Japanese Literary Awards

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Tadaaki Mori

もり ただあき

Mori Tadaaki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1948-05-11 （Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tachikawa, Tokyo (birthplace) → Akiruno, Tokyo (resident)

Career

Occupations
poet, children's author, scriptwriter, lyricist
Active Years
1965-
Influenced By
Shūji Terayama, Makoto Oishi
Influenced
Hideki Sonoda, Keiko Nagahara

Education

Daito Bunka University
Department of Japanese Literature / Department of Japanese Literature
Period: 在学中中退〜1968年
Country: Japan
Dropped out while enrolled (left around 1968)

Awards

NHK Prize (children's theatre script)
1973
Work: Bobby, Run My Heart
Organization: NHK
Result: winner
Nankichi Niimi Children's Literature Award
1987
Work: Enjoy the Wild Strawberry
Organization: Nankichi Niimi Award Committee
Result: winner
Noma Children's Literature Prize
1991
Work: To Horn Cape
Organization: Noma Children's Literature Award Committee
Result: winner
Akai Tori Literary Prize
1998
Work: Green Eyes
Organization: Akai Tori Award Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Enjoy the Wild Strawberry

1986 Children's literature (fairy tale/short story)

A collection of short children's stories depicting small wonders and kindness in everyday life.

childhoodnaturecompassion

To Horn Cape

1990 Children's literature

A children's work featuring a boy as protagonist, exploring growth and friendship.

coming of agefriendshipadventure

Green Eyes

1997 Children's literature

A children's work emphasizing visual imagery, portraying subtle human relationships and emotions.

emotional nuancerelationshipsimage-driven narrative

Bibliography

  • Who Will We Be Tomorrow? (1975)
  • Are You Part of the Goodbye Tribe? (1976)
  • The Wind Won't Forget You (1977)
  • Tales of Bad Friends (1979)
  • Where Are You Going with a Flower in Your Mouth? (1981)
  • The Adventures of Sinbad (1981)
  • There Are Few People Like This (1983)
  • When I Was the Younger Brother (1985)
  • Art Collection of Boyhood (1985)
  • Enjoy the Wild Strawberry (1986)
  • The Two Bachs (1987)
  • The Day Will Come (1987)
  • Mineuchi Game (1989)
  • To Horn Cape (1990)
  • The Big Pumpkin War (1992)
  • His Lindbergh Jacket (1993)
  • The Forest Grandmother (1994)
  • Memories of the Lone Ranger (1994)
  • Anju and Zushiou (1994)
  • To a Small Orchid - About Papa's Precious People - (1996)
  • Green Eyes (1997)
  • High-Teen Poetry Collection (2001)
  • Nenagare Diary (2002)
  • Tachikawa Taregusa (2007)
  • Tomokitaru: Kukoku Kyoonroku (2016)
  • The Timid Reporter (2022)

Adaptations

  • NHK Children's Drama Series broadcast of 'Are You Part of the Goodbye Tribe?' (1977)
  • 'Bobby, Run My Heart' (children's theatre script) — NHK Prize / staged (1973)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical, image-focused stylegentle language aimed at children
Recurring Motifs
childhoodnature imageryreferences to music and theatre

Legacy

A long-standing contributor to children's literature and poetry, with strong ties to NHK and theatre; recognized for contributions to works for young readers and stage pieces.

Archives

  • Holdings at the National Diet Library

In Popular Culture

  • Influence through scripts and performances on NHK and children's theatre

Trivia

  • Studied poetry and script under Shūji Terayama in 1966.
  • Worked at Tatsunoko Productions early in his career as a literary staffer and was involved with anime projects.
  • Won several major children's literature prizes from the 1980s through the 1990s.
  • Served as an instructor at a juvenile medical correction facility and was involved in a meeting with 'Shonen A' (the perpetrator in the Kobe child murders case).