Japan Fantasy Novel Grand Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 5 (1993) excellence award
Takenori Nanjo
なんじょう たけのり
Nanjo Takenori
Pen Names:
Jiro Namiki（Pen name used for criticism and translations while a student）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1958-11-11 （Nihonbashi Hon-ishicho, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese, English
- Residence History
- Harajuku, Tokyo → Senzoku, Asakusa, Tokyo
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Translator, English literature scholar, Literary critic, University lecturer
- Active Years
- 1980-
- Influenced By
- Arthur Machen, H. P. Lovecraft, G. K. Chesterton
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaisei Junior and Senior High School | — | — | — | 1970s | Japan |
| University of Tokyo | Faculty of Letters | Department of Western History (undergraduate) → Graduate School, English Language and Literature (MA) | Master's | Late 1970s - early 1980s | Japan |
Kaisei Junior and Senior High School
Period:
1970s
Year of Graduation:
1977
Country:
Japan
Completed secondary education
University of Tokyo
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Western History (undergraduate) → Graduate School, English Language and Literature (MA)
Degree:
Master's
Period:
Late 1970s - early 1980s
Year of Graduation:
1983
Country:
Japan
Completed BA and MA (English language and literature)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Japan Fantasy Novel Award (5th) | Sakusen | — | Japan Fantasy Novel Award Committee | 優秀賞 (Excellence Prize) |
Japan Fantasy Novel Award (5th)
1993
Work:
Sakusen
Organization:
Japan Fantasy Novel Award Committee
Result:
優秀賞 (Excellence Prize)
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Sakusen
1993 Fantastical fictionA collection of short and mid-length fantastical stories interweaving motifs of food and drink. Themes of alcohol, memory and the uncanny intersect.
AlcoholFantasyMemory
The Manchu–Han Banquet: A Chinese Cuisine Novel
1995 Food-culture novel / Fantastical fictionA novel centered on Chinese cuisine and food culture. Reflects knowledge gained through research and travel in China.
Food cultureChinese cuisineTravel
Flowers of the Void
1995 Fantastical fictionA work portraying a fantastical worldview and human psychology. Contains elements of the uncanny and references to British weird fiction.
FantasyThe uncannyPsychology
Bibliography
- Sakusen (1993)
- The Manchu–Han Banquet (1995)
- Flowers of the Void (1995)
- Yusenpu (1996)
- Celes (1999)
- Kaidan Zanmai: The World of British Horror Fiction (expanded edition, 2013)
- Chinese Literati Food Tales (2005)
- Kisen (2006)
- What English Is (2018)
- Ghostly Folklore (2020)
Translations of Works
- The Ice Storm (co-translated, 1998)
- The Canterville Ghost (translated, 2015)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Prose centered on fantastical descriptionNarrative style influenced by British weird and horror fiction
- Recurring Motifs
- Alcohol and tavernsFood culture (especially Chinese cuisine)Travel and field research abroadThe uncanny and ghostly
Legacy
Takenori Nanjo is known for a distinctive style linking fantastical literature and food culture, and has contributed to the introduction of British weird fiction as a translator and critic. His academic background and numerous works for general readers are both notable.
Trivia
- His great-grandfather is said to be Yasujiro Tatsuno.
- Served as an associate professor at the University of Electro-Communications before leaving to focus on writing, translation and criticism.
- Has a deep interest in Chinese food culture and has produced many works based on field research.