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Hinako Nakazawa

なかざわ ひなこ

Nakazawa Hinako

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1969-03-11 （Tokyo, Japan）
Died
2025-03-23 （Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan） age 56
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan

Career

Occupations
Playwright, Novelist
Active Years
1988-2025
Affiliations
Futohen Sankaku Theater Company
Memberships
Japan Playwrights Association
Influenced By
Don Winslow, Kaho Nashiki, Tatekawa Danshun

Education

Keio University
Faculty of Letters
Degree: 学士（文学）
Country: Japan

Awards

Sendai Theatre Town Playwright Award (Grand Prize)
2007
Work: Michiyuki → Kisaragi
Organization: Sendai City Civic Cultural Foundation
Result: Winner (大賞)
Japan Playwrights Association New Playwrights Award
2009
Work: Ishi Tomoru Yoru
Organization: Japan Playwrights Association
Result: Finalist (最終選考)
Izumi Kyoka Memorial Kanazawa Playwright Award (Excellence Prize)
2012
Work: Shunchu Yugi
Organization: Izumi Kyoka Memorial Kanazawa Playwright Award Committee
Result: Excellence Award (優秀賞)
Shousetsu Gendai New Long-form Novel Award
2013
Work: Kaki no Ki, Biwa mo Ki (later published as Otoosan to Ito-san)
Organization: Shousetsu Gendai (Magazine)
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Otoosan and Ito-san

2014 Novel

Debut novel; a long-form work that warmly depicts family and everyday life.

familyeveryday lifehumor
Adaptations
  • [Film] Otoosan and Ito-san / タナダユキ (2016)

Omamegoto no Shima

2015 Novel

A novel portraying a small community and interpersonal relationships.

communityhuman relationships

PTA Grandpa!

2016 Novel

A work about family and intergenerational interaction; adapted into a television drama.

familyintergenerational relations
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] PTA Grandpa! (2017)

New Town Chronicle

2017 Novel

A multi-voiced novel set in suburbs and communities.

suburbiacommunity

Team383

2018 Novel

A novel containing ensemble elements set against contemporary society.

contemporary societyhuman drama

Onegai Omurice

2019 Novel

A work weaving details of everyday life with humor.

everyday lifehumor

Seikyuu (Star Globe)

2015 Short story collection

A collection of short stories.

loveeveryday life

Nanohana-gari ni Hi wa Tsuzuki

2005 Play

A play included in a short-plays collection.

familylandscape

Michiyuki → Kisaragi

2007 Play

A play staged in 2007 that won a major prize.

journeyencounter

Ishi Tomoru Yoru

2009 Play

A play that was selected as a finalist for the Japan Playwrights Association new-play award.

nighthuman relationships

Shunchu Yugi

2012 Play

A play that won the Excellence Award at the 4th Izumi Kyoka Memorial Kanazawa Playwright Awards.

seasonhumanity

Bibliography

  • Otoosan and Ito-san
  • Omamegoto no Shima
  • PTA Grandpa!
  • New Town Chronicle
  • Team383
  • Onegai Omurice
  • Seikyuu (Star Globe)
  • Nanohana-gari ni Hi wa Tsuzuki
  • Michiyuki → Kisaragi
  • Ishi Tomoru Yoru
  • Shunchu Yugi

Adaptations

  • Otoosan and Ito-san (film adaptation: 2016, dir. Yuki Tanada)
  • PTA Grandpa! (TV drama adaptation: 2017, starring Ken Matsudaira)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Dialogue-driven style from a theatre backgroundHumorous and warm tone
Recurring Motifs
familysubtleties of everyday lifehumor

Health

  • Brainstem hemorrhage
    2025年3月（急性）
    Died on 23 March 2025 in hospital due to brainstem hemorrhage (aged 56).

Legacy

Active for many years as a playwright and later recognized as a novelist. Known for warmly depicting family and everyday life, she was popular with readers and several works were adapted for screen.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Playwrights Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library of Japan

In Popular Culture

  • Otoosan and Ito-san (film adaptation, 2016)
  • PTA Grandpa! (TV drama adaptation, 2017)

Quotes

  • Perhaps because of my theatre background, I don't want to bore readers. It's very difficult to write work that naturally makes people feel good and laugh, but I want to be a writer who can provide that kind of laughter.
    Source: Interview (Hon no Hanashi WEB) (2015)

Trivia

  • Began theatre activities as a high-school student.
  • Founded the Futohen Sankaku theatre company in 1988.
  • Won the Shousetsu Gendai New Long-form Novel Award in 2013 and debuted as a novelist in 2014.
  • Died from a brainstem hemorrhage in March 2025 (aged 56).