Japanese Literary Awards

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Shinta Chō

ちょう しんた

Chō Shinta

Pen Names: Shinta Chō（Pen name assigned (without his consent) by the newspaper when his serial began）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1927-09-24 （Haneda, Ebara District, Tokyo Prefecture (now Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan)）
Died
2005-06-25 （Hospital in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan） age 78
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Raised in Kamata (Tokyo) → Moved to Yokohama (postwar) → Shibuya (treatment and death)

Career

Occupations
manga artist, picture book author, essayist, illustrator
Active Years
1948-2005
Influenced By
Ryuichi Yokoyama, Isao Kojima
Influenced
Contemporary picture book authors influenced by his nonsense style

Education

Tokyo Municipal Kamata Technical School (predecessor of Tokyo Metropolitan Hitotsubashi High School)
Country: Japan
Graduated from Kamata Technical School

Awards

Bungei Shunjū Manga Award
1959
Work: Oshaberi na Tamagoyaki (illustrations)
Organization: Bungei Shunjū
Result: winner
International Comics Salon (Italy) — International Cartoon Award
1960
Organization: International Comics Salon (Italy)
Result: winner
Tokyo Illustrators Club Award
1969
Work: Yoru Watashi no Otomodachi
Organization: Tokyo Illustrators Club
Result: winner
Hans Christian Andersen Award — Commended Book
1974
Work: Oshaberi na Tamagoyaki
Category: 優良作品
Organization: Hans Christian Andersen Award
Result: commended
Kodansha Publication Culture Award — Picture Book Prize
1977
Work: Haru Desu yo Fukuro Obasan
Category: 絵本賞
Organization: Kodansha
Result: winner
Ministry of Health and Welfare — Children's Welfare Culture Encouragement Award
1978
Work: Boku no Crayon
Organization: Ministry of Health and Welfare (Japan)
Result: winner
Ehon Nippon Grand Prize
1981
Work: Cabbage-kun
Organization: Ehon Nippon
Result: winner
Shogakukan Art Award (Picture Book)
1984
Work: Zou no Tamago no Tamagoyaki
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: winner
Ehon Nippon Grand Prize
1986
Work: Sakasama Lion (illustrations)
Organization: Ehon Nippon
Result: winner
Iwatai Konami Literary Prize
1987
Organization: Iwatai Konami Literary Prize
Result: winner
Robo no Ishi Juvenile Literature Award
1990
Work: Tori to Boku / Henteko Doubutsu Nikki
Organization: Robo no Ishi Juvenile Literature Award
Result: winner
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award — Art Prize
1994
Work: Ohanashi Hiroba: Konna Koto tte Arukashira
Category: 美術賞
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: winner
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1994
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: honor
Japan Picture Book Award
1999
Work: Gomu Atama Pontarou
Organization: Japan Picture Book Award
Result: winner
Japan Picture Book Award — Grand Prize
2005
Work: Naita (illustrations)
Category: 大賞
Organization: Japan Picture Book Award
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Boku no Crayon

picture book

A simple, humorous picture book for young children that expands imagination through color and narrative.

imaginationplay

Oshaberi na Tamagoyaki

children's book (illustrations)

A story by Teramura Teruo with illustrations by Chō, characterized by humor and nonsense elements.

humornonsense

Gomu Atama Pontarou

picture book

One of Chō's representative works, beloved for its whimsical ideas and soft illustrations.

whimsyanimals

Bibliography

  • Boku no Crayon (picture book)
  • Oshaberi na Tamagoyaki (illustrations)
  • Gomu Atama Pontarou (picture book)
  • Buriki no Omaru ni Matagarite (essays)

Adaptations

  • Some picture books adapted for TV/visual media (details unknown)

Translations of Works

  • Works translated and held overseas (see national library records)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
humorous, nonsense-driven stylesimple line work and soft use of color
Recurring Motifs
animalseveryday incongruities and paradoxwordplay

Health

  • oropharyngeal cancer
    2000年頃から入退院を繰り返し、2005年に死去
    Repeated hospitalizations from around 2000 affected his creative activity in later years

Legacy

Known for a distinctive blend of humor and nonsense in picture books and manga, nicknamed 'the god of nonsense.' He had a major influence on children's literature and picture books.

Archives

  • Holdings in the National Diet Library and other domestic and international libraries

In Popular Culture

  • Motifs from his picture books and illustrations are referenced by many authors and works

Quotes

  • Humorous developments and absurd (nonsense) plotting
    Source: Wikipedia article (description)

Trivia

  • Birth name was Shuji Suzuki (鈴木揫治).
  • Known as a collector of 'omaru'; authored 'Buriki no Omaru ni Matagarite'.