Japanese Literary Awards

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Yuko Matsumoto

まつもと ゆうこ

Matsumoto Yuko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1963-10-31
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Literary scholar, University professor
Active Years
1992-
Affiliations
Seigakuin University
Memberships
The English Literary Society of Japan, Japan Writers' Association, Japanese Association of Children's Literature, Children's Literature Association (English-speaking), International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) / International Children's Literature Association

Education

Waseda University
First Faculty of Letters / Department of English
Country: Japan
Japan Women's University
Graduate School of Letters
Degree: 文学修士
Country: Japan
Completed doctoral coursework but withdrew after meeting requirements (1992)

Awards

Long-form Children's Literature Newcomer Award (1st)
2002
Work: Ryuunnoor no Niwa
Organization: Japanese Association of Children's Literature
Result: winner
Utsunomiya Kodomo Award (19th)
2003
Organization: City of Utsunomiya (awarding body)
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Nijiiro no Riddel

1992 Fantasy

Author's debut work. A fantasy set in an imaginative world, depicting the protagonist's growth and adventures.

coming-of-ageadventuremagic

Shinku no Makyou

1994 Fantasy

A work in the 'Siena' series. A fantasy about a dark cult and the conflicts faced by young protagonists.

powerfriendshipbelief

Yume no Kanmuri: Aoi no Ken

1995 Fantasy

A volume in the 'Lucas Leon' series. A tale of adventure and succession to the throne.

successionadventurefriendship

The Garden of Ryuunnoor

2002 Children's literature / Fantasy

First book of the 'Michiru and the Magic Flower' series. A children's fantasy about magic, friendship and growth.

coming-of-agemagicfriendship

Mystery of the Blue Rose

2004 Children's literature / Fantasy

Sequel in the series. A children's fantasy with mystery-solving elements.

mysterymagicbonds

Fairy Snow's Dream

2006 Children's literature / Fantasy

Another sequel in the series exploring the interplay of dreams and reality.

dreamsfriendshipmagic

Door to Eternity

1996 Fantasy

A standalone fantasy novel dealing with time and memory.

timememorychoices

I Want to Keep a Chameleon!

2011 Children's literature

A child-friendly, humorous work containing short-story elements.

everyday lifeanimalsfamily

The Witch Weaves Dreams at Noon

2016 Children's literature / Fantasy

A mature children's fantasy exploring dreams, reality, and choices.

dreamschoicegrowth

Bibliography

  • Nijiiro no Riddel
  • Shinku no Makyou
  • Yume no Kanmuri: Aoi no Ken
  • Yume no Kanmuri: Shiro no Yami
  • The Heir Is in a Bad Mood
  • The Heroine Is Missing
  • The Rival Is an Egoist
  • The Successor Is a Top Student
  • The Garden of Ryuunnoor
  • Mystery of the Blue Rose
  • Fairy Snow's Dream
  • Door to Eternity
  • Frozen by Your Eyes
  • Prelude of an Eighth Note
  • I Want to Keep a Chameleon!
  • Tsunko-chan Goes to Fairyland
  • The Witch Weaves Dreams at Noon

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Children's fantasy-oriented proseCareful depiction with attention to historical background and character psychology
Recurring Motifs
coming-of-agemagicfamily and friendship

Legacy

As both a children's novelist and a scholar of English literature, she has published numerous fantasy-based children's books and contributed to children's literature research and education as a university professor.

Academic Societies

  • The English Literary Society of Japan
  • Japan Writers' Association
  • Japanese Association of Children's Literature
  • Children's Literature Association (English-speaking)
  • International children's literature organizations

Trivia

  • Debuted as an author in 1992 with 'Nijiiro no Riddel'.
  • Served as faculty at Seigakuin University (lecturer → associate professor → professor) in the Department of Children's Studies.
  • Won the Japanese Association of Children's Literature Long-form Newcomer Award in 2002.