Japanese Literary Awards

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Masumi Oshima

おおしま ますみ

Oshima Masumi

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1962-09-19 （Nagoya, Aichi, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
1992-
Influenced By
Masaki Yamada
Nominations
Sora no Ie — 15th Subaru Literary Prize (candidate), Bokura no Basu — 31st Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award (candidate), Hane no Oto — 17th Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize (candidate), Suribachi no Soko ni Aru to Iu Button — 25th Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize (candidate), Suribachi no Soko ni Aru to Iu Button — 50th Japan Children's Literature Association Award (candidate), Pieta — Honya Taisho (Bookseller Award) candidate (2012), Anata no Hontō no Jinsei wa — 152nd Naoki Prize (candidate)

Education

Nanzan University Junior College
Department of Human Relations
Country: Japan

Awards

Bungakukai Newcomer Award
1992
Organization: Bungakukai (literary magazine)
Result: 受賞
Naoki Prize
2019
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: 受賞
High School Naoki Prize
2020
Organization: High School Naoki Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Osaka Honma Book Award
2021
Organization: Osaka Honma Book Award Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

1992 Novel

Debut work that won a newcomer award; a story (short/medium-length) focusing on human relationships and subtle emotions.

familymemorycoming of age

Sora no Ie

1992 Novel

Her first standalone book; delicately depicts family and everyday subtleties.

familyeveryday life

Chocolietta

2003 Novel

A work portraying intersecting emotions and relationships of multiple characters. Adapted to film.

human relationshipsrebirth
Adaptations
  • [Film] Chocolietta / 風間志織 (2015)

Bitter Sugar

2010 Novel (adapted for TV)

A multi-perspective story about family, generations, and memory. Adapted into a TV drama.

familymemorygenerations
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Bitter Sugar (2011)

Pieta

2011 Novel / Stage adaptation

Work that was a Bookseller Award candidate in 2012; has been adapted for the stage.

lossforgiveness
Adaptations
  • [Theatre] Pieta

2019 Historical / Contemporary fiction

A novel incorporating elements of traditional performing arts such as bunraku, linking historical material and contemporary narration. Winner of the Naoki Prize.

traditional performing artshistorysoul / bonds

2014 Novel

A story examining personal life and choices. One of the Naoki Prize candidates.

lifechoices

2018 Novel (with elements for younger readers)

A more accessible work leaning toward children's literature; depicts friendship and growth.

friendshipgrowth

Bibliography

  • Sora no Ie
  • Chocolietta
  • Bitter Sugar
  • Pieta

Adaptations

  • Chocolietta (film, 2015)
  • Bitter Sugar (TV drama, 2011)
  • Pieta (stage)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
delicate, lyrical character portrayalnarrative that connects historical material and the contemporaryoccasional ensemble/multi-perspective structure
Recurring Motifs
familymemorytheatre / traditional performing arts

Legacy

Since her debut in 1992, Masumi Oshima has been recognized for works that explore family, memory, and the connection between traditional performing arts and contemporary themes. She gained wide recognition with the Naoki Prize in 2019. Her versatile output ranges from children's books to novels and includes film and stage adaptations.

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptation of Chocolietta and TV adaptation of Bitter Sugar, among other screen adaptations.

Trivia

  • She began writing scripts while in high school and founded the theater troupe "Suichoku Bunpu" in 1985 (disbanded in 1992).
  • Her local bookstore is Shichigo Bookstore in Mizuho-ku, Nagoya; the store has had a display corner for her works since around 2012.
  • She debuted as a novelist after winning the 74th Bungakukai Newcomer Award in 1992 for 'Haruno Tejinashi'.