Japanese Literary Awards

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Hatsuho Naito

ないとう はつほ

Naito Hatsuho

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1921-01-03 （Tokyo, Japan）
Died
2011-10-20 （Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan） age 90
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan

Career

Occupations
non-fiction writer, editor
Active Years
1940-2011
Influenced By
Naito Taku, Akira Yoshimura

Education

Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo)
Faculty of Engineering / Naval Architecture (Ship Engineering)
Degree: 学士
Period: 1939-1943
Year of Graduation: 1943
Country: Japan

Awards

9th Marine Literature Award (Special Prize)
2005
Organization: Marine Literature Award
Result: 受賞
Japan Essayists' Club Award
2006
Work: Shadows and Forms of The Little Prince
Organization: Japan Essayists' Club
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Naval Technology War Chronicles

1976 non-fiction, military history

A documentary account and examination of naval technology and wartime engineering.

navyhistory of technologymilitary history

Ōka: The Ruthless Special Attack Weapon

1982 non-fiction, military history

Technical and historical study of the special attack weapon 'Ōka'.

kamikaze weaponsweaponryPacific War

Sea of Madness: The Life of Asama-maru, Queen of the Pacific

1983 non-fiction, maritime history

A maritime history tracing the life and fate of the merchant ship Asama-maru.

shipsmaritime historymerchant shipping

Commander of the Fleet: Jō Hiraga

1987 non-fiction, biography

A biographical study of naval engineer Jō Hiraga.

biographynaval engineeringpersonal history

The Case of Thomas B. Glover: Meiji-Era Western Merchant

2001 non-fiction, history

Historical account of the activities and influence of Western merchant Thomas B. Glover during the Meiji era.

Meiji periodmerchantmodernization of Japan

Shadows and Forms of The Little Prince

2006 essay, translation studies

A book collecting considerations on The Little Prince and the translation work of his father, Naito Taku.

translationliterary studyessays

Requiem for Battleship Yamato: Reflecting on the Technology of the Big-Gun Era

2008 non-fiction, military history

A work examining the technical background and significance of the big-gun era centered on battleship Yamato.

battleshipshistory of technologynavy

Bibliography

  • Naval Technology War Chronicles (1976)
  • Secret Weapon: Funryu (1979)
  • Let's Play with the Moon (1980)
  • Ōka: The Ruthless Special Attack Weapon (1982)
  • Sea of Madness: The Life of Asama-maru (1983)
  • Commander of the Fleet: Jō Hiraga (1987)
  • The Case of Thomas B. Glover (2001)
  • Shadows and Forms of The Little Prince (2006)
  • Requiem for Battleship Yamato (2008)

Translations by Author

  • Lost Animals (co-translation, 1978)
  • Naito Taku: The Little Prince Paris Diary (editor/translator, 1984)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
documentary, fact-oriented nonfictiontechnical exposition within narrative
Recurring Motifs
navy and militaryhistory of technologyships and navigation

Health

  • stomach cancer
    2011
    Hospitalized and treated for stomach cancer in 2011; died in October 2011

Legacy

Known for detailed nonfiction studies of naval, maritime, and military technology history. Also recognized for essays addressing his father Naito Taku's translation work and related literary background.

Trivia

  • His father was French literature scholar Naito Taku, known as the first translator of The Little Prince into Japanese.
  • Akira Yoshimura provided a recommendation blurb for 'Shadows and Forms of The Little Prince' due to having been helped by Naito during his research on Battleship Musashi.