Japanese Literary Awards

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Nahoko Uehashi

うえはし なほこ

Uehashi Nahoko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1962-01-01 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo (place of birth) → Australia (fieldwork) → Abiko (honorary citizen)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Children's literature author, Cultural anthropologist, University professor
Active Years
1989-
Affiliations
Kagawa Nutrition University (assistant), Musashino Junior College / Musashino University (part-time lecturer), Kawamura Gakuen Women's University (lecturer / associate professor / professor / specially appointed professor)
Memberships
Japan Association of Children's Literature, Japan Association for Cultural Anthropology, Japan Writers' Association
Influenced By
Rosemary Sutcliff, J.R.R. Tolkien, Patricia Wrightson, Ursula K. Le Guin
Nominations

Education

Koran Girls' School (secondary)
Country: Japan
Attended integrated junior/senior high school
Rikkyo University
Faculty of Letters / Department of History
Degree: 学士（文学）
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Faculty of Letters. Entered graduate doctoral program (withdrew after earning credits at one point); later earned Ph.D. (Literature).
Rikkyo University (Graduate School)
Graduate School (Doctoral program) / Cultural anthropology (related research)
Degree: 博士（文学）
Year of Graduation: 2007
Country: Japan
Doctoral dissertation: "Yamatji: On the Clarification and Maintenance of Ethnic Identity of a Local Aboriginal."

Awards

Japan Association of Children's Literature Newcomer Award
1992
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Literature
Result: winner
Noma Children's Literature Newcomer Award
1996
Work: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: winner
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (Nippon Broadcasting Prize)
1997
Work: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Organization: Sankei Shimbun / Nippon Broadcasting System
Result: winner
Japan Association of Children's Literature Award
2000
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Literature
Result: winner
Robou no Ishi Literary Prize
2001
Organization: Robou no Ishi Literary Prize
Result: winner
Iwaya Sazanami Literary Award
2002
Work: Moribito series
Organization: Iwaya Sazanami Prize Committee
Result: winner
Shogakukan Children's Publishing Culture Award
2003
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: winner
Noma Children's Literature Award
2004
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: winner
Mildred L. Batchelder Award (The Batchelder Award)
2009
Work: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Organization: American Library Association
Result: winner
Hans Christian Andersen Award (Author)
2014
Category: author
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Result: winner
Japan Medical Novel Award
2015
Work: The Deer King
Organization: Japan Medical Association
Result: winner
Honya Taisho (Booksellers Award)
2015
Work: The Deer King
Organization: Honya Taisho Committee
Result: winner
Michael L. Printz Award
2020
Work: The Beast Player
Category: honor
Organization: American Library Association (YALSA)
Result: honor
Japan Association for Cultural Anthropology Award
2020
Work: Scholarly works / publications
Organization: Japan Association for Cultural Anthropology
Result: winner
Yoshikawa Eiji Bunko Prize
2023
Work: Moribito series
Organization: Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Foundation
Result: winner
Kikuchi Kan Prize
2024
Organization: Bungakushinko Foundation
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

1996 Children's literature; high fantasy

The female bodyguard Balsa protects Prince Chagum on a journey that explores spirits, political intrigue between nations, and the characters' personal growth.

spirits and beliefjourney and coming-of-agepolitics and ethnicityduty and sacrifice
Adaptations
  • [Anime (TV)] Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit / 神山健治 (2007)
  • [TV drama] Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2016)
Translations
  • Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (English translation)

Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness

1999 Children's literature; high fantasy

A volume of the Moribito series that depicts characters' conflicts and decisions amid political plots and matters involving spirits.

politics and powerspiritsindividual choice
Adaptations
  • [Radio drama] Moribito (radio drama, retitled 'Guardian of the Darkness') (2006)

The Beast Player

2006 Children's literature; fantasy

Erin, a young woman, becomes involved with beasts (such as fighting serpents and royal beasts), exploring their abilities and ethical issues against a political backdrop as she grows.

human-animal relationshipsethics and healinggrowth and quest
Adaptations
  • [Anime (TV)] The Beast Player: Erin (2009)
Translations
  • The Beast Player (English translation)

The Deer King

2014 Fantasy; medical novel

A multi-perspective novel about an outbreak and its aftermath, blending medical viewpoints with human drama about community, memory, and promises.

disease and healingcommunity and othernessmemory and promise
Adaptations
  • [Animated film] The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey (2021)
Translations
  • The Deer King (English translation)

Spirit Tree

1989 Children's literature

Uehashi's debut work, thematically centered on spirits and the relationships between nature and people.

spiritsnature and humans

2003 Children's literature; fantasy

A fantasy set in ancient Japan that interweaves legend and folktale elements to portray human and spirit worlds.

ancient Japanfolktale and tradition

Koukun (two-volume)

2022 Historical fantasy

A two-volume novel set in ancient times, depicting cross-cultural encounters and a girl's journey.

exchange and journeycross-cultural understanding

Bibliography

  • Spirit Tree (1989)
  • Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (1996)
  • Guardian of the Darkness (1999)
  • The Beast Player (2006–2009)
  • The Deer King (2014)
  • Koukun (2022)

Adaptations

  • Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit — TV anime (2007)
  • The Beast Player: Erin — TV anime (2009)
  • The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey — animated film (2021)
  • Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit — TV drama (2016)

Translations of Works

  • Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit — English translation (circa 2008)
  • The Beast Player — English and other translations
  • The Deer King — English translation available

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed worldbuildingAnthropological perspective in descriptionsLong-form children's literature dealing with deep themes
Recurring Motifs
spirits and beliefjourneys and pilgrimagesrelations among peoples and statesdepictions of arms and combat

Legacy

An internationally recognized author in children's literature and fantasy. Works such as the Moribito series, The Beast Player, and The Deer King have been translated and adapted; she has received major honors including the Hans Christian Andersen Award.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Association of Children's Literature
  • Japan Association for Cultural Anthropology
  • Japan Writers' Association

In Popular Culture

  • Adaptations for NHK: anime and TV drama (Moribito)
  • Anime adaptation (The Beast Player: Erin)
  • Animated film adaptation (The Deer King: Yuna and the Promised Journey)

Quotes

  • When I write a story, I begin with fragmented images — 'story beads' — and as they connect, the story forms.
    Source: Interviews (e.g. Eureka special feature) (2007)
  • I believe Aboriginal culture should not be casually fictionalized by outsiders, but that perspective has influenced the undercurrents of my own fictional worlds.
    Source: Official blog / interviews (2018)

Trivia

  • Her father was the Western-style painter Kaoru Uehashi.
  • In high school she once aspired to be a manga artist but later pursued writing.
  • She practiced classical martial arts, which contributes to frequent combat scenes in her works.
  • Values interaction with fans and regularly attends signings and lectures.
  • Named an honorary citizen of Abiko in 2020.