Kodansha Nonfiction Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 4 (1982) award
Ryuichi Matsushita
まつした りゅういち
Matsushita Ryuichi
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1937-02-15 （Nakatsu, Oita, Japan）
- Died
- 2004-06-17 （Nakatsu, Oita, Japan） age 67
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Tanka poet, Novelist
- Active Years
- 1969-2004
- Influenced By
- Hidenobu Ueno
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oita Prefectural Nakatsu Kita High School | — | — | — | 〜1956 | Japan |
Oita Prefectural Nakatsu Kita High School
Period:
〜1956
Year of Graduation:
1956
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Kodansha Nonfiction Award | Louise - The Name Given by Her Father | — | Kodansha | winner |
Kodansha Nonfiction Award
1982
Work:
Louise - The Name Given by Her Father
Organization:
Kodansha
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Seasons of the Tofu Shop
1969 Tanka collection / ReportageA debut collection combining tanka and documentary prose about life in a tofu shop and the feelings of youth; it depicted everyday provincial life and drew wide attention.
everyday lifeyouthlaborregional culture
Adaptations
- [TV drama] Seasons of the Tofu Shop (1969)
Women of Kazanashi
1972 ReportageA reportage documenting women in a fishing village around Usuki Bay who opposed a cement plant, depicting local environmental issues and grassroots activism.
environmental issuescommunity activismwomen's roles
Louise - The Name Given by Her Father
1982 NonfictionA biographical nonfiction tracing the life of Ito Rui, daughter of Osugi Sakae and Ito Noe, who were killed in the Amakasu incident.
historybiographypolitical history
Watch the Signal Fires
1987 Nonfiction / ReportageA work reporting on incidents such as the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front's "Wolf" unit, treating political struggle and ideology.
political movementsideologycrime and society
Bibliography
- Seasons of the Tofu Shop
- Women of Kazanashi
- Louise - The Name Given by Her Father
- Watch the Signal Fires
- Taking Refuge in the Fortress
- The Thought of Darkness
- 5,000 Fireflies
- Bottomless Poor Life
Adaptations
- TV drama 'Seasons of the Tofu Shop' (1969-1970)
- Stage play 'When the Seagull Comes' (premiered 2008)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- documentary tonepopulist viewpointplain and direct prose
- Recurring Motifs
- natureeveryday detailsanti-pollution/anti-developmentpeace and resistance
Health
-
Pneumonia in infancy; blindness in right eye幼年期Lost sight in right eye due to high fever; impacted his life thereafter.
-
Multiple pulmonary cysts / chronic lung disease (diagnosed at 41)成人期（中年期以降）Required frequent hospitalizations and treatment while continuing to write.
-
Cerebellar hemorrhage2003年Suffered cerebellar hemorrhage in 2003 and underwent rehabilitation.
Legacy
Ryuichi Matsushita was a writer rooted in regional life who, through tanka, reportage and nonfiction, actively engaged with environmental protection and peace movements. He documented grassroots resident movements and influenced activists; many of his materials were donated to Nakatsu city library.
Museums
- Nakatsu Obata Memorial Library (holds donated materials) Nakatsu, Oita, Japan
Archives
- Nakatsu Obata Memorial Library holdings: books and autograph manuscripts
In Popular Culture
- The work 'Seasons of the Tofu Shop' was adapted for TV and stage productions (stage adaptations from 2008 and later).
Trivia
- Lost sight in his right eye due to childhood pneumonia.
- Worked in his family's tofu shop in his youth; that experience influenced his writings.
- The magazine 'Kusa no Ne Tsushin' (Grassroots Newsletter) he edited ran for over 30 years, ending at issue 380.