Japanese Literary Awards

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Shigeru Shimizu

しみず しげる

Shigeru Shimizu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1932-11-11 （Tokyo Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2020-01-16 age 87
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, French
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Paris, France (residency/stays)

Career

Occupations
French literature scholar, Poet, Translator, University professor, Magazine editor
Active Years
1953-2020
Affiliations
Waseda University (Professor Emeritus), Literary magazine 'Dojidai', Japan Poets Club
Memberships
Japan Poets Club (Chairman 2011–2013), Contributor, literary magazine 'Dojidai'
Influenced By
Yves Bonnefoy, Romain Rolland, Toshihiko Katayama

Education

Waseda University
Faculty of Letters (French Department) / Department of French Literature
Period: 1952–1956（学部）、1961（大学院退学）
Year of Graduation: 1956
Country: Japan
Graduated Faculty of Letters (French) in 1956; left graduate school (Literary Studies) in 1961

Awards

Gendai Poiesis Prize
2007
Work: New Morning's Surf
Result: winner
Japan Poets Club Prize
2009
Work: The Silence Beneath the Water
Organization: Japan Poets Club
Result: winner
Saitama Poets Prize
2009
Work: The Silence Beneath the Water
Result: winner
Japan Poets Club Shikai Award (Special Prize)
2017
Work: Poets I Have Met
Organization: Japan Poets Club
Result: winner
Contemporary Poets Prize
2018
Work: A Field of Silence
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

New Morning's Surf

2007 Poetry collection

A poetry collection reflecting on morning light and the sounds of the sea, delicately treating life and renewal.

naturerenewallight

The Silence Beneath the Water

2008 Poetry collection

A collection exploring the quiet and solitude beneath water; many introspective poems.

solitudesilencememory

A Field of Silence

2017 Poetry collection

A late-career collection depicting worldly quiet with a mature poetic voice.

silenceagingrecollection

Paris: Landscapes of Memory and Reminiscence

2010 Essays / Memoir

An essay collection recounting Parisian scenes and memories of stays in France.

Parismemorycultural exchange

Poems: That Which Was Without Light (Yves Bonnefoy, translated edition)

1993 Translated poetry

A Japanese translation edition of Yves Bonnefoy's poems; representative of Shimizu's translation work.

translationpoetryFrench literature

Bibliography

  • Assisi Spring (Ozawa Shoten), 1981
  • Under the Rose Window (Ozawa Shoten), 1981
  • Vera Icon (Ozawa Shoten), 1984
  • New Morning's Surf (Gento-sha), 2007
  • The Silence Beneath the Water (Gento-sha), 2008
  • A Field of Silence (Gento-sha), 2017
  • Poets I Have Met (Gento-sha), 2016
  • Shigeru Shimizu: Collected Poems (Doyobi Bijutsu-sha), 2012

Translations by Author

  • H. Hesse - R. Rolland: Correspondence (co-translated, Misuzu Shobo), 1959
  • The Garden of Stones (Nikos Kazantzakis translation, Yomiuri Shimbun), 1978
  • Poems: That Which Was Without Light (Yves Bonnefoy, translated, Ozawa Shoten), 1993

Style & Themes

Literary Style
delicate, symbolist-tinged poetic styleintrospective and serene expressionstyle reflecting deep knowledge of French poetry
Recurring Motifs
silencelight and shadowmemory and reminiscencesea / water

Legacy

Contributed to modern Japanese poetry through the introduction and translation of French poetry and his own poetic work. As an educator at Waseda University he mentored many, and as chairman of the Japan Poets Club he actively supported the poetry community.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Poets Club

Archives

  • National Diet Library (holds related materials)
  • Waseda University Library (holds related materials)

Trivia

  • Graduated from Waseda University Faculty of Letters; Professor Emeritus at Waseda University.
  • Had a friendship with French poet Yves Bonnefoy and translated his work.
  • Served as chairman of the Japan Poets Club (2011–2013).