Japanese Literary Awards

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Yumiko Shirai

しらい ゆみこ

Shirai Yumiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1967-03-15 （Ehime Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
manga artist
Active Years
1990-
Memberships
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)
Influenced By
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, Yumiko Oshima, Moto Hagio, Mutsumi Hagiiwa

Education

Kyoto City University of Arts
Faculty of Fine Arts / Oil painting (major)
Country: Japan
Specialized in oil painting

Awards

Japan Media Arts Festival (Manga Division) Encouragement Prize
2007
Work: Tenken
Organization: Japan Media Arts Festival
Result: Encouragement Prize
Japan Media Arts Festival (Manga Division) Jury Recommended Work
2010
Work: WOMBS
Category: 審査委員会推薦作品
Organization: Japan Media Arts Festival
Result: Recommended
Japan Media Arts Festival (Manga Division) Jury Recommended Work
2015
Work: Rafnus
Category: 審査委員会推薦作品
Organization: Japan Media Arts Festival
Result: Recommended
Nihon SF Taisho Award, Grand Prize
2017
Work: WOMBS
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)
Result: Grand Prize
Egao no Ehime Culture & Sports Award (Culture, Individual)
2017
Category: 文化 > 個人
Organization: Ehime Prefecture
Result: Awarded (in recognition of Nihon SF Taisho Award)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

WOMBS

2010 Science fiction

A science-fiction manga centered on themes such as pregnant women going to war; notable for its treatment of the female body, childbirth, and the intersection of warfare and society.

pregnancymotherhoodwarsocial structurephysicality

Tenken

2008 Doujin comic / Manga

Originally published as a doujin work and later commercially released; characterized by its fantastical elements and dense artwork.

fantasyritualurban
Translations
  • TENKEN (English translation by Glenn Anderson, One Peace Books, 2010)

Rafnus

2013 Manga

Serialized in Futabasha's Monthly Action; mixes elements of mystery/legend with human drama.

legendary/occulthuman relationships

2017 Short stories / Manga

A collection of one-shots and short stories, including works from the "Mechanical Myth" series.

human dramahumoreveryday strangeness

Osaka Kanjo Kekkai Toshi

2018 Near-future urban legend / Manga

A near-future urban-legend crisis story set in Osaka; serialized and later compiled into volumes.

citylegend/occultnear-future

WOMBS CRADLE

2020 Science fiction / prequel

A prequel to WOMBS, started as a web-serial and later published in two volumes.

originsmotherhoodwar

Bibliography

  • Tenken (2008)
  • WOMBS (5 vols., 2010–2016)
  • Rafnus (2 vols., 2014–2015)
  • Osaka Kanjo Kekkai Toshi (3 vols., 2018–2019)
  • WOMBS CRADLE (2 vols., 2021)

Translations of Works

  • TENKEN (English translation, One Peace Books, 2010)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
detailed linework and composed pagesblend of fantasy and realismdelicate handling of social themes
Recurring Motifs
motherhood and childbirthphysicalitycity and otherworldritual / religious motifs

Legacy

Recognized for a unique approach that combines SF perspectives with attention to the female body; received jury recommendations at the Japan Media Arts Festival and won the Nihon SF Taisho Award, drawing domestic and international attention.

Academic Societies

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)

Archives

  • National Diet Library of Japan (holdings)

Trivia

  • Nickname in high school was "Dom".
  • Performs later stages of artwork on a PC, using Painter and Photoshop.
  • Worked in the doujin circle "Meta-Paradigm" before commercial publication.
  • Tenken was first a doujin release, later commercially published and translated into English.