Gunzo Newcomer Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 26 (1983) winning entry
Naoyuki Ii
いい なおゆき
Ii Naoyuki
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1953-09-01 （Ose, Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Ose, Nobeoka, Miyazaki (birthplace)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, University professor
- Active Years
- 1983-
- Affiliations
- Tokai University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Creative Writing (Professor), Kodansha (former employee)
- Nominations
- Shortlisted for the 89th Akutagawa Prize (1983) - 'Kusa no Kanmuri', Shortlisted for the 91st Akutagawa Prize (1984) - 'Papa no Densetsu (Father's Legend)', Shortlisted for the 101st Akutagawa Prize (1989) - 'A Day of Little Importance', Shortlisted for the 5th Mishima Yukio Prize (1992) - 'Descent from Raizan', Shortlisted for the 114th Akutagawa Prize (1996) - 'Born in March', Shortlisted for the 13th Mishima Yukio Prize (2000) - 'Mr. Hattori's Happy Day'
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keio University | Faculty of Letters | Department of History (ethnology & archaeology) | 学士（文学） | — | Japan |
Keio University
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of History (ethnology & archaeology)
Degree:
学士（文学）
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Gunzō New Writers' Prize | Kusa no Kanmuri (Grass Crown) | — | Gunzō (Kodansha) | Winner |
| 1989 | Noma Literary New Face Prize | A Day of Little Importance | — | Noma Cultural Foundation | Winner |
| 1994 | Hirabayashi Taiko Literary Prize | The Clock of Evolution | — | Hirabayashi Taiko Prize Committee | Winner |
| 2001 | Yomiuri Literature Prize | The Bridge over Murky Rapids | — | Yomiuri Shimbun | Winner |
Gunzō New Writers' Prize
1983
Work:
Kusa no Kanmuri (Grass Crown)
Organization:
Gunzō (Kodansha)
Result:
Winner
Noma Literary New Face Prize
1989
Work:
A Day of Little Importance
Organization:
Noma Cultural Foundation
Result:
Winner
Hirabayashi Taiko Literary Prize
1994
Work:
The Clock of Evolution
Organization:
Hirabayashi Taiko Prize Committee
Result:
Winner
Yomiuri Literature Prize
2001
Work:
The Bridge over Murky Rapids
Organization:
Yomiuri Shimbun
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Noma Literary Newcomer Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 11 (1989) award
Hirabayashi Taiko Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 22 (1994) award
Yomiuri Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 52 (2000) award
Mishima Yukio Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 13 (2000) nominee
Works
Major Works
Kusa no Kanmuri (Grass Crown)
1983 NovelDebut novel. A detailed, psychologically observant work of everyday life that won the Gunzō New Writers' Prize.
everyday lifememoryinner psychology
A Day of Little Importance
1989 Short story collectionA collection of short stories exploring family, intergenerational relations, and feelings of alienation.
familylossindividual isolation
The Clock of Evolution
1993 NovelA mid-length novel themed around time and change. Noted for its distinctive style; it won the Hirabayashi Taiko Literary Prize.
timechangefamily history
The Bridge over Murky Rapids
2000 NovelA weighty novel set against social and personal upheaval. One of his major works that won the Yomiuri Literature Prize.
social changeethicshuman relationships
Descent from Raizan
1991 NovelA novel dealing with mountains and local community; it was shortlisted for the Mishima Yukio Prize.
local communitynaturesense of belonging
Mr. Hattori's Happy Day
2000 Novel / Short novelA work that depicts individual happiness and the uncertainty of daily life. Shortlisted for the Mishima Yukio Prize.
happinessdaily lifepersonal history
Bibliography
- Kusa no Kanmuri (Grass Crown)
- A Day of Little Importance
- Yubi-jima Visit Notes
- A Story of a Sculpture Searching for Its True Name
- Descent from Raizan
- A Night without Visible Stars
- Voyage of Sorrow
- The Clock of Evolution
- Janna
- Born in March
- Mr. Hattori's Happy Day
- The Bridge over Murky Rapids
- Mother's Lover
- Blue Cat Family: A Tumultuous Chronicle
- A Short Story Collection Missing Love, Healing and Murder
- Lewaniwa in My Pocket
- Tail and Heart
- Iwasaki Yataro: The Creation of the 'Company'
- What Is a Company Employee?
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- delicate psychological depictionrealistic style emphasizing everyday detailcalm and lucid narrative tone
- Recurring Motifs
- memory and lossfamily and intergenerational relationshometown and regional identity
Legacy
Naoyuki Ii is a respected novelist since the 1980s who has received awards including the Gunzō New Writers' Prize, Noma Literary New Face Prize, Hirabayashi Taiko Literary Prize and the Yomiuri Literature Prize. As a university professor he has mentored younger writers and holds a distinct position for his narrative and psychological depictions in contemporary Japanese fiction.
Trivia
- Debuted by winning the 26th Gunzō New Writers' Prize with 'Kusa no Kanmuri'.
- 'A Day of Little Importance' won the Noma Literary New Face Prize; he has been shortlisted for the Akutagawa Prize multiple times.
- Served as editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Mita Bungaku for one year (1997).
- Has worked as a professor at Tokai University, involved in training younger writers.
- Also wrote essays and non-fiction such as 'Iwasaki Yataro: The Creation of the "Company"' and 'What Is a Company Employee?'.