Japanese Literary Awards

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Taku Miki

みき たく

Miki Taku

Aliases: 冨田 三樹
Pen Names: Tomita Miki（Birth name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1935-05-13 （Tokyo, Japan）
Died
2023-11-18 （Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan） age 88
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Dalian (Manchuria) → Omaezaki, Shizuoka, Japan → Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan → Ashina, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan → Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Poet, Non-fiction writer, Children's literature author, Translator
Active Years
1966-2023
Affiliations
Japan Art Academy
Memberships
Japan Art Academy
Influenced By
Russian literature, Children's literature, Children's collections (influence from his father)
Nominations
Midwife's House — Akutagawa Prize nominee

Education

Waseda University
First Faculty of Letters / Russian Literature
Degree: 学士
Period: 1955 - 0
Country: Japan
Entered in 1955; studied in the Russian literature department

Awards

H Prize
1967
Work: Tokyo, 3 a.m.
Result: 受賞
Takami Jun Prize
1970
Work: My Kiddy Land
Result: 受賞
Akutagawa Prize
1973
Work: Hibari (Siskin)
Result: 受賞
Noma Children's Literature Prize
1984
Work: Potapota
Result: 受賞
Hirabayashi Taiko Prize
1986
Work: The Coachman's Autumn
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize
1989
Work: Collection of Short Humorous Tales
Result: 受賞
Robou no Ishi Literary Prize
1997
Work: Hiroshi the Dog
Result: 受賞
Tanizaki Jun'ichirō Prize
1997
Work: Alley
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1999
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Yomiuri Literary Prize
2000
Work: Bare Feet and Shells
Result: 受賞
Fujimura Memorial Rekitei Prize
2005
Work: Biography of Hakushu Kitahara
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Arts Award
2006
Work: Biography of Hakushu Kitahara
Result: 受賞
Rennyo Prize
2006
Work: Biography of Hakushu Kitahara
Result: 受賞
Japan Art Academy Prize and Imperial Award
2007
Organization: Japan Art Academy
Result: 受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
2011
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 叙勲
Ito Sei Literary Prize
2012
Work: K
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tokyo, 3 a.m.

1966 Poetry

A poetry collection marking his early emergence as a poet.

citynightsolitude

My Kiddy Land

1970 Poetry

A poetry collection that sensitively depicts children and everyday life.

childrenmemoryeveryday life

Hibari (Siskin)

1973 Short story (part of linked stories)

A piece from the linked stories collection 'After the Bombardment', drawing on his experiences in Manchuria/China; winner of the Akutagawa Prize.

war memoryexperience in Chinafamily

The Quivering Tongue

1975 Novella

A novella depicting a family's struggle around the author's daughter's tetanus; later adapted into a film by Yotaro Nomura.

illness and carefamilyloss
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Quivering Tongue / 野村芳太郎

Alley

1997 Novel

A novel set in back alleys that portrays human relationships; winner of the Tanizaki Prize.

nostalgiaurban lifehuman relationships

Bare Feet and Shells

1999 Novel

A novel set by the sea that delicately explores characters' emotions; recipient of the Yomiuri Literary Prize.

seanaturecoming of age

K

2012 I-novel / Semi-autobiographical novel

A semi-autobiographical work reflecting on memories of his wife Keiko Fukui; winner of the Ito Sei Literary Prize.

remembranceloveloss

Bibliography

  • Tokyo, 3 a.m.
  • My Kiddy Land
  • Taku Miki Collected Poems
  • Uterus
  • Brown Sketchbook
  • After the Bombardment
  • Hibari (Siskin)
  • Midwife's House
  • The Quivering Tongue
  • Alley
  • Bare Feet and Shells
  • K
  • Potapota
  • Hiroshi the Dog
  • Hakushu Kitahara (Biography)
  • Collection of Short Humorous Tales
  • The Boy in the Morning
  • The Coachman's Autumn
  • By the Seaside
  • The Alchemist's Hat

Adaptations

  • The Quivering Tongue — film adaptation (dir. Yotaro Nomura)

Translations by Author

  • Puss in Boots (Charles Perrault)
  • Frog and Toad Together (Arnold Lobel)
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain)
  • The Treasure in My Pocket (R. Cordell)
  • My Train (David McPhail)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Everyday-life rooted poetryVivid character depictionWarm, humane tone
Recurring Motifs
children and familyillness and recoverysea and naturenostalgia

Health

  • Poliomyelitis (polio)
    幼年期
    Left leg impairment resulting from childhood polio
  • Myocardial infarction
    1994年
    Suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 1994 and recovered; wrote the non-fiction 'Record of Survival'

Legacy

Starting as a poet, he went on to write novels, children's literature, translations and biographies. A recipient of the Akutagawa Prize and numerous other honors, and a member of the Japan Art Academy, he left a significant mark on contemporary Japanese literature.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Society for Children's Literature

In Popular Culture

  • His poem 'Keizu' was set to music and sung by Wataru Takada and was reportedly covered by the Bonzos

Trivia

  • Birth name: Tomita Miki (冨田三樹).
  • Spent ages 2–10 in Dalian during childhood.
  • Suffered childhood polio that left a lasting impairment in his left leg.
  • Translated many English, American and Russian children's books, notably Arnold Lobel's series.
  • Expressed strong views against unauthorized use of authors' works and advocated reinstatement of a stamping/approval system for educational publishers.