Japanese Literary Awards

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Kanako Nishi

にし かなこ

Nishi Kanako

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1977-05-07 （Tehran, Iran）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tehran (birthplace) → Cairo (childhood) → Komyodai, Izumi, Osaka Prefecture (raised) → Tamatsukuri, Osaka (ran a cafe) → Tokyo (literary career) → Vancouver (2019–2022, family stay) → Tokyo (returned end of 2022, current residence)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Essayist, Lyricist
Active Years
2004-
Influenced By
Osamu Dazai, Hiroshi Tanahashi (pro wrestling)
Nominations
148th Naoki Prize nominee (2013), 10th Booksellers' Award, 5th place (2013), 12th Booksellers' Award, 2nd place (2015), 14th Booksellers' Award, 7th place (2017), 19th Booksellers' Award, 6th place (2022)

Education

Kansai University
Faculty of Law
Degree: 学士（法学）
Country: Japan
Graduated from Kansai University, Faculty of Law.

Awards

Oda Sakunosuke Prize
2007
Work: Tsutenkaku
Organization: Oda Sakunosuke Prize Selection Committee
Result: 受賞
Sakuya Konohana Prize
2011
Category: 文芸その他部門
Organization: Sakuya Konohana Prize Committee (Osaka City)
Result: 受賞
Kawai Hayao Monogatari Prize
2013
Work: Fukuwarai
Organization: Kawai Hayao Foundation
Result: 受賞
Naoki Prize
2015
Work: Saraba!
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: 受賞
VOGUE JAPAN Women of the Year
2015
Organization: VOGUE JAPAN
Result: 受賞
Granta Best of Young Japanese Novelists
2016
Organization: Granta
Result: 選出
High School Naoki Prize
2015
Work: Saraba!
Organization: High School Naoki Prize Committee
Result: 候補
Booksellers' Nonfiction Prize: All-Time Best 2023
2023
Work: Kumo wo sagasu
Organization: honto (Booksellers' Nonfiction Prize)
Result: 受賞
Miyabon (Miyawaki Book Awards)
2023
Work: Kumo wo sagasu
Organization: Miyawaki Bookstore
Result: 受賞
Da Vinci BOOK OF THE YEAR (Nonfiction)
2023
Work: Kumo wo sagasu
Category: ノンフィクション部門
Organization: Da Vinci
Result: 第1位
Yomiuri Literary Prize (Essay/Travel Writing)
2024
Work: Kumo wo sagasu
Category: 随筆・紀行賞
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Aoi

2004 Novel

Debut work comprising stories that depict youth and human relationships.

youthfamilycoming-of-age

Sakura

2005 Novel

A bestseller that sold over 200k copies; portrays everyday life and human sentiments.

familyhuman sentiment

Kiiroi Zou (The Yellow Elephant)

2006 Novel

Depicts love and everyday subtleties with a brisk style; adapted into a film in 2013.

loveeveryday lifefamily
Adaptations
  • [Film] Kiiroi Zou (The Yellow Elephant) (2013)

Tsutenkaku

2006 Novel

Set in Osaka, portraying human ties and urban scenes. Winner of the Oda Sakunosuke Prize.

Osakahumanitycity life

Nikuko of the Fishing Port

2011 Novel

A story of a mother and daughter and rural life, told with humor and warmth. Adapted into a theatrical anime in 2021 (produced by Akashiya Sanma, directed by Ayumu Watanabe).

familyrural lifeintergenerational relationships
Adaptations
  • [Theatrical animation] Nikuko of the Fishing Port / 渡辺歩 (2021)

Saraba!

2014 Novel

A major long-form work marking her 10th anniversary as a writer, weaving historical elements and family saga; winner of the Naoki Prize.

familyhistorycoming-of-age

i

2016 Novel

Deals with themes of the self; ranked in the top positions of the 14th Booksellers' Award.

identitysolitude

Kumo wo Sagasu (Searching for Clouds)

2023 Non-fiction / Essay

Her first nonfiction work in which she disclosed her breast cancer; reflects on illness, family and memory and received multiple awards.

illness and strugglefamilymemory

Yoru ga Akeru

2021 Novel

A 2021 novel that contemplates the individual and society.

individualsociety

Bibliography

  • Aoi (2004)
  • Sakura (2005)
  • Kiiroi Zou (The Yellow Elephant) (2006)
  • Tsutenkaku (2006)
  • Shizuku (2007)
  • Nikuko of the Fishing Port (2011)
  • Fukuwarai (2012)
  • Saraba! (2014)
  • i (2016)
  • Kumo wo Sagasu (Searching for Clouds) (2023)

Adaptations

  • Kiiroi Zou (film adaptation, 2013)
  • Nikuko of the Fishing Port (theatrical anime, 2021)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
light, rhythmic prosedialogue-driven depictionblend of humor and human sentiment
Recurring Motifs
familyOsaka scenerysubtleties of everyday life

Health

  • Breast cancer
    2023–
    Publicly disclosed her condition and wrote the nonfiction work 'Kumo wo Sagasu' about her experience; this led to critical recognition and awards.

Legacy

A widely supported contemporary Japanese writer, winner of the Naoki Prize and other awards; several works have been adapted to film and animation. Her blend of humor and human sentiment has influenced popular culture.

In Popular Culture

  • Kiiroi Zou (film adaptation, 2013)
  • Nikuko of the Fishing Port (theatrical anime, 2021)

Quotes

  • I got a tremendous amount of courage from pro wrestling.
    Source: Naoki Prize award press conference (2015)

Trivia

  • Born in Tehran (Iran) in 1977, spent early childhood in Cairo, and was raised in Osaka.
  • Debuted in 2004 with 'Aoi'. Major works include 'Kiiroi Zou', 'Nikuko of the Fishing Port', and 'Saraba!'.
  • A fan of professional wrestling, she especially supports Hiroshi Tanahashi.
  • Once ran a cafe in Tamatsukuri with friends.
  • Married in 2012; first child born in 2017.
  • Official website: http://www.nishikanako.com/