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Ken Nishizaki

にしざき けん

Nishizaki Ken

Pen Names: Flower Shigeru（Pen name used for tanka (short poetry) publications）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Tsugaru, Aomori, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, English
Residence History
Aomori Prefecture (birthplace) → Tokyo (moved to Tokyo; main base of activities)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Translator, Composer, Tanka poet, Editor
Active Years
1985-
Affiliations
dog and me records (music label), Planet and Whistle Books (publisher), Former member of the tanka magazine 'Kaban'
Influenced By
Gerald Kersh, English-language authors of fantasy and horror

Education

Aomori Prefectural Ajigasawa High School
Country: Japan
Graduated high school then moved to Tokyo to pursue music

Awards

14th Japan Fantasy Novel Award
2002
Work: The Garden at the End of the World
Organization: Japan Fantasy Novel Award committee
Result: Winner
14th Isayama Award
2021
Work: Until Unknown Birds Come
Organization: Isayama Prize committee
Result: Winner
Soccer Book Award (Special Prize)
2021
Work: Heading Is Mainly With the Head
Organization: Soccer Book Award committee
Result: Special Prize

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Garden at the End of the World: Short Stories

2002 Short story collection (fantasy/horror)

A collection of fantastical and strange short stories; Nishizaki's debut as a novelist.

fantasyruptures in everyday lifeloneliness

Yumi Town Guidebook

2011 Fiction (town-guide style)

A book presented as a guidebook to an imaginary town; contains vignettes and urban portrayals.

citylandscapecollection of stories

The Aviator and Tokyo's Rain Forest

2012 Short story collection

A collection of short stories combining Tokyo's urban scenes and uncanny narratives; includes pieces first published in literary magazines.

citystrange talesmemory

Until Unknown Birds Come

2020 Novel

A novel depicting contemporary urban life and hidden wonders; winner of the 2021 Isayama Award.

birdseveryday fantasyexploration

Heading Is Mainly With the Head

2020 Essay/criticism (soccer-related)

A collection of essays on soccer; received a special prize at the Soccer Book Award.

soccercultural commentaryessays

Bits and Decibels

2015 Tanka collection (as Flower Shigeru)

A tanka poetry collection published under his pen name; contains original short poems.

tankamusicalityurban sensibility

Bibliography

  • The Garden at the End of the World: Short Stories (Shinchosha)
  • Chronicles of Bantokoku (Shinchosha)
  • Yumi Town Guidebook (Kawade Shobo Shinsha)
  • The Aviator and Tokyo's Rain Forest (Chikuma Shobo)
  • Bits and Decibels (as Flower Shigeru; Shoshi Kankanbo)
  • A Complete History of Rock (Jinbun Shoin)
  • Until Unknown Birds Come (Chikuma Shobo)
  • Heading Is Mainly With the Head (KADOKAWA)
  • World School (as Flower Shigeru; Tanka Kenkyusha)
  • Ghosts of Books (Nanaroku-sha)

Translations by Author

  • Century of Weird Fiction (edited and translated, 3 vols)
  • Works by Gerald Kersh (translations)
  • Virginia Woolf: Short Stories (edited and translated)
  • Edgar Allan Poe: Short Stories (translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
fantastical and uncanny imagerydelicate portrayals of ruptures in everyday urban lifea prose with a musical rhythm
Recurring Motifs
urban landscapesbirds and flightmusic and songs

Legacy

Active as a translator, writer and composer, he has contributed to both the introduction of Anglo-American fantastical literature and original Japanese fiction. His activities in tanka poetry broaden his cross-genre reputation.

Trivia

  • Made his composer debut in 1985 with a song tied to anime.
  • Member of the tanka magazine 'Kaban' and publishes tanka under the pen name Flower Shigeru.
  • Founded the Japan Translation Award in 2015 and served as a selection committee member.
  • Runs the music label 'dog and me records' and the publisher 'Planet and Whistle Books.'