Japanese Literary Awards

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Jun Okada

オカダ ジュン

Okada Jun

Pen Names: Neberyon（Joint pen name used in collaboration with Ryōji Urakawa）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1947-01-16 （Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan → Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Children's literature author, Translator, Illustrator, Essayist, Elementary school teacher
Active Years
1975-
Influenced By
The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Miekichi Suzuki, Mimei Ogawa

Education

Kobe University
Faculty of Education / Art Department
Country: Japan
Graduated from Kobe University (Faculty of Education, Art); later became an elementary school teacher

Awards

Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award
1981
Work: After-School Timetable
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1984
Work: Sheltering from the Rain Under the Slide
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Utsunomiya Children's Award
1986
Work: Two-Minute Adventure
Organization: Utsunomiya City
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Award
1987
Work: Catch the School Rabbit
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Akai Tori (Red Bird) Literary Prize
1988
Work: Stories Beyond the Door
Organization: Akai Tori Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Rohou no Ishi Children's Literature Award
1993
Organization: Rohou no Ishi Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Noma Children's Literature Prize
1995
Work: Tales of the Kosoado Forest (series)
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (Fuji TV Prize)
2013
Work: The Corner Where Wishes Come True
Organization: Sankei Shimbun / Fuji TV
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award Grand Prize
2022
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Hyōgo Prefectural Cultural Award
2016
Organization: Hyōgo Prefecture
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tales of the Kosoado Forest

1994 Children's literature

A series set in a mysterious forest where everyday life and another world overlap; children experience adventures, discoveries and subtle moral questions.

adventurecoming-of-agemysteryforest
Adaptations
  • [Exhibition / Original art exhibition] Tales of the Kosoado Forest: Original Art Exhibition (2017)
Translations
  • Published in Korean (selected volumes)

Two-Minute Adventure

1985 Children's literature

An adventure about mysterious events occurring in a brief span of time; became a long-selling title and has been used in school materials and selected lists.

timeadventuremystery
Adaptations
  • [Audio drama] Two-Minute Adventure (NHK-FM Youth Adventure) (2015)

Sheltering from the Rain Under the Slide

1984 Children's literature

A short-story collection portraying children's everyday lives with sensitivity; stories such as "Sky Heights Orchestra" have been adopted for textbooks and teaching materials.

schoolfriendshipeveryday life

Bibliography

  • Munjakunju Is Not a Caterpillar (1979)
  • After-School Timetable (1981)
  • Sheltering from the Rain Under the Slide (1984)
  • Two-Minute Adventure (1985)
  • Tales of the Kosoado Forest (1994–2017)
  • From the Art Room Preparation Window (2012)

Adaptations

  • Birikkasu no Kamisama - NHK-FM Youth Adventure (2014; rebroadcast 2017)
  • Two-Minute Adventure - NHK-FM Youth Adventure (2015)

Translations of Works

  • Professor P's Laboratory Again (Korean edition)
  • Humanity Do-Over Device (Korean edition)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Narrative that mixes humor and the uncannyStructures that cleverly overlay reality and an alternate world
Recurring Motifs
doorsforestschoolmagic

Legacy

A highly regarded figure in children's literature for decades. Widely read for works such as the Kosoado Forest series; his works have been adapted for radio and translated overseas.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Association

In Popular Culture

  • Audio drama adaptations on NHK-FM (Birikkasu no Kamisama; Two-Minute Adventure)

Quotes

  • There is a wonderful children's story writer named Jun Okada.
    Source: Masaaki Matsuoka (commentary in Sankei Shimbun) (2012)

Trivia

  • Was active in the high school drama club
  • Serialized comics in the local monthly 'Kobe-kko' from 1968 to 2007