Japanese Literary Awards

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Susan Matsui

まつい すーざん

Matsui Susan

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1959-01-01 （California, United States）
Nationality
American
Languages
Japanese, English
Residence History
Nyack, New York (raised) → Tokyo, Japan (after marriage) → Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan (child-rearing period) → Massachusetts, United States (current)

Career

Occupations
children's author, lyricist, composer, essayist
Active Years
1982-
Influenced By
Kenji Miyazawa

Education

Williams College
Music Department / Composition
Period: 1977-1981
Year of Graduation: 1981
Country: United States
Studied abroad at the Mozarteum University Salzburg during enrollment

Awards

Hirosuke Children's Story Award (7th)
1996
Work: Nonezumi and the Song of the Wind
Organization: Hirosuke Children's Story Award Committee
Result: winner
Robō no Ishi Juvenile Literature Award (19th)
1997
Work: Tales of the Forest
Organization: Robō no Ishi Juvenile Literature Award Committee
Result: winner
Robō no Ishi Juvenile Literature Award (19th)
1997
Work: Tales of the Meadow
Organization: Robō no Ishi Juvenile Literature Award Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Nonezumi and the Song of the Wind

1996 Children's literature (picture story)

A picture story about a little field mouse who meets the wind and discovers the wonders of nature.

naturecoming-of-agefriendship

Tales of the Forest

1997 Children's literature (short stories)

A gentle short-story collection depicting the daily lives of creatures living in the forest.

natureseasonscommunity

Tales of the Meadow

1997 Children's literature (short stories)

A collection of gentle stories set in a meadow for children.

natureadventurekindness

Koneko no Fushika

Children's literature

A children's tale centered on a kitten. Some publication details are not available.

animalsfamily

Bibliography

  • Koneko no Fushika
  • Chiisana Goruri
  • Little Monster Goruri: Pichari-chan Was Born
  • Tengu's Bridge
  • Kozue-chan of the Forest
  • Kappa's Insect Cage
  • Let's Play Cat
  • Mii-chan and Her Treasures
  • Winter Stories
  • Seaside Stories
  • Tales of the Forest
  • Tales of the Meadow
  • Mother's Treasure Box
  • Forest Lullaby
  • Forest Walking Songs
  • Little Blue Fish
  • House in the Field
  • Lily and Shells
  • Mr. Getringer's Sky-blue Airplane
  • Nonezumi and the Song of the Wind
  • Grandma Punburu the Tailor
  • Junpei and the Mysterious Stone Fork
  • Grandpa O and Grandma Chi: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
  • Rabbit's Bouquet
  • The Song of Black Cat Misha
  • Borus the Giant
  • May Tomorrow Be Sunny
  • The Adventures of Jilken
  • Stray Cat's Lullaby
  • Traveling Mouse
  • That Is the Forest Lullaby
  • Grandma Kumoyo's Wonderful ... (kamishibai script)

Translations by Author

  • The Story That Begins at the End (translation)
  • Cute Children of Light (co-translation)
  • Children of the Flowers (co-translation)
  • Children of the Stars (co-translation)
  • Raindrop Plop (co-translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
gentle narrative tonefairy-tale like descriptions emphasizing nature
Recurring Motifs
natureanimalsseasonal changefamily and community

Legacy

As an American author writing children's literature in Japanese, she produced a body of gentle, nature-focused works. She has won domestic children's literature awards and is recognized for cross-cultural literary activity, though academic study and broad media exposure are relatively limited.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (holds catalog data)

Trivia

  • Born in California but authored numerous children's books in Japanese.
  • Married into a family related to children's author Tadashi Matsui (松居直).
  • Graduated from Williams College and studied in Salzburg during her studies.