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Edition 7 (1975) award
Oikawa Kazuo
おいかわ かずお
Oikawa Kazuo
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1933-10-13 (Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan)
- Died
- 2019-03-10 (Hospital in Ōshū, Iwate, Japan) age 85
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Ikebukuro, Tokyo (birthplace) → Hinohara Village, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture (evacuated) → Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture (from 1946)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Novelist, Children's writer, Non-fiction writer
- Active Years
- 1971-2019
- Affiliations
- Iwate Shokusan Bank (later Iwate Bank), Ichinoseki City Library (Honorary Director)
- Memberships
- Japan Writers' Association, Japan PEN Club, Japan Association of Children's Literature, Shimazaki Toson Study Society, Japan Democratic Literary Alliance (member 1970–1987; later resigned)
- Influenced By
- Hikojiro Suzuki
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iwate Prefectural Ichinoseki First High School | — | — | — | 〜1952年 | Japan |
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Takiji–Yuriko Prize | Becoming a Deep Current | — | — | 受賞 |
| 1993 | National Reading Reflections Contest (selected book) | The Forest Is Calling | 小学校高学年課題図書 | National School Library Association (Japan) | 選定 |
| 1994 | Farmer Culture Award | A Man Who Lived for Rice: Fujihara Nagasaku | — | — | 受賞 |
| 1995 | Ichinoseki City Cultural Award | — | — | Ichinoseki City | 受賞 |
| 1999 | Northern Children's Literature Prize | We'll Take Any Consultation | — | — | 受賞 |
| 2003 | National Reading Reflections Contest (selected book) | Life Can Be Seen | 小学校低学年課題図書 | National School Library Association (Japan) | 選定 |
| 2010 | Inochi no Tomoshibi Culture Award | — | — | — | 受賞 |
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Becoming a Deep Current
1974 NovelA novel serialized in the magazine 'Minshu Bungaku' depicting human relationships centered on local communities and labor; recipient of the Takiji–Yuriko Prize.
Hina Dolls
1971 Short storyA short story published in 'Minshu Bungaku' that marked the beginning of Oikawa's literary career.
When the Forest Moves
1977 Essay/SerialA collection of articles serialized in the Nikkei newspaper, reflecting on regional conditions and nature.
Muracho Ariki (later retitled 'The Man Who Turned Resignation into Hope')
1984 Non-fiction/BiographyA non-fiction biography of Fukasawa Masao, who built the medical system in Sawauchi Village; adapted for NHK, stage, and film.
- [Television] NHK broadcast ('Muracho Ariki')
- [Stage] Burning Snow
- [Film] Life's Mountains and Rivers
A Man Who Lived for Rice: Fujihara Nagasaku
1993 Non-fictionA non-fiction account of Fujihara Nagasaku, a lifelong rice producer; adapted into a Sino-Japanese co-produced TV drama.
- [Television] Northern Rice (1993)
We'll Take Any Consultation
1998 Children's literatureA children's book addressing everyday worries and consultations; received the Northern Children's Literature Prize.
Life Can Be Seen
2002 Picture book/Children's literatureA picture book for young children; selected for the 2003 National Reading Reflections Contest for lower elementary school students.
Bibliography
- Becoming a Deep Current
- Hina Dolls
- When the Forest Moves
- Lived and Loved
- Small Family
- Teachers Opening the Wilderness: Striving for Zero Delinquency and Dropouts at Mizusawa First High
- River of Hope
- Muracho Ariki (later retitled)
- Spring Shore
- Life Village Mayor: The Story of Fukasawa Masao
- Journey to Young Lives: Original Landscapes of Northern Literature
- Notes of Wild Grass
- Warabi-za School Trip
- Facing Life, Embracing Hope
- A Long Road to Koshien
- Ring the Bell and Depart: Midori School Care Record
- A Nursing Staff's Writing Reader
- Mother is a Nurse
- Phantom Play Ball
- I Want a Good Birth
- Ihatov Correspondence
- The Forest Is Calling
- A Man Who Lived for Rice: Fujihara Nagasaku
- Come Again, Mac
- Hometown of the White Forest
- Teru, I'm Sorry
- We'll Take Any Consultation
- Sukeko Sato: Toson's Eternal Lover
- Mystery of the Amber Tears
- Life Can Be Seen
- Facing Life, Stirring the Heart: A Study of 'Life Village Mayor' Fukasawa Masao
- The Wind of Zashikibokko
- Hamando's Forest 2011
- Bell of the Heart: Scenes of Literature
- Boshin Phantoms: Miyuki Women's Oral Legends
Adaptations
- Muracho Ariki — NHK broadcast / stage 'Burning Snow' / film 'Life's Mountains and Rivers'
- A Man Who Lived for Rice — Sino-Japanese TV drama 'Northern Rice'
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Regional realism rooted in local communitiesResearch-based, non-fictional narrative styleGentle narrative voice for children's literature
- Recurring Motifs
- rural life and rice cultivationhealthcare and communityforests and nature
Health
-
Multiple organ failure2019年3月(逝去)Died of multiple organ failure on 10 March 2019 at age 85.
Legacy
Recognized for portraying the realities of Iwate and local communities through region-focused fiction and non-fiction. Also known for contributions to children's literature, local cultural promotion, and library activities.
Academic Societies
- Japan Writers' Association
- Japan PEN Club
- Japan Association of Children's Literature
- Shimazaki Toson Study Society
Archives
- Holdings of Ichinoseki City Library
In Popular Culture
- Media adaptations including NHK broadcasts, stage production by Gekidan Dora, and film adaptations.
Trivia
- Started his literary career while working at Iwate Shokusan Bank (later Iwate Bank).
- Evacuated to Hinohara Village after the Tokyo air raids; his evacuation experience and life in Ichinoseki informed much of his work.
- Served as honorary director of Ichinoseki City Library.