Japanese Literary Awards

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Wahei Tatematsu

たてまつ わへい

Tatematsu Wahei

Aliases: 横松 和夫 / Yokomatsu Kazuo
Pen Names: Wahei Tatematsu（Pen name used for literary works; derived as a variation of his real surname 'Yokomatsu'.）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1947-12-15 （Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan）
Died
2010-02-08 （Tokyo, Japan） age 62
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Buddhism
Residence History
Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan → Tokyo, Japan → Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Writer
Active Years
1978-2010
Affiliations
Japan PEN Club
Memberships
Japan PEN Club
Influenced By
Yoriyoshi Arima, Tetsurō Miura, Kenji Nakagami
Influenced
Shinpei Hayashi (son; writer), Momoko Yokomatsu (daughter; illustrator)

Education

Waseda University
School of Political Science and Economics
Degree: 学士
Country: Japan

Awards

Waseda Bungaku Newcomer Prize
1970
Work: Bicycle
Organization: Waseda Bungaku (Waseda Literary magazine)
Result: 受賞
Noma Literary Newcomer Prize
1980
Work: Distant Thunder
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Lotus Prize (for young writers)
1985
Organization: Asian-African Writers' Conference
Result: 受賞
Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize
1993
Work: Egg Washing
Organization: Tsubota Jōji Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1997
Work: Poison — Rumors: Tanaka Shōzō
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Ōtani Takejirō Prize
2002
Work: The Moon of Dōgen (kabuki script)
Organization: Ōtani Takejirō Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Izumi Kyōka Literary Prize
2007
Work: Dōgen Zenji
Organization: Izumi Kyōka Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Shinran Prize
2008
Work: Dōgen Zenji
Organization: Shinran Prize Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

At a Loss

1978 Novel

Debut work based on his experiences in Naha; portrays human relationships from the viewpoint of a young drifter.

drift and travelyouthurban-rural contrast

Distant Thunder

1980 Novel

A novel depicting rural communities on the outskirts of cities; detailed portrayal of local life and conflicts. Winner of the Noma Newcomer Prize.

rural lifecommunitymodernization
Adaptations
  • [Film] Enrai (1981)
Translations
  • Distant Thunder

Honeymoon

1982 Novel

A work exploring the subtleties of human and marital relationships. Later adapted for film; he contributed to the screenplay.

marriagehuman relationships
Adaptations
  • [Film] Honeymoon (1984)

Egg Washing

1992 Novel / Short story

Short/medium-length works observing society and human livelihoods. Winner of the Tsubota Jōji Literary Prize.

societyeveryday lifelabor

Poison — Rumors: Tanaka Shōzō

1997 Novel with historical/biographical elements

A work centered on the historical figure Tanaka Shōzō; blends research and imaginative reconstruction. Winner of the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award.

historybiographysocial justice

Rain of Light

1998 Novel

A novel partly based on the United Red Army; its initial serialization was halted amid plagiarism allegations, but it was later reworked, published and adapted into a film.

violencememorysocial issues
Adaptations
  • [Film] Rain of Light / 高橋伴明 (2001)

Dōgen Zenji

2007 Historical / Religious novel

A long work centered on the Buddhist monk Dōgen; combines religious interest and historical inquiry. Winner of the Izumi Kyōka Prize and other honors.

Buddhismbiographyspirituality

Bibliography

  • At a Loss
  • The Tin Tropic of Cancer
  • Distant Thunder
  • Honeymoon
  • Two Suns
  • Egg Washing
  • Silent City
  • Poison — Rumors: Tanaka Shōzō
  • Rain of Light
  • Dōgen Zenji
  • Paris-Dakar: The Sands' Horizon
  • Boxing Is the Food of Life
  • Dying in Rainy Tokyo
  • Egg Washing
  • Kawade: Enrai Tetralogy - Reference Volume

Adaptations

  • Enrai — Film adaptation (1981)
  • Honeymoon — Film (screenplay involvement, 1984)
  • Rain of Light — Film adaptation (2001)

Translations by Author

  • Satie for Children (translation)
  • The Compleat Angler (translation)
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (translation)
  • Waiting for the Rain (translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realism emphasizing regional/local settingsEclectic style merging travelogue and essay elementsDirect, conversational narrative voice
Recurring Motifs
water/riversnaturejourneycommunityBuddhist themes

Health

  • Multiple organ failure
    2010年1月 - 2010年2月
    Hospitalized in January 2010 and died of multiple organ failure on 2010-02-08 (age 62).

Legacy

Known as a prolific writer who depicted regional life and nature; winner of multiple awards including the Noma Newcomer Prize and Izumi Kyōka Prize. His legacy is mixed due to both literary achievements and controversies such as plagiarism allegations from the 1990s.

Museums

  • Wahei Tatematsu Literary Monument Shiobara Onsen, Nasumachi, Tochigi, Japan (Taisho Romantic Road area) Opened in 2022

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

Archives

  • National Diet Library (Japan)
  • CiNii Books (bibliographic records)

In Popular Culture

  • Regular appearances on TV Asahi's 'News Station' segment 'Kokoro to Kando no Tabi' ('Heart and Moving Journeys')
  • Film adaptations of major works (e.g., 'Enrai', 'Rain of Light')

Quotes

  • When I appear on TV I deliberately speak that way. Unlike Michitsuna, I have to do something to get work.
    Source: Shukan Asahi (Weekly Asahi) — memorial article including recollections, 2010 (2010)

Trivia

  • Real name: Yokomatsu Kazuo. The pen name 'Tatematsu' is a play on his surname 'Yokomatsu'.
  • While at Waseda University he lived as a wanderer and worked various jobs including manual labor and hospital assistant.
  • Made his literary debut by winning the 1st Waseda Bungaku Newcomer Prize in 1970 for 'Bicycle'.
  • Won the Noma Newcomer Prize in 1980 for 'Distant Thunder'; the novel was adapted into a film in 1981.
  • In 1993 plagiarism allegations over 'Rain of Light' affected his public activity and media presence.
  • Served as a navigator in the Paris–Dakar Rally around 1990.
  • Late in life he deepened his engagement with Buddhism and helped establish a small temple (Bishamondō) in Shiretoko.
  • His daughter Momoko Yokomatsu is an illustrator and contributed illustrations to many of his books.