Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Naoko Uozumi

うおずみ なおこ

Uozumi Naoko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture (early childhood) → Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture (grew up) → Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture (grew up)

Career

Occupations
Children's literature author, Novelist
Active Years
1995-

Education

Hiroshima University
Faculty of Education / Department of Psychology
Degree: 学士
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Faculty of Education, Department of Psychology (year not specified)

Awards

Kodansha Children’s Literature Newcomer Award
1995
Work: Hi-Balance
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞
Shogakukan Children's Publication Culture Award
2008
Work: Two Trains
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Award
2010
Work: Horticulture Boy
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Hirosuke Fairy Tale Award
2022
Work: Daijoubu-kun
Organization: Hirosuke Fairy Tale Award Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Hi-Balance

1996 Children's literature

A collection portraying daily life of boys and girls from a warm perspective. It carefully depicts emotions, friendship and coming-of-age.

everyday lifefriendshipcoming-of-age
Adaptations
  • [Film] Hi-Balance / 冨樫森 (2001)

Two Trains

2007 Children's literature

A work themed around trains and journeys, depicting children's inner feelings and connections.

journeyconnectionsgrowth

The Pink God

2008 Adult novel

A novel for adults. This longer work expanded the author's range and gained popularity.

human relationshipspsychological nuance

Horticulture Boy

2009 Children's literature

A story about a boy who grows through gardening. Themes include nature and intergenerational relationships.

naturegrowthintergenerational exchange
Adaptations
  • [Manga adaptation] Horticulture Boy (manga) / 森永あい（作画） (2010)

Bibliography

  • Hi-Balance (Kodansha) 1996
  • Chou Harmony (Kodansha) 1997
  • Sea-scent Shampoo (Gakken) 1999
  • The Elephant's Dance (Kodansha) 2000
  • Happy Family (Gakken) 2001
  • Re-Set (Kodansha) 2003
  • Orange Sauce (Kosei Publishing) 2003
  • Bus and Rocket (Kosei Publishing) 2006
  • Two Trains (Gakken) 2007
  • The Pink God (Kodansha) 2008
  • Horticulture Boy (Kodansha) 2009
  • Large Wax Insect Bottle (Kodansha) 2011
  • The Bear's Common Sense (Poplar Publishing) 2011
  • Iroha's Tomorrow (Akane Shobo) 2014
  • Tenkara Dodon (Poplar Publishing) 2016
  • I Have Something To Say! (Kaiseisha) 2018
  • Do You Like Mandarin Oranges? (Kodansha) 2019

Adaptations

  • Hi-Balance (film adaptation, dir. Mori Togashi, 2001)
  • Horticulture Boy (manga adaptation by Ai Morinaga, Nakayoshi, 2010)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Warm, realistic depictionsNarration sympathetic to children's perspectives
Recurring Motifs
details of everyday lifefamily and friendshipgrowth and independence

Legacy

An author known for depicting realistic portrayals of children in children's literature. Widely supported; awards and adaptations (film, manga) increased her influence among younger audiences.

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptation of Hi-Balance (2001) brought the work to film audiences
  • Manga adaptation of Horticulture Boy (2010) extended the work into new media

Trivia

  • Born in 1966.
  • Moved to Hiroshima City shortly after birth and grew up in Hatsukaichi and Hofu.
  • Debut work Hi-Balance won the Kodansha Children's Literature Newcomer Award and was adapted into a film.
  • In 2010 a manga adaptation by Ai Morinaga was published in Nakayoshi.