Japanese Literary Awards

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Susumu Ono

おおの すすむ

Oono Susumu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1919-08-23 （Fukagawa, Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan (now Koto, Tokyo, Japan)）
Died
2008-07-14 （Juntendo University Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan） age 88
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Japanese linguist, Linguist, University professor, Author
Active Years
1944-2008
Affiliations
Gakushuin University, Toyo Eiwa University, National Language Council (member)
Memberships
Japanese Language Society
Influenced By
Shinkichi Hashimoto

Education

First Higher School (old system)
Year of Graduation: 1941
Country: Japan
Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo)
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Degree: 文学士
Year of Graduation: 1943
Country: Japan
Graduated early due to wartime circumstances
University of Tokyo
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Degree: 文学博士（論文博士）
Year of Graduation: 1962
Country: Japan
Awarded doctorate by dissertation

Awards

Arts Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education Award)
1990
Work: Hikaru Genji no Monogatari (with Saiichi Marutani)
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Arts Encouragement Awards)
Result: 受賞
Yomiuri Literature Prize
1994
Work: Study of Kakari-Musubi
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Inoue Yasushi Culture Award
1999
Work: Japanese Practice Book
Organization: Inoue Yasushi Culture Award Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Studies in Old Japanese Orthography (Shodai Kana-zukai)

1953 Scholarly research

A scholarly analysis of ancient kana orthography (Shodai kana-zukai), focusing on texts such as the Nihon Shoki and discussing Old Japanese phonology and orthography.

Shodai kana-zukaiPhonologyOrthography

The Origin of the Japanese Language

1957 Linguistics / Popular science

A comprehensive essay on the origins of Japanese, presenting comparisons with Tamil and other languages and discussing hypotheses about the genesis of Japanese for a general readership.

Origins of JapaneseComparative linguisticsTamil hypothesis

Rings of the Japanese Language

1961 Linguistics / Essays

Based on serialized essays, this popular work reflects on the history of Japanese and changes in vocabulary, written for a general audience.

Lexical historyLanguage and culture

Study of Kakari-Musubi

1993 Japanese linguistics / Grammar research

A historical and theoretical study of the kakari-musubi phenomenon in Japanese grammar; one of his representative works which won the Yomiuri Literature Prize.

Kakari-musubiHistory of grammarClassical Japanese

Japanese Practice Book

1999 Language primer / Practical guide

A user-friendly primer on the Japanese language aimed at general readers; clear explanations made it widely popular and a bestseller.

Japanese language educationUsage guidance

Hikaru Genji no Monogatari (Dialogues with Saiichi Marutani)

1989 Literary commentary / Dialogues

A conversational commentary on The Tale of Genji, written as dialogues with Saiichi Marutani, offering fresh readings of the classic.

The Tale of GenjiLiterary interpretation

The Formation of the Japanese Language

2000 Comprehensive research

A major work on the formation of Japanese, reexamining the language's emergence from phonological, lexical, and grammatical perspectives and including comparisons with Tamil.

Formation of JapaneseComparative studyLanguage contact

Bibliography

  • Studies in Old Japanese Orthography (1953)
  • The Origin of the Japanese Language (1957)
  • Rings of the Japanese Language (1961)
  • Tracing Back the Japanese Language (1974)
  • Thinking about Japanese Grammar (1978)
  • Hikaru Genji no Monogatari (1989, co-authored)
  • Study of Kakari-Musubi (1993)
  • Japanese Practice Book (1999)
  • The Formation of the Japanese Language (2000)
  • Yayoi Civilization and South India (2004)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, accessible explanatory proseInterdisciplinary treatment linking language and civilization
Recurring Motifs
Origins of JapaneseClassical Japanese phonology and kana orthographyKakari-musubi and grammatical structure

Health

  • Pleurisy (suspected)
    1943-1944（徴兵検査・入院）
    Led to exemption from military service and allowed him to continue in academic research as an assistant in the Japanese language research laboratory.
  • Heart failure
    2008-07-14（逝去）
    Died of heart failure at Juntendo University Hospital in 2008.

Legacy

He left wide-ranging contributions centering on Shodai kana-zukai and the phonology of classical Japanese, and had a large influence through works aimed at general readers. His original hypothesis linking the origin of Japanese to the Tamil sphere provoked debate in academia; he also made significant contributions to dictionary compilation and historical grammar research.

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Language Society
  • Japanese Linguistics Society

Archives

  • Gakushuin University Library
  • NHK Archives (biographical materials)

Quotes

  • He was the greatest Japanese linguist. He knew phonology and grammar in depth and linked language to civilization as a whole.
    Source: Saiichi Marutani (commentary) (2008)

Trivia

  • Ono's Tamil-origin hypothesis generated wide attention but drew strong criticism from comparative linguists.
  • 'Japanese Practice Book' became a bestseller; by reporting time it sold in the millions (approx. 1.9 million copies).
  • It is noted that Ono did not in fact speak Tamil fluently.
  • He conducted handwriting/textual analysis on the Sayama case threatening letter, offering opinions that influenced public discussion.