Gunzo Newcomer Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 55 (2012) winning entry
Manabu Okamoto
おかもと まなぶ
Okamoto Manabu
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1972-08-11 （Hino, Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Hino, Tokyo (birthplace) → Resident in Saitama Prefecture
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, University professor, Information engineer
- Active Years
- 2012-
- Affiliations
- Professor, Department of Information Network and Communication, Faculty of Information, Kanagawa Institute of Technology
- Nominations
- Candidate for the 163rd Akutagawa Prize (2020)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University | Faculty of Education | Department of Mathematical Sciences (major in Mathematics) | 学士 | — | Japan |
| Waseda University, Graduate School | Graduate School of Science and Engineering | Department of Mathematical Sciences | 修士 | — | Japan |
| Waseda University, Graduate School | Graduate School of International Information and Communication Studies | Department of International Information and Communication | 博士（国際情報通信学） | — | Japan |
Waseda University
Faculty of Education
/ Department of Mathematical Sciences (major in Mathematics)
Degree:
学士
Country:
Japan
Graduated from the Faculty of Education, majoring in mathematics
Waseda University, Graduate School
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
/ Department of Mathematical Sciences
Degree:
修士
Country:
Japan
Completed master's program in Mathematical Sciences
Waseda University, Graduate School
Graduate School of International Information and Communication Studies
/ Department of International Information and Communication
Degree:
博士（国際情報通信学）
Year of Graduation:
2010
Country:
Japan
Awarded PhD in 2010 for research on anonymous communication services
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Gunzo New Writers' Award | Imaginary Train | — | Kodansha (Gunzo magazine) | Winner |
| 2020 | Akutagawa Prize | Our Age (our age) | — | Bungeishunju Ltd. | Nominated |
Gunzo New Writers' Award
2012
Work:
Imaginary Train
Organization:
Kodansha (Gunzo magazine)
Result:
Winner
Akutagawa Prize
2020
Work:
Our Age (our age)
Organization:
Bungeishunju Ltd.
Result:
Nominated
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Imaginary Train
2012 FictionA linked collection of short stories inspired by observations and imaginings on commuter trains, written during long daily commutes.
Urban lifeCommutingHuman relationshipsMemory
Reboot
2017 FictionA collection of short stories that explore technology, memory, and forms of renewal.
TechnologyRebirthIdentity
Our Age (our age)
2020 FictionA work depicting the relationship between contemporary society and individuals; collected from magazine publications and nominated for the Akutagawa Prize.
Contemporary societyIndividual and eraAlienation
Bibliography
- Imaginary Train (Kodansha, 2012)
- Reboot (Kodansha, 2017)
- Our Age (Kodansha, 2020)
- Identity Provider (Gunzo, Oct 2014)
- From My Room I Can See the Ballpark (Gunzo, Apr 2018)
- X/Y–Z (Gunzo, Feb 2024)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Observational, detailed descriptive proseOccasionally incorporates an information-engineering perspective with precise technical descriptions
- Recurring Motifs
- Trains and commutingAnonymity and communication technologyFragments of everyday lifeCats
Legacy
Debuted after winning the Gunzo New Writers' Award; his background as an information engineering researcher informs his literary subjects and perspectives. Balancing academic research and fiction, he has attracted attention for works that explore the relationship between modern technology and individuals.
Trivia
- He is said to have written works during a three-hour one-way commute on trains.
- He is a cat lover.
- Debuted in 2012 after winning the Gunzo New Writers' Award (Imaginary Train).
- Received a PhD in International Information and Communication Studies in 2010.
- Serves as a professor at Kanagawa Institute of Technology, specializing in information security.