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Naoko Yaegashi

ヤエガシ ナオコ

Yaegashi Naoko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Osaka Prefecture, Japan → Kitakami, Iwate, Japan

Career

Occupations
Writer, Children's literature author
Active Years
1995-
Affiliations
Member of a folktale research group
Memberships
Folktale Research Group

Education

Ritsumeikan University
Faculty of Letters
Country: Japan

Awards

Iwate Arts Festival Children's Literature Division Arts Festival Award
2000
Organization: Iwate Prefecture (Iwate Arts Festival)
Result: 受賞
Iwate Arts Festival Children's Literature Division Encouragement Award
2003
Organization: Iwate Prefecture (Iwate Arts Festival)
Result: 受賞
Muku Hatto Children's Literature Award (15th)
2005
Work: Yuki no Hayashi (Snow Woods)
Organization: Muku Hatto Children's Literature Award organization
Result: 受賞
Nankichi Niimi Children's Literature Award (23rd)
2005
Work: Yuki no Hayashi (Snow Woods)
Organization: Nankichi Niimi Children's Literature Award organization
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Yuki no Hayashi

2004 Children's literature

Set in snowy woods, this children's book weaves child characters, nature, and folktale-like elements into its stories.

NatureFolktale motifsSeasonalityComing of age

Dokkara Taro and the Wind Flute

2007 Children's book

A children's tale about adventures involving the wind and a mysterious flute.

AdventureNatureImagination

Pechika Is Blazing, The Cat Is Round

2008 Picture book

A humorous picture book depicting interactions between quirky animals.

AnimalsHumorEveryday wonder

Gororin the Bear: Beware of Magic

2011 Children's picture book (series)

One volume in the Gororin the Bear series, telling gentle stories that capture children's curiosity.

FriendshipAdventureEveryday life

Mountain Yokai Hotel (includes 'Bakedanuki' etc.)

2010 Children's anthology (yokai short stories)

Contribution of a short story to an anthology of yokai-themed children's tales.

YokaiFolkloreFolktale-style

Bibliography

  • Yuki no Hayashi (Poplar Publishing, Dec 2004)
  • Dokkara Taro and the Wind Flute (Poplar Publishing, Apr 2007)
  • Pechika Is Blazing, The Cat Is Round (Poplar Publishing, Jan 2008)
  • The Ghosts of Zagudoga Forest (Alice-kan, Jul 2009)
  • Riddle Rabbit's Mysterious Door (Iwasaki Shoten, Dec 2009)
  • Yokai Hotel series (multiple volumes, Poplar Publishing 2010-2012)
  • Gororin the Bear series (Iwasaki Shoten 2011-2013)
  • The Dream the Nara Tree Saw (Alice-kan, Jul 2013)
  • The Handkerchief Spring Gave (WAVE Publishing, Mar 2014)
  • The Horse in the Brocade (Doshinsha, Mar 2015)
  • White Petals (Iwasaki Shoten, Feb 2017)
  • Various kamishibai (Doshinsha 2012-2017)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Gentle narrative voice for childrenUse of folktale and traditional motifsEmphasis on natural description
Recurring Motifs
FolktalesYokai (supernatural beings)NatureSeasonality

Legacy

Naoko Yaegashi is a Japanese children's literature author known for folktale motifs and depictions of nature. She has received regional literary awards and maintains a steady output of children's books and picture books, participating in local literary activities in Iwate Prefecture.

Trivia

  • Born in 1965 (exact birthdate not specified)
  • Graduated from Ritsumeikan University Faculty of Letters
  • Won the Muku Hatto Children's Literature Award and the Nankichi Niimi Children's Literature Award for 'Yuki no Hayashi'
  • Resident of Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture
  • Has served as a judge for the National High School Children's Story Prize