Natsume Sōseki Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1947) honorable mention
Mitsuru Nishikawa
にしかわ みつる
Nishikawa Mitsuru
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1908-02-12 （Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan）
- Died
- 1999-02-24 age 91
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan → Taiwan (Taipei) → Japan (after repatriation)
Career
- Occupations
- book designer, novelist, poet, editor, translator
- Active Years
- 1933-1999
- Influenced By
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei First High School | — | — | — | — | Taiwan |
| Waseda University | Faculty of French Literature | French literature | — | 〜1933 | Japan |
Taipei First High School
Country:
Taiwan
Attended school in Taiwan during childhood
Waseda University
Faculty of French Literature
/ French literature
Period:
〜1933
Year of Graduation:
1933
Country:
Japan
Thesis on Arthur Rimbaud
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Cat Temple: Fairy Tales
1936 fairy tale collectionA collection of fairy tales published by Mazu Shobo, containing short stories with folkloric and fantastical elements.
folklorefantasychildren's literature
Escape from Taiwan
1952 novelA novel dealing with repatriation after the war and experiences in Taiwan, depicting wartime and postwar turmoil and personal experiences.
repatriationTaiwanpostwar
Chopuran Island Castaway
1952 adventure novelA long-form adventure about being stranded on an isolated island; later republished by Chuko Bunko.
castawayadventureforeign locales
Koto of the Heavenly Marsh
1958 historical novel (later retitled with hagiographic focus)Published in 1958 and later retitled as 'Nichiren the Saint'. It treats religious and historical themes, blending them with fantastical elements.
religionhistoryhagiography
Taiwan Longitudinal Railway
1979 novelA novel set across Taiwan, portraying people's lives against the backdrop of Taiwanese landscape and history.
Taiwanlocal landscapehistory
Festival of the Gods: Taiwanese Short Stories
1984 short story collectionA collection of short stories focusing on Taiwan, often incorporating myths and folklore.
folkloremythTaiwan
Bibliography
- Cat Temple: Fairy Tales
- Picture Book: Momotaro
- Kasa Sennin: Fairy Tale
- Legendary Immortals: Illustrated
- Madam Rika
- Romance
- The Jeweled Box
- Escape from Taiwan
- Chopuran Island Castaway
- Tales of Chinese Beauties
- Koto of the Heavenly Marsh (later 'Nichiren the Saint')
- Taiwan Longitudinal Railway
- Festival of the Gods: Taiwanese Short Stories
- Judgment in Tehran: Foreign Short Stories
Translations by Author
- Journey to the West
- Collection of Chinese Bewitching Novels
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- poetic prose with fantastical imagerynarrative blending Taiwanese and Chinese folklore and history
- Recurring Motifs
- Taiwanese landscape and folkloremyths and festivalsrepatriation and nostalgia
Legacy
Known for novels and poetry focusing on Taiwan, as well as book design and editorial work. He founded and edited periodicals and donated approximately 20,000 volumes to Aletheia University, contributing to Taiwan literary studies and Japan–Taiwan cultural exchange.
Archives
- Aletheia University Library (donated collection)
Trivia
- Moved to Taiwan at age 3 due to his father's work.
- Attended Taipei First High School and graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of French Literature; his thesis was on Arthur Rimbaud.
- Donated over 20,000 volumes to Aletheia University.
- Practiced astrology.
- His eldest son is the economist Jun Nishikawa.