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Kimiko Ueda

うえだ きみこ

Ueda Kimiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1930-03-08 （Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2011-07-22 age 81
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, English

Career

Occupations
Translator
Active Years
1970-2011

Education

Kumamoto Prefectural Women's Specialized School
English Department / English Department
Country: Japan

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Talented Mr. Ripley

1955 Mystery

A signature work by Patricia Highsmith, the first major Tom Ripley novel — a psychological crime story centered on deception and identity.

identitydeceptionpsychological drama
Translations
  • Kadokawa Bunko (translated by Kimiko Ueda) 1973 (Japanese translation)

Presumed Innocent

1987 Legal thriller

A legal thriller by Scott Turow where a prosecutor becomes a defendant, exploring law and human psychology.

justiceethicstruth and lies
Adaptations
  • [Film] Presumed Innocent (film) / Alan J. Pakula (1990)
Translations
  • Bungeishunju (translated by Kimiko Ueda) 1988

Popcorn

1996 Black comedy

A satirical black comedy by Ben Elton examining violence and media culture.

media criticismsatire on violence
Translations
  • Hayakawa Publishing (translated by Kimiko Ueda) 1997

Auntie Mame

1955 Comedy novel

A humorous novel by Patrick Dennis about a flamboyant aunt and her effect on those around her.

freedomfamilyhumor
Translations
  • Kadokawa Bunko (translated by Kimiko Ueda) 1974

Bibliography

  • The Talented Mr. Ripley — Patricia Highsmith (translated)
  • Auntie Mame — Patrick Dennis (translated)
  • Another Me Named Anna — Florence Fisher (translated)
  • Morning of Departure — Stephen & Elinor Carr (translated)
  • Outlaw Motorcycle Murder Case — John Beuwal (translated)
  • Midnight Woman — David Anthony (translated)
  • The Elegant Poacher — Frank Parrish (translated)
  • Shout, Friend — Pat Feeley (translated)
  • Morning After — Eileen Rothman (translated)
  • Sunset Bomber — D. Kincaid (translated)
  • Presumed Innocent — Scott Turow (translated)
  • My Sweetheart, My Honey — Andrew Coburn (translated)
  • A Profession Not Suited to Me — Ross H. Spencer (translated)
  • The War of the Roses — Warren Adler (translated)
  • The Burden of Proof — Scott Turow (translated)
  • Guilty Plea — Scott Turow (translated)
  • Bodies Increase in Miami — Paul Levine (translated)
  • Popcorn — Ben Elton (translated)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Faithful to the tone of the original while prioritizing readability in JapaneseClear, accessible prose
Recurring Motifs
Focus on mystery and suspense translationsSpecialization in legal thrillers and psychological dramas

Health

  • Pancreatic cancer
    2011
    Died of pancreatic cancer in 2011; ended translation activity late in life.

Legacy

A translator who introduced many English-language mystery and legal-thriller works to Japanese readers. Known for accessible translations and long-standing contributions to the translation field in Japan.

Trivia

  • Her son is Noriyuki Ueda, a scholar of religious studies.
  • Died of pancreatic cancer in 2011 at age 81.
  • Graduated from the English Department of Kumamoto Prefectural Women's Specialized School.