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Kaho Nakayama

なかやま かほ

Nakayama Kaho

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1960-01-01 （Nagoya, Aichi, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
1992-
Nominations
Candidate for the 127th Naoki Prize ("Hanagaran"), Nominated for the Noma Literary Newcomer Award ("Sagrada Familia"), Nominated for the Noma Literary Newcomer Award ("Emotional Education")

Education

Waseda University
Faculty of Education / Department of English
Country: Japan

Awards

TOKYO FM Short Story Grand Prix
1992
Organization: TOKYO FM
Result: Winner
Asahi New Writers' Literary Prize
1995
Work: Angel's Bones
Organization: Asahi Shimbun
Result: Winner
Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
2001
Work: To the Edge of the White Rose
Organization: Shinchosha
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Hunched Prince

1993 Novel

A debut full-length novel and the first in the Michiru Oji series; it depicts complex human relationships and internal conflicts with delicate prose.

lovelonelinessidentity

Angel's Bones

1995 Novel

The second Michiru Oji novel; it probes deep psychological layers of its characters around themes of love and loss. Winner of the 6th Asahi New Writers' Literary Prize.

romantic lovelossinternal conflict

Sagrada Família

1998 Novel

A novel weaving foreign settings and fragments of family life to explore intricate human relationships. Nominated for the Noma Literary Newcomer Award.

familytravelcultural intersections

Emotional Education

2000 Novel

A full-length work focused on shifts of feeling and the subtleties of human relationships; also noted as a candidate for the Noma Literary Newcomer Award.

emotiongrowthhuman relationships

Fukazume

2000 Linked short stories

A collection of linked short stories including pieces titled "Fukazume," "Rakuka," and "Maou," each exploring different characters and themes.

short storieshuman dramapsychology

To the Edge of the White Rose

2001 Novel

A full-length novel that approaches the core of human existence with deep lyricism and a precise style. Winner of the 14th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize.

lyricismhuman existencelove

Hanagaran

2002 Short story collection

A collection of short stories previously published in magazines such as Shosetsu Shincho; it was a candidate for the Naoki Prize.

short fictionrelationshipslove and resentment

Marrakesh Double Suicide

2002 Novel

A novel set in a foreign land; it deals with passion, loneliness, and encounters during travel.

travellonelinesspassion

Kekhel

2006 Serialized novel

Nakayama's first serialized novel, broadening her fictional world to address new themes and ensembles of characters.

expanded worldbuildinghuman depths

Zero Hour

2017 Noir novel

Her first noir novel; it depicts shadows of crime and violence with a dense, tense structure.

crimeviolencedarkness

Ginbashi (Silver Bridge)

2018 Novel

Part of the Takarazuka series; a novel that uses the theater as backdrop to delicately portray the lives and relationships of its characters.

Takarazukatheatrelove

Dancing Ball Toss

2022 Novel

A spin-off novel from the Takarazuka series, offering a fresh angle on the established series world.

series expansionbehind the sceneshuman interplay

Bibliography

  • The Hunched Prince
  • Angel's Bones
  • Sagrada Família
  • Emotional Education
  • Fukazume
  • To the Edge of the White Rose
  • Hanagaran
  • Marrakesh Double Suicide
  • Gigolo
  • Yowaboshi
  • Kekhel
  • Saigon Tango Cafe
  • Elegy
  • Land of Love
  • Oyakata (Male Role)
  • Musumeyaku (Female Role)
  • Zero Hour
  • Ginbashi (Silver Bridge)
  • Dancing Ball Toss
  • The Cat That Writes Novels
  • Tropical Sentimental Journey: Asia Sentimental Road

Style & Themes

Literary Style
precise and delicate prosedeep lyricismdense and earnest expression
Recurring Motifs
love between women (lesbian relationships)parental lovelonelinesstheatrical settings (e.g. Takarazuka)loss and rebirth

Legacy

Kaho Nakayama is a sparse yet highly regarded author known for her precise, delicate prose and deep lyricism, often exploring love between women and fundamental aspects of human existence. She has won awards such as the Asahi New Writers' Prize and the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (materials related to Kaho Nakayama)
  • VIAF / international authority records

Trivia

  • Born in 1960 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
  • Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Education, Department of English.
  • Previously ran a theater troupe after university.
  • Debuted as a novelist with 'The Hunched Prince' in 1993.
  • Won the 6th Asahi New Writers' Literary Prize in 1995 for 'Angel's Bones'.
  • Won the 14th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 2001 for 'To the Edge of the White Rose'.
  • Early works often dealt with love between women, though the author dislikes being narrowly labeled.
  • Relatively few works but strong and dedicated readership.