Japanese Literary Awards

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Hiroshi Ogiwara

おぎわら ひろし

Hiroshi Ogiwara

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1956-06-30 （Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture (now Saitama City), Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Mystery writer, Copywriter
Active Years
1997-
Memberships
Japan PEN Club
Influenced By
Kurt Vonnegut, Raymond Chandler
Nominations
2003 - 16th Yamamoto Shugoro Prize (nominated): 'Cold Game', 2005 - 58th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (short story category, nominated): 'Okaasama no Roshia no Soup', 2006 - 134th Naoki Prize (nominated): 'Ano Hi ni Drive', 2007 - 136th Naoki Prize (nominated): 'Yondome no Hyōgaki', 2008 - 139th Naoki Prize (nominated): 'Aishi no Zashiki-warashi', 2011 - 144th Naoki Prize (nominated): 'Suna no Ōkoku'

Education

Seijo University
Faculty of Economics
Degree: 経済学士
Year of Graduation: 1980
Country: Japan

Awards

Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award (10th)
1997
Work: Ororo Batake de Tsukamaete
Organization: Shosetsu Subaru (Shueisha)
Result: Winner
Yamamoto Shugoro Prize (18th)
2005
Work: Memories of Tomorrow
Organization: Yamamoto Shugoro Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Yamada Fūtarō Prize (5th)
2014
Work: Two Thousand Seven Hundred Summers and Winters
Organization: Yamada Fūtarō Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Naoki Prize (155th)
2016
Work: Barbershop by the Sea
Organization: Naoki Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Chūōkōron Literary Award (19th)
2024
Work: The Laughing Forest
Organization: Chūōkōron Shinsha (Chūōkōron Literary Award)
Result: Winner
Hon'ya Taisho / Booksellers Award (2nd place, 2nd edition)
2005
Work: Memories of Tomorrow
Organization: Hon'ya Taisho Executive Committee
Result: 2nd place

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ororo Batake de Tsukamaete

1998 Humorous popular fiction

A humorous novel set at an advertising company. His debut work, which won the 10th Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award.

advertising industryworkplace human relationshipshumor

Memories of Tomorrow

2004 Social human drama addressing medical and caregiving themes

Depicts a middle-aged man with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and the struggles of his family. Adapted into a 2006 film starring Ken Watanabe.

memorycaregivingfamilyaging
Adaptations
  • [Film] Memories of Tomorrow / 堤幸彦 (2006)

Beloved Zashiki-warashi

2008 Human drama with elements of fantasy

A story about family and people's interactions surrounding a zashiki-warashi (house spirit). Adapted into the film 'HOME: Aishino Zashiki-warashi' in 2012.

familynostalgiafolk motifs
Adaptations
  • [Film] HOME: Beloved Zashiki-warashi / 和泉聖治 (2012)

Barbershop by the Sea

2016 Short story collection / human drama

A collection of short stories set in provincial towns, noted for warm character portrayals and subtle everyday observations. Winner of the 155th Naoki Prize.

provincial lifehuman dramamemory
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Barbershop by the Sea (NHK BS8K) (2022)

Two Thousand Seven Hundred Summers and Winters

2014 Novel

A long-form novel spanning generations and seasons. Winner of the Yamada Fūtarō Prize.

intergenerationaltimefamily

Bibliography

  • Ororo Batake de Tsukamaete
  • Nakayoshi Kobato-gumi
  • Hardboiled Egg
  • Kidnapping Rhapsody
  • Mother's Longing (Haha-koi Tabigarasu)
  • Cold Game
  • Memories of Tomorrow
  • Beloved Zashiki-warashi
  • Two Thousand Seven Hundred Summers and Winters
  • Barbershop by the Sea
  • Goldfish Princess
  • Kingdom of Sand
  • Strawberry Life
  • Beneath Paradise

Adaptations

  • Memories of Tomorrow (film, 2006)
  • Kidnapping Rhapsody (film, 2010)
  • HOME: Beloved Zashiki-warashi (film, 2012)
  • Universal Ad Agency series (TV drama, 2017)
  • Goldfish Princess (TV, 2020)
  • Barbershop by the Sea (TV, 2022)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Accessible prose blending humor and human dramaDialogue-driven narrationCareful depiction of everyday detail
Recurring Motifs
familymemory and lossprovincial lifeadvertising / workplace

Legacy

Known for works focused on family and memory, he has earned wide readership and received major literary prizes such as the Naoki Prize, Yamamoto Shugoro Prize and Yamada Fūtarō Prize. Many of his works have been adapted into films, TV dramas and manga, making him a prominent figure in contemporary popular Japanese literature.

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

Archives

  • National Diet Library holdings / authority data

In Popular Culture

  • Memories of Tomorrow (2006 film, starring Ken Watanabe)
  • Kidnapping Rhapsody (2010 film)
  • HOME: Beloved Zashiki-warashi (2012 film)
  • Universal Ad Agency series (TV adaptation, 2016-2017)
  • Goldfish Princess (NHK broadcast, 2020)

Trivia

  • After working as a copywriter in advertising agencies, he began writing novels at age 39 and debuted in 1997 with 'Ororo Batake de Tsukamaete'.
  • 'Memories of Tomorrow' deals with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and was adapted into a 2006 film starring Ken Watanabe.
  • In 2020 he published a collection of manga works and effectively debuted as a manga artist at age 60.
  • Born in Ōmiya (now Saitama City), Saitama Prefecture.