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Takuki Yoshimitsu

たくき よしみつ

Takuki Yoshimitsu

Aliases: 鐸木 能光 / 芳光祥太郎 / 郷順治 / Jin Soda / KAMUNA
Pen Names: Yoshimitsu Shōtarō（Pen name used for fiction (used when reaching final selection of the 1979 Gunzo New Writers' Award)）, Gō Junji（Name used for some English-education publications）, Jin Soda（Stage name used as an EWI performer）, KAMUNA（Name of the guitar duo project）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1955-01-01 （Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, English
Residence History
Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan (birthplace) → Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, Japan (raised/former residence) → Kawaguchi Town, Kita-Uonuma District, Niigata (intended relocation; damaged in 2004 Chuetsu earthquake) → Kawauchi Village, Futaba District, Fukushima (residence) → Nikkō City, Tochigi Prefecture (later residence)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Musician, Composer, Guitarist, Komainu researcher, Writer (freelance), Ghostwriter
Active Years
1975-
Affiliations
Japan Writers' Association, Tokyo Kid Brothers (collaboration for musicals)
Memberships
Japan Writers' Association

Education

Sophia University
Faculty of Foreign Languages / Department of English
Degree: 学士 (Bachelor's)
Country: Japan

Awards

4th Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award
1991
Work: Maria's Father
Organization: Shueisha
Result: winner
Gunzo New Writers' Award (final selection)
1979
Organization: Gunzo (magazine)
Result: finalist

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Maria's Father

1993 Novel

A novel that explores family and faith. Winner of the 4th Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award.

familyfaithhuman relationships

1991 Novel (CD book)

A debut work combining original prose and musical recordings as a CD-book.

musicshort fictionexperiments in expression

Komainu Kagami: A Complete Guide to Komainu

2006 Research / Guidebook

A guide and compendium focused on komainu (guardian lion-dog statues), known as an introductory resource for komainu research.

komainufolkloresculpture research

Naked Fukushima: Living Within the 30km Radius of the Nuclear Plant

2011 Non-fiction

Non-fiction accounts of life and perspectives in areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.

nuclear accidentlife in affected areasregional recovery

1995 Novel / Music-related

A work that weaves musical motifs and perspectives into its narrative.

musicpersonal history

Bibliography

  • Maria's Father
  • Komainu Kagami: A Complete Guide to Komainu
  • Naked Fukushima: Living Within the 30km Radius of the Nuclear Plant

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Plain, conversational proseUse of musical metaphors and rhythmic phrasingA style that moves between nonfiction and fiction
Recurring Motifs
komainu (guardian dog statues)rural life and naturemusic and instrumentsdisaster, recovery (Fukushima)

Legacy

Through activity as a musician and a prolific body of writings, he has contributed to regional cultural studies (notably komainu research) and discourse around Fukushima. His works span fiction, nonfiction and technical books, and he is known for local engagement and online information dissemination.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Writers' Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library (authority file / NDL ID: 00197734)
  • VIAF (VIAF ID: 112477919)
  • ISNI (ISNI ID: 0000000084704136)

In Popular Culture

  • Komainu-net and other online activities promoting komainu research
  • Self-publishing and sales via Tanupack Books / TANUPACK

Trivia

  • Real name: 鐸木 能光 (Takuki Yoshimitsu).
  • His mother is doll-maker Noriko Takuki (鐸木能子).
  • His great-grandfather was Saburōbee Takuki, an honorary mayor of Fukushima and former member of the House of Representatives.
  • In 1979 he reached the final selection of the Gunzo New Writers' Award (the prize that year went to Haruki Murakami's 'Hear the Wind Sing').
  • In 1991 he won the 4th Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award.