Japanese Literary Awards

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Akira Okawada

おかわだ あきら

Okawada Akira

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Kamifurano, Hokkaido, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
game designer, translator, literary critic, editor, poet, adjunct lecturer
Active Years
2007-
Affiliations
The Society for Modern Japanese Literature, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SF Writers Club), Japan Writers' Association, Game History Society, Digital Games Research Association Japan, Japan Poets Club, Ibaraki Poets Association, Japan PEN Club, SF Prologue Wave Editorial Staff
Memberships
The Society for Modern Japanese Literature, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan, Japan Writers' Association, Game History Society, Digital Games Research Association Japan, Japan Poets Club, Ibaraki Poets Association, Japan PEN Club
Nominations
Finalist, 51st Gunzō New Writers' Literary Prize (Criticism), 2008, Finalist, 35th Japan SF Grand Prize (for 'Kita no Sozoryoku'), 2014, Finalist, Japan SF Grand Prize (co-authored 'Introduction to SF Criticism'), 2024

Education

Waseda University, School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I
School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I / Literary Studies
Degree: 学士
Country: Japan
University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Humanities and Cultural Studies
Degree: 修士（博士課程一貫制在籍・修士取得後退学）
Country: Japan
Obtained master's in an integrated doctoral program and later left doctoral studies

Awards

Japanese SF Criticism Award (Nihon SF Hyoron-sho)
2010
Work: “World Civil War” and a Small Hope — Facing Itō Keikaku's 'Genocidal Organ'
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan
Result: 優秀賞
Hokkaido Shimbun Literary Award
2016
Work: Standing Beyond Catastrophe — Postcolonial Contemporary / Northern Literature Studies
Category: 創作・評論部門
Organization: Hokkaido Shimbun
Result: 佳作
Ibaraki Literary Award
2019
Work: Raspy Dawn
Category: 詩部門
Organization: Ibaraki Poets Association
Result: 受賞
Choryu Shihā Prize (Criticism)
2021
Work: Essays on Masao Murata / Hiroshi Shimizu (criticism)
Category: 評論部門年間最優秀作品賞
Organization: Choryu Poet Circle
Result: 年間最優秀作品賞
KOTOBA Slam Japan (Hokkaido Tournament)
2022
Organization: KOTOBA Slam Japan
Result: 準優勝（北海道大会）
Seiun Award
2024
Work: Complete Commentary on Sogen SF Bunko (co-authored)
Category: ノンフィクション部門
Organization: Japanese SF Fan Groups Association
Result: 受賞
Gunzō New Writers' Literary Prize
2008
Work: Biopolitics and Catastrophe
Category: 評論部門
Organization: Gunzō (Magazine)
Result: 最終候補

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Against Genocide

2009 TRPG replay / fiction

A work based on a TRPG replay. Published as his debut, it demonstrates a style combining game play and narrative.

gamesviolencecatastrophe

Northern Imagination — Reflections on Hokkaido Literature and Hokkaido SF

2014 literary criticism

An essay collection discussing literature and SF centered on Hokkaido, examining the intersection of regionality and genre.

northern identityregional literatureSF criticism

Raspy Dawn

2019 poetry

First poetry collection; a group of contemporary poems which received recognition including the Ibaraki Literary Award.

lossnorthern themesanti-lyricism

Complete Commentary on Sogen SF Bunko (co-authored)

2023 criticism / commentary

Co-authored commentary on works in the Sogen SF Bunko series. It was the subject of the Seiun Award (non-fiction).

SF historybunko commentary

Bibliography

  • "World Civil War and a Small Hope — Itō Keikaku, SF and Contemporary Literature" (2013)
  • Northern Imagination — Reflections on Hokkaido Literature and Hokkaido SF (2014)
  • Raspy Dawn (poetry, 2019)
  • Complete Commentary on Sogen SF Bunko (co-authored, 2023)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
critical essay styleinterdisciplinary approach incorporating game studies
Recurring Motifs
northernitycatastropheintersection of games and narrative

Legacy

A critic and editor bridging SF/fantasy literature and game culture through activities spanning game design, translation, literary criticism and poetry. Noted for insights into regional literature and contributions to game studies.

Academic Societies

  • The Society for Modern Japanese Literature
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan
  • Digital Games Research Association Japan

In Popular Culture

  • Influential in RPG communities and indie game culture through commentary and translation
  • Poetry translated into French, indicating international reach

Trivia

  • Worked at construction sites before debut as a writer.
  • Poems have been translated into French, reflecting international activity.
  • Active as a game master and has numerous RPG-related translations and commentaries.