Japanese Literary Awards

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Maiko Sugimoto

すぎもと まいこ

Sugimoto Maiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1973-01-10 （Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Resident of Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Career

Occupations
poet, essayist, literary instructor
Active Years
1998-
Affiliations
Member of the three-person magazine 'cow' (with Kenji Fukuma and Hiroya Takagai), Instructor, Literary Creative Writing Department, Utsunomiya Art & Sports Vocational School
Memberships
Member of the three-person magazine 'cow'
Nominations
Nakahara Chūya Prize (finalist), Ono Jūsaburō Prize (finalist)

Education

Musashino Women's University Junior College
Literature / English major (junior college)
Country: Japan
Studied literature/English at the junior college
Gakushuin University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Philosophy
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Faculty of Letters, Department of Philosophy

Awards

Gendai Shi Techou Prize (40th)
2002
Organization: Gendai Shi Techou (magazine)
Result: winner
H-shi Prize (58th)
2008
Work: Sodeguchi no Doubutsu
Organization: H-shi Prize Committee
Result: winner
Shinmai Selection Prize (13th)
2008
Organization: Shinano Mainichi Shimbun
Result: winner
Takami Jun Prize (45th)
2015
Work: Susobana
Organization: Takami Jun Prize Committee
Result: winner
Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize (31st)
2023
Work: Minakami-yama
Organization: Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tenka-ki (Ignition Period)

2003 poetry collection

Debut poetry collection. Gained attention for distinctive poems layering everyday scenes and inner landscapes.

everyday lifeinterioritymemory

Sodeguchi no Doubutsu (The Animal at the Cuff)

2007 poetry collection

Second collection focusing on bodily sensations and detailed observations of the surroundings.

the bodydetails of everyday lifeexistence

Susobana

2014 poetry collection

Third collection including works that delve into locality and relationship with nature.

naturelocalitymemory

Minakami-yama

2023 poetry collection

Fourth collection exploring the power of language through perspectives on mountains and landscape. Winner of the Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize.

mountainslandscapeexploration of language

Three Days' Stone

2020 essays

An essay collection containing reflections around the practice of poetry.

reflectionpoetry and everyday life

Bibliography

  • Tenka-ki (Shichosha, 2003)
  • Sodeguchi no Doubutsu (Shichosha, 2007)
  • Poetry Relay 1 (co-authored, Furansudo, 2006)
  • Susobana (Shichosha, 2014)
  • Three Days' Stone (Kyobunsha, 2020)
  • Minakami-yama (Shichosha, 2023)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical, observational style layering everyday life and interioritycondensed language attentive to detail
Recurring Motifs
nature (mountains, landscapes)the body and clothing (e.g., cuffs)intersections of memory and place

Legacy

A contemporary Japanese female poet noted for work grounded in locality and delicate observation. Has established a place in the poetry world through multiple major awards.

Trivia

  • Born January 10, 1973.
  • From Nagano City; resides in Saitama Prefecture.
  • First submission in 1998 (poetry column of Fujin Koron).
  • Debuted with the poetry collection 'Tenka-ki' in 2003 and attracted attention.
  • Has won multiple poetry awards (Gendai Shi Techou Prize, H-shi Prize, Takami Jun Prize, Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize).
  • Active as a member of the three-person magazine 'cow'.