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Haku Nokami

のかみ はく

Nokami Haku

Pen Names: Saku Shirakawa（Pen name used for early short stories）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1980-03-22 （Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
None
Residence History
Fukuoka (birthplace) → Tokyo (residence since 2005) → Kyoto (frequent short stays)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Screenwriter
Active Years
2003-
Affiliations
Japan PEN Club, Wakashio Literary Society
Memberships
Japan Writers' Association
Influenced By
Haruki Murakami, Hiromi Kawakami
Influenced
Ayako Matsumoto, Wataru Ishida

Education

Waseda University
School of Letters, Arts and Sciences / Japanese Literature
Degree: 文学士
Period: 1998-2002
Year of Graduation: 2002
Country: Japan
Published in dōjinshi during university

Awards

Wakashio Literary Prize
2016
Work: White Harbour
Organization: Wakashio Literary Foundation
Result: Winner
Emerging Writer Award
2013
Work: Bioluminescent
Organization: Asahi Publishing
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

White Harbour

2016 Novel 320 pages

A human drama set in a provincial port town that follows the conflicts of people entwined by family and memory. Temporal shifts and the sea's memories connect the narrative.

FamilyMemorySeaLoss and Rebirth
Adaptations
  • [Film] White Harbour: Memories of the Waves / 藤井徹 (2019)
Translations
  • English translation: White Harbour (trans. Emma Sato)

Bioluminescent

2012 Short story collection 208 pages

A collection of short stories themed around night and the sea. Loneliness, connection, and natural scenes emerge quietly.

LonelinessNatureNightFragments of Memory
Adaptations
  • [Stage play] Bioluminescent / 中村友彦 (2014)
Translations
  • English translation: Bioluminescent (trans. Emma Sato)

Wake

2020 Novel 280 pages

An epic that depicts the memories and bonds of people on the move against the backdrop of climate change and local life. Past and present intersect.

MigrationEnvironmentCommunityMemory
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Wake / 佐藤玲 (2022)
Translations
  • English translation: Wake (trans. Emma Sato)

Bibliography

  • Morning in the Port Town (short story, 2003)
  • Distant Lights (short stories, 2006)
  • Bioluminescent (short stories, 2012)
  • White Harbour (novel, 2016)
  • Wind Crossing the Sea (essays, 2018)
  • Wake (novel, 2020)
  • Collection of Short Chapters (short stories, 2023)

Adaptations

  • 'White Harbour' film adaptation (2019)
  • 'Bioluminescent' stage adaptation (2014)
  • 'Wake' TV drama (2022)

Translations of Works

  • White Harbour — English translation (trans. Emma Sato)
  • White Harbour — French translation (Le Port Blanc)
  • Bioluminescent — English translation

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Concise, lyrical proseCinematic imagery and tranquil rhythm
Recurring Motifs
SeaMemoryNightJourney

Health

  • Depression (mild)
    2014-2015
    Experienced a temporary slowdown in creative activity but recovered and resumed work

Legacy

Recognized for his depiction of family and memory in contemporary Japanese literature; he gained a wide readership through film and stage adaptations.

Academic Societies

  • Society for Japanese Literature
  • Contemporary Literature Research Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library (author's donated collection)
  • Waseda University Library (archive)

In Popular Culture

  • The film 'White Harbour' drew attention at the 2019 film awards, causing a surge in original book sales.
  • His work is often referenced as motifs in music and stage productions.

Quotes

  • Words are like the sea; they travel far. I write believing someone waits on an unseen shore.
    Source: White Harbour (2016) (2016)

Trivia

  • Initially published in dōjinshi under a pen name.
  • Hobbies include sea fishing and late-night walks.
  • Often takes photographs between writing sessions.