Naoki Sanjugo Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 23 (1950) award
Itoko Koyama
こやま いとこ
Koyama Itoko
Aliases:
池本 イト / 小山 イト
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1901-07-13 （Shinohara, Ōshino Village, Nagaoka District, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan (now Nankoku City)）
- Died
- 1989-07-25 age 88
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Ōshino Village, Nagaoka District, Kōchi Prefecture (now Nankoku City), Japan → Fukuoka (attended Fukuoka Women's Normal School) → Izumi-cho, Suginami Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Advice columnist (life advice)
- Active Years
- 1933-1989
- Affiliations
- Contributor to the 'Hinotori' literary group, Haōju tanka group, Japan–Hungary Relief Association (leading figure)
- Memberships
- Japan–Hungary Relief Association, Member / contributor, 'Hinotori' literary group
- Influenced By
- Hashida Tosei
- Nominations
- Akutagawa Prize preliminary candidate (2nd half 1938), Women's Literary Award nominee (1947, 1948)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka Women's Normal School (now Fukuoka University of Education) | — | — | — | — | Japan |
Fukuoka Women's Normal School (now Fukuoka University of Education)
Country:
Japan
Studied under tanka poet Hashida Tosei while at school.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Winner, Fujin Koron contest (Kaimonbashi) | Kaimonbashi | — | Fujin Koron (Japanese women's magazine) | Winner |
| 1934 | Chūōkōron manuscript contest, second prize (Deep Night) | Shinya / "Midnight" | — | Chūōkōron | Second prize |
| 1938 | Akutagawa Prize preliminary candidate ("4A格") | 4A-kaku (Special) | — | Akutagawa Prize selection committee | Preliminary candidate |
| 1947 | Women's Literary Award nominee (Yashi Shinju) | — | — | Women's Literary Award | Nominated |
| 1948 | Women's Literary Award nominee (Yashi Shinju) | — | — | Women's Literary Award | Nominated |
| 1950 | Naoki Prize (23rd session, "Probation") | Probation | — | Naoki Prize selection committee | Winner |
Winner, Fujin Koron contest (Kaimonbashi)
1933
Work:
Kaimonbashi
Organization:
Fujin Koron (Japanese women's magazine)
Result:
Winner
Chūōkōron manuscript contest, second prize (Deep Night)
1934
Work:
Shinya / "Midnight"
Organization:
Chūōkōron
Result:
Second prize
Akutagawa Prize preliminary candidate ("4A格")
1938
Work:
4A-kaku (Special)
Organization:
Akutagawa Prize selection committee
Result:
Preliminary candidate
Women's Literary Award nominee (Yashi Shinju)
1947
Organization:
Women's Literary Award
Result:
Nominated
Women's Literary Award nominee (Yashi Shinju)
1948
Organization:
Women's Literary Award
Result:
Nominated
Naoki Prize (23rd session, "Probation")
1950
Work:
Probation
Organization:
Naoki Prize selection committee
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Probation
1950 Chūkan (middlebrow) fiction / Popular fictionA human drama grounded in social issues. Characteristic of Koyama's work are depictions based on meticulous research and a sincere humanistic tone.
Social issuesHuman relationshipsMorality and ethics
Adaptations
- [Film] Probation / 佐分利信 (1950)
The Sea Is Never Full
1958 Autobiographical novelA multi-part autobiographical novel that weaves youthful experiences, romantic affairs and social observations into a portrait of the author's life.
AutobiographyRomanceFemale independence
Kaimonbashi
1933 Short storyHer debut short story, which won a contest in Fujin Koron and marked her literary debut.
Debut / beginningsFemale perspective
Bibliography
Adaptations
- Toki no Teisō (film, 1948, dir. Yoshimura Ren)
- Probation (film, 1950, dir. Saburi Shin)
- How Many Times Do Roses Bloom (film, 1955, dir. Kinugasa Teinosuke)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Realistic depiction based on meticulous researchA sincere humanistic toneNarrative style aligned with middlebrow and popular fiction
- Recurring Motifs
- Female independenceMarriage, divorce and gender relationsSocial injustice and redemption
Legacy
Known for socially aware works based on meticulous research, Koyama received recognition including the 23rd Naoki Prize for 'Probation'. Several of her works were adapted into films and reached a wide readership. She also attracted public attention when a serial about Empress Michiko was halted.
Museums
- Kōchi Prefectural Literature Museum (holds related materials) Kōchi Prefecture, Japan
Archives
- National Diet Library of Japan (reference holdings)
- Kōchi Prefectural Literature Museum
In Popular Culture
- Several works were adapted for film, contributing to postwar popular culture.
- Known as an answerer for Yomiuri Shimbun's 'Jinsei Annai' advice column.
Trivia
- Born Ikemoto Ito; at age 19 (1920) she was forced into marriage by her father.
- After marriage(s) and divorces she became known as Koyama (divorced twice).
- Awarded the 23rd Naoki Prize for 'Probation' (1950).
- Involved in a controversy when her serial 'Michiko-sama' in the magazine Heibon was halted after a request from the Imperial Household Agency (1963).
- Active in aid for Hungarian refugees as a leading figure of the Japan–Hungary Relief Association.
- Several of her works were adapted into films.
- Served as an answerer for Yomiuri Shimbun's life-advice column 'Jinsei Annai'.