darkness of Xianyang
2011 Historical mysteryA historical mystery set in Xianyang, the Qin dynasty capital. The work reflects the author's interest in ancient Chinese history.
Qin dynastypolitical intriguehistorical mysteries
Handan's Oath: The Men Who Opposed the First Emperor
2012 Historical fictionA historical novel based on facts and legends from the time of the First Emperor, narrated from the perspective of those who opposed him.
First Emperorrebellionheroic tales
Dead Beauty's Temptation: Ren Inn Supernatural Casebook
2013 Supernatural mysteryA linked short story collection including the title piece, compiled as a casebook of supernatural incidents and eerie tales.
yokai and spiritssupernaturalshort story cycle
The Oracle: Priestess 'Himiko' Descends
2011 Short story (uncollected)A short story published in Mephisto, themed on the priestess Himiko and related to Yamatai legends.
Yamataipriestess imageryintersection of myth and history
Bibliography
- Roya no Oni (2010)
- Roya no Tora (2010)
- Darkness of Xianyang (2011)
- The Oracle: Priestess 'Himiko' Descends (short story, 2011)
- Handan's Oath: The Men Who Opposed the First Emperor (2012)
- Dead Beauty's Temptation: Ren Inn Supernatural Casebook (2013)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Historically researched descriptive styleFusion of mystery and historical narrativeEmphasis on atmospheric scene-setting
- Recurring Motifs
- Yamataiancient maps and documentsancient Chinese historythe uncanny and supernatural
Health
-
Visual impairment不明（執筆期）Despite a visual impairment, he continued writing and published his debut novel.
-
Poor health (unspecified)2013年以降On hiatus from literary activities since 2013 due to poor health.
Legacy
Known for historical mysteries grounded in research on Yamatai. His 2010 Mephisto Prize-winning debut at age 56 is noted as the oldest debut in the prize's history (as of 2024).
Archives
- National Diet Library (NDL) ID: 01202632
- VIAF ID: 255995839
Trivia
- He debuted at age 56 with the 44th Mephisto Prize, the oldest debut in the prize's history (as of 2024).
- After high school he served in the Ground Self-Defense Force and later opened an antiquarian bookshop.
- His lifelong research into Yamatai served as the inspiration for his fiction.