Japanese Literary Awards

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Makoto Wada

わだ まこと

Wada Makoto

Pen Names: Makoto Wada（Real name and official name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1936-04-10 （Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2019-10-07 （Tokyo, Japan） age 83
Nationality
Japanese
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City → Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo → Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Career

Occupations
illustrator, graphic designer, essayist, film director, lyricist, composer, book designer, essayist
Active Years
1959-2019

Education

Tama Art University
Department of Design / Department of Design
Year of Graduation: 1959
Country: Japan

Awards

Blue Ribbon Award for Best Director
1989
Work: Kaitō Ruby
Category: 映画監督
Organization: The Hochi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Kinema Junpo Best Ten Special Award
2020
Organization: Kinema Junpo Company
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Film Award - Noburou Otou Award
1965
Work: Murder
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Yokohama Film Festival Best Film Award
1985
Work: Mahjong Hōrōki
Organization: Yokohama Film Festival Executive Committee
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1961
Work: I Am the King
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Kodansha Publishing Culture Award (Book Design)
1974
Work: PEOPLE
Category: ブックデザイン
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞
Kinema Junpo Readers' Choice Award
1974
Work: The Fun Is Just Beginning
Organization: Kinema Junpo Company
Result: 受賞
Kinema Junpo Readers' Choice Award
1980
Work: The Fun Is Just Beginning
Organization: Kinema Junpo Company
Result: 受賞
Kodansha Publishing Culture Award (Illustrations)
1981
Category: 挿絵
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞
Kadokawa Non-fiction Award
1982
Work: Begin the Begin
Organization: Kadokawa Shoten
Result: 受賞
Hochi Film Award - Best Newcomer
1984
Work: Mahjong Hōrōki
Organization: Hochi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Bungeishunju Manga Award
1969
Organization: Bungeishunju
Result: 受賞
Yamaji Fumiko Cultural Foundation Special Prize
1985
Work: Mahjong Hōrōki
Organization: Yamaji Fumiko Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Kodansha Essay Award
1993
Work: Ginza Exciting Days
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
1994
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1994
Work: The Flying Omelet
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Japan Picture Book Award
1998
Work: Shijimi the Cat
Organization: Japan Picture Book Award Association
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Design Award
1998
Work: Shijimi the Cat
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Japan Advertising Award - Yamana Prize
2002
Organization: Japan Advertising Award Association
Result: 受賞
Yodogawa Nagaharu Award
2003
Organization: Yodogawa Nagaharu Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Picture Book Award
2006
Work: What Kind of Feeling Is It?
Organization: Japan Picture Book Award Association
Result: 受賞
Bookbinding and Design Competition Japan Book Publishers Association Director-General Award
2007
Work: Makoto Wada Clippings
Organization: Japan Book Publishers Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Cartoonists Association Award Special Prize
2015
Organization: Japan Cartoonists Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Mahjong Hōrōki

1984 Film

A Kadokawa film starring Hiroyuki Sanada, Makoto Wada's directorial debut.

GamblingDrama

Kaitō Ruby

1988 Film

A film starring Kyoko Koizumi. Makoto Wada directed, wrote screenplay, wrote lyrics, and composed music.

CrimeDrama

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Humorous and delicate illustrations, also diverse styles including essays and film criticism
Recurring Motifs
Japanese urban scenescatsmovies

Health

  • pneumonia
    晩年
    Died due to pneumonia

Legacy

Widely active in Japanese graphic design, illustration, and film directing, with many works and awards influencing future generations.

Museums

  • Makoto Wada Archive Tama Art University Opened in 2020
  • Makoto Wada Memorial Library Shibuya City Central Library Opened in 2021

Academic Societies

  • Japan Cartoonists Association
  • Kinema Junpo
  • Kodansha Publishing Culture Award Committee

Archives

  • Collections at Tama Art University Art Archive Center
  • Donated materials at Shibuya City Central Library
  • Donated records to Waseda University International Literature Museum Haruki Murakami Library

In Popular Culture

  • Had significant influence in film and design industries, with numerous connections to actors and musicians.

Quotes

  • If life is a gamble, I guess choosing the profession of illustrator was mine? Back then, that term didn't even exist.
    Source: Statement by Makoto Wada

Trivia

  • Adopted a unique design displaying only ISBN instead of barcode on book covers.
  • Designed the bronze statue awarded to Hochi Film Award winners.