Japanese Literary Awards

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Nichiyo Meisakuza

にちようめいさくざ

Nichiyo Meisakuza

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Born
1957-04-07 （Japan）
Died
2008-03-30 （Japan） age 51
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Radio drama program
Active Years
1957-2008
Affiliations
NHK Radio 1

Awards

Kikuchi Kan Prize
1974
Work: Nichiyo Meisakuza
Result: 受賞
Broadcasting Culture Foundation Award
1987
Work: Nichiyo Meisakuza
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Life Theatre — Youth Edition

Radio drama

The series' first broadcast, an adaptation of an original work by Osaki Shirou.

youthhuman drama
Adaptations
  • [Radio] Life Theatre — Youth Edition (1957)

Gauche, the Cellist

Radio drama

Radio adaptation of Kenji Miyazawa's tale; a notable broadcast aired in 1970.

growthharmony with nature
Adaptations
  • [Radio] Gauche, the Cellist (1970)

Kawauso (Otter)

Radio drama

Adaptation of a short story by Kuniko Mukoda; broadcast in 1981.

day-to-day subtletiesfemale perspective
Adaptations
  • [Radio] Kawauso (Otter) (1981)

Night Thunderstorm

Radio drama

Adaptation of a work by Shuhei Fujisawa; the last newly recorded episode (2003).

late-life narrativeshuman solitude
Adaptations
  • [Radio] Night Thunderstorm (2003)

Bibliography

  • Life Theatre — Youth Edition
  • Gauche, the Cellist
  • Kawauso (Otter)
  • Night Thunderstorm

Adaptations

  • New Nichiyo Meisakuza

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Narration-centered dramatizationMulti-role performance using voice
Recurring Motifs
nostalgiahuman dramareappraisal of classic literature

Health

  • Myocardial infarction
    2002年末 - 2003年
    Lead actor Morishige required recovery, halting new episode recordings
  • Cancer
    2000年代初頭 - 2004年1月
    Lead actress Kato underwent treatment and died in Jan 2004; the program shifted to rebroadcasts

Legacy

A long-running NHK radio drama series broadcast from 1957 to 2008 (51 years), adapting a wide range of literary works from classics to contemporary pieces, and exerting significant influence on broadcasting culture and listeners.

Archives

  • NHK Archives

In Popular Culture

  • 50th anniversary special "Nichiyo Meisakuza 50 Years"
  • Memorial special "Thank you Morishige Hisaya — 'Nichiyo Meisakuza' Again"

Quotes

  • "Nichiyo Meisakuza" is a radio drama program that was broadcast from April 7, 1957 to March 30, 2008 (51 years).
    Source: Wikipedia

Trivia

  • Only two performers, Morishige Hisaya and Kato Michiko, played multiple roles using varied voice techniques.
  • Theme music was composed by Yuji Koseki and continued to be used in successor programs.
  • From January 2003, due to the hosts' health, the program ceased producing new episodes and primarily rebroadcast past works.