Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Toshio Nakae

なかえ としお

Nakae Toshio

Profile

Gender
Male
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Poet
Active Years
1957-
Influenced By
Kiyoko Nagase, Nobuo Ayukawa

Awards

Chubu Japan Poetry Prize (4th)
1964
Work: 20 Poems and Requiem
Organization: Chubu Japan Poetry Prize Committee
Result: winner
Takami Jun Prize (3rd)
1973
Work: Vocabulary Collection
Organization: Takami Jun Prize Committee
Result: winner
Maruyama Kaoru Prize (3rd)
1996
Work: Pear Pebbles
Organization: Maruyama Kaoru Prize Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Song of the Dark Star (poems)

1957 Poetry collection

Early collection of poems focusing on solitude and nocturnal imagery.

solitudenightnature

Rejection (prose poems)

1959 Prose poetry

A collection of prose poems with experimental expressive elements.

rebellionlanguage

20 Poems and Requiem

1963 Poetry collection

One of his notable works, containing requiem-like poems in short sections.

requiemmemory

Toshio Nakae Collected Poems (Shichosha)

1971 Collected poems (selection)

1971 selected edition compiling his representative poems to date.

recollectionnature

Vocabulary Collection

1972 Poetry collection

A collection emphasizing choice of words and sensitivity to vocabulary.

languageexpression

The Shii Tree and Yoko

1976 Children's poetry / picture book (with photos)

A children's poetry book accompanied by photographs by Yasuo Kuroda.

childreneveryday life

Fire and Indigo

1977 Poetry collection

A mid-period collection using symbolic imagery.

symbolismcolor

The Ill-mannered (poems)

1979 Poetry collection

Collection including provocative themes and voices.

defiancesociety

Head East, Feet West

1984 Poetry collection

A volume collecting poems from a later period of his career.

travelcontrasts

Usouta (Boys' Poetry)

1986 Children's poetry

A poetry collection centered on boys and childhood.

childhoodgrowing up

The Sailors Who Launched

1987 Poetry collection

Contains poems using the sea and voyaging as motifs.

seadeparture

Food

1994 Children's picture book / poems

A children's picture-poetry book illustrated by Hideo Itō.

foodeveryday life

Gas State

1994 Poetry collection

Contains experimental poems.

formchange

Pear Pebbles

1995 Poetry collection

A late-period collection featuring quiet, reflective poems.

silencematurity

Rural Poems

1997 Poetry collection

Collects poems dealing with rural life and regionality.

countrysidenature

Message

2010 Poetry collection

Published in 2010; a collection conveying late-career voice.

communicationrecollection

House of the Heat Haze

2012 Poetry collection

Published in 2012; uses mirage-like imagery.

illusionmemory

Bibliography

  • Song of the Dark Star (Matoba Shobo), 1957
  • Rejection (Bundo-sha), 1959
  • 20 Poems and Requiem (Shichosha), 1963
  • Toshio Nakae Collected Poems (Shichosha), 1971
  • Vocabulary Collection (Shichosha), 1972
  • Toshio Nakae Collected Poems, 3 vols (Yamanashi Silk Center / Sanrio), 1973-1976
  • The Shii Tree and Yoko (Elm), 1976
  • Fire and Indigo (Seidosha), 1977
  • The Ill-mannered (Shichosha), 1979
  • Head East, Feet West (Noa Editing Studio), 1984
  • Usouta: Boys' Poetry (Riron-sha), 1986
  • The Sailors Who Launched (Shigakusha), 1987
  • Food (Fukuinkan Shoten), 1994
  • Gas State (Midnight Press), 1994
  • Pear Pebbles (Midnight Press), 1995
  • Rural Poems (Shichosha), 1997
  • Message (Shichosha), 2010
  • House of the Heat Haze (Shoshi Yamada), 2012

Translations by Author

  • Jules Laforgue, Earth's Sob (poems), Ginyu-sha, 1976 (translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical and symboliccareful attention to vocabulary
Recurring Motifs
naturememoryrequiem/mourningchildren / everyday life

Legacy

Toshio Nakae is a Japanese poet active from the late 20th century into the 21st, known for lyrical and symbolic expression and a keen sensitivity to vocabulary. He left multiple major collections and translation works and was recognized with regional literary awards.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (authority identifiers present)
  • VIAF / ISNI and other authority identifier registrations

Trivia

  • His father was a military serviceman, and he moved around the country during childhood.
  • He was influenced by Kiyoko Nagase and Nobuo Ayukawa.
  • He published his first poetry collection while still at university.
  • He participated in poetry magazines such as 'Kai' and was a contributor to 'Arechi'.
  • Reportedly resides in Nishinomiya.