Nikkei Novel Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 8 (2016) award
Toshiaki Ota
おおた としあき
Ota Toshiaki
Pen Names:
Koichi Sakamoto（Pen name used for fiction (used in early works and for the Edogawa Rampo Prize-winning work)）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1953-10-05 （Matsudo, Chiba, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Writer, Non-fiction writer, Former corporate employee
- Active Years
- 1988-
- Affiliations
- Mitsubishi Corporation (former employee), The Mystery Writers of Japan
- Memberships
- The Mystery Writers of Japan
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiba Prefectural Tokatsukashi High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| The University of Tokyo | Faculty of Agriculture | — | 学士 | — | Japan |
Chiba Prefectural Tokatsukashi High School
Country:
Japan
The University of Tokyo
Faculty of Agriculture
Degree:
学士
Country:
Japan
While a student he belonged to the University of Tokyo baseball team, playing as a shortstop.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Edogawa Rampo Prize | White Afterimage | — | — | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Nikkei Novel Award | Ubasute Mountain Prosperity Chronicle | — | Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) | 受賞 |
Edogawa Rampo Prize
1988
Work:
White Afterimage
Result:
受賞
Nikkei Novel Award
2016
Work:
Ubasute Mountain Prosperity Chronicle
Organization:
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei)
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
White Afterimage
1988 Mystery novelA mystery novel centered on high school baseball. He debuted by winning the 34th Edogawa Rampo Prize with this work.
high school baseballyouthmystery
Double Trap
1989 Mystery novelA classic puzzle-driven mystery novel emphasizing intricate trickery. Published by Kodansha.
plot trickcrimepsychology
Headhunter
1991 Corporate mysteryA suspenseful novel set in the corporate world, focusing on recruitment and organizational intrigue. Published in the Nikkei Economy Mystery series.
corporate liferecruitmentbetrayal
Five Colored Breaking Pitches
1992 Sports fiction with mystery elementsFiction themed around baseball, blending sporting depiction with human drama.
baseballteamworkcoming-of-age
Phantom Rally: 1,000 Days to Revival
1992 Non-fictionA non-fiction account of the author's involvement in the corporate project to revive the Paris–Moscow–Beijing rally, chronicling the 1,000 days of effort.
motorsportcorporate projectsinternational collaboration
Ubasute Mountain Prosperity Chronicle
2017 NovelA novel that humorously and lightly addresses social issues. It won the 8th Nikkei Novel Award and marked his re-debut under his real name, Toshiaki Ota.
social issuesaging societyhumor
Two Lives, One Fate: Yoshimune's Testament
2018 NovelA long-form novel dealing with historical elements and interpersonal relations. Public descriptions are limited, so the summary is concise.
historyfamilytestament
Eiji Sawamura: The Betrayed Ace
2021 Biography / Non-fictionA biographical work tracing the life of notable pitcher Eiji Sawamura. Positioned as sports history and personal biography.
baseballbiographysports history
Bibliography
- White Afterimage
- Double Trap
- Headhunter
- Five Colored Breaking Pitches
- Phantom Rally: 1,000 Days to Revival
- Ubasute Mountain Prosperity Chronicle
- Two Lives, One Fate: Yoshimune's Testament
- Eiji Sawamura: The Betrayed Ace
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Plot-driven, clear proseBlend of sports description and mysteryRealistic depictions informed by professional experience
- Recurring Motifs
- baseball (high school and professional)corporations and organizationstravel and project revivalintergenerational conflict
Legacy
Known for mysteries and non-fiction that often draw on baseball and corporate settings. He debuted by winning the 34th Edogawa Rampo Prize and later re-debuted under his real name by winning the Nikkei Novel Award. His works are noted for subject matter informed by practical experience and accessible, plot-focused structure.
Academic Societies
- The Mystery Writers of Japan
Archives
- National Diet Library (NDL) identifier: 00182011
- VIAF: 115305524
- ISNI: 0000000083211954
- Library of Congress (LCCN): no93016166
- German National Library (GND): 1159715017
Trivia
- His real name is Toshiaki Ota. He has also published under the pen name Koichi Sakamoto.
- Graduate of the University of Tokyo Faculty of Agriculture. While a student he played shortstop for the university baseball team.
- As an employee of Mitsubishi Corporation he was involved in a corporate project to revive the Paris–Moscow–Beijing rally; he wrote a non-fiction account of the experience.
- He debuted by winning the 34th Edogawa Rampo Prize in 1988 with 'White Afterimage'.
- In 2016 he won the 8th Nikkei Novel Award with 'Ubasute Mountain Prosperity Chronicle', re-debuting under his real name, Toshiaki Ota.