Japanese Literary Awards

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Yu Takekawa

たけかわ ゆう

Takekawa Yū

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1981 （Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Former bookseller, Former industry newspaper reporter
Active Years
2016-
Nominations
2016: 'Mitsukubi Gatari' — Candidate for the 2nd Kessen! Novel Prize, 2018: 'Tora no Kiba' — Candidate for the 24th Nakayama Yoshihide Literary Prize, 2021: 'Senri wo Yuke: Kuji-biki Shogun to Sekuwan Onna' — Candidate for the 11th Booksellers' Historical Novel Award

Education

Rikkyo University, Graduate School of Arts (German Literature)
Graduate School of Arts / German Literature
Degree: 修士
Country: Japan
Completed the master's (first-stage doctoral) program in German literature

Awards

Kessen! Novel Prize (Encouragement Award)
2016
Category: 奨励賞
Organization: Kessen! series
Result: 受賞
History/Period Fiction Writers Club Award (Newcomer Award)
2018
Category: 新人賞
Organization: History and Period Fiction Writers Club
Result: 受賞
Japan Historical Period Fiction Writers Association Award (Work Prize)
2021
Category: 作品賞
Organization: Japan Historical Period Fiction Writers Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

2016 Historical fiction

Work that received the Encouragement Award at the Kessen! Novel Prize; published as an e-book; a historical fiction piece.

historyhuman dramawar

Tora no Kiba

2017 Historical fiction

A full-length original historical novel that portrays personal conflicts and loyalties against a period backdrop. Winner of the 7th History/Period Fiction Writers Club Award (Newcomer Award).

samurailoyaltyrevengehuman relationships

2019 Historical fiction

Published in 2019; a historical novel that carefully depicts its period setting.

historycharacter portrayal

2021 Historical fiction

Published in 2021. Winner of the 10th Japan Historical Period Fiction Writers Association Award (Work Prize). Retitled to 'Akushogun Ansatsu' for its bunko edition.

Sengoku periodassassinationintrigue

2021 Historical fiction

Published in 2021; contains stories focusing on local life and common people in period settings.

regional historydaily lifefood culture

Bibliography

  • Tora no Kiba (Kodansha, 2017-10-18)
  • Senri wo Yuke: Kuji-biki Shogun to Sekuwan Onna (Bungeishunju, 2021-03-26)
  • Akushogun Ansatsu (Bunshun Bunko, retitled paperback edition, 2024-02-06)
  • Kessen! Shitara-hara: Takeda vs Oda/Tokugawa (Anthology contribution, Kodansha, 2018)
  • Fuun: Sengoku Anthology (Kodansha Bunko, 2023)
  • Yoi Genkai: Onmyoji / Abe no Seimei Tribute (Bunshun Bunko, 2023)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
historical realismcharacter-driven psychological portrayal
Recurring Motifs
Sengoku/period settingssamurai loyalty and conflictrevenge and intriguedepictions of commoners' daily life

Legacy

A rising historical fiction writer active since the late 2010s, with awards including the Kessen! Novel Prize (Encouragement Award), the History/Period Fiction Writers Club Award, and the Japan Historical Period Fiction Writers Association Award. Noted for period depiction and character portrayal.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (authority record)

Trivia

  • Completed graduate studies at Rikkyo University (German literature).
  • Worked as a bookseller and as a reporter for an industry newspaper before debuting as a novelist.
  • X (formerly Twitter) account: @takekawa_yu
  • Authority records exist (ISNI, VIAF, NDL, etc.).