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Toma Aisaka

あいさか とうま

Aisaka Touma

Pen Names: Toma Aisaka（Pen name used as author name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1985-10-08 （Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan → Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
2001-
Influenced By
Svetlana Alexievich, Russian literature
Nominations
Nominated for the 166th Naoki Prize (2022) for 'To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy', Nominated for the 15th Yamada Futarō Prize (2024) for 'To the Unsung Pirate', Nominated for the 38th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize (2025) for 'Trajectory of the Break Shot', Nominated for the 173rd Naoki Prize (2025) for 'Trajectory of the Break Shot'

Education

Meiji Gakuin University
Faculty of International Studies / Department of International Studies
Country: Japan

Awards

Agatha Christie Award (11th)
2021
Work: To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy
Organization: Hayakawa Publishing
Result: Winner
Honya Taisho (Booksellers' Award)
2022
Work: To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy
Organization: Honya Taisho Executive Committee
Result: Winner
Okinawa Bookstore Award (8th)
2022
Work: To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy
Organization: Okinawa Bookstore Award Committee
Result: Winner
High School Naoki Prize (9th)
2022
Work: To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy
Organization: High School Naoki Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Naoki Prize (166th)
2022
Work: To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominated
Yamada Futarō Prize (15th)
2024
Work: To the Unsung Pirate
Organization: Yamada Futarō Prize Committee
Result: Nominated
Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize (38th)
2025
Work: Trajectory of the Break Shot
Organization: Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize Committee
Result: Nominated
Naoki Prize (173rd)
2025
Work: Trajectory of the Break Shot
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: Nominated

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy

2021 War novel

Set in the Soviet Union during World War II, the novel follows a young female sniper and portrays the realities of war, relationships, and trauma, exploring friendship and the individual's relationship to the state.

WarWomenFriendshipTraumaMemory

To the Unsung Pirate

2023 Novel

A novel published by Hayakawa Publishing that thematically engages with the sea, adventure, and rebellion. Further details are available in publication materials.

SeaAdventureRebellion

Trajectory of the Break Shot

2025 Novel

Published in 2025. Detailed synopsis and themes have not been widely published.

Bibliography

  • To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy (Hayakawa Publishing, 2021)
  • To the Unsung Pirate (Hayakawa Publishing, 2023)
  • Trajectory of the Break Shot (Hayakawa Publishing, 2025)
  • Bungaku Kyodai!! (co-authored with Yuri Nakura, Bungeishunju, 2023)
  • 'Awake, Sleep' (short story; in anthology '2084's SF', Hayakawa Bunko JA, 2022)
  • Hayakawa Mystery Magazine, Nov 2021 (special advance excerpt of 'To the Comrade Girl, Shoot the Enemy')

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed psychological portrayalCareful depiction of wartime detailObjective and restrained narrative voice
Recurring Motifs
War experienceFemale perspectiveMemory and trauma

Legacy

His debut novel won multiple literary awards and he is recognized for contributions to war literature and narratives centered on women's perspectives.

Trivia

  • His father is the historian Tetsuzō Nakura.
  • His sister is Russian literature scholar Yuri Nakura.
  • His debut novel was temporarily posted on the web novel site Kakuyomu before being submitted to the Agatha Christie Award.
  • At the 11th Agatha Christie Award, all judges gave a perfect score.
  • The debut novel won multiple awards including the Honya Taisho.