Japanese Literary Awards

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Taichi Yamada

やまだ たいち

Yamada Taichi

Pen Names: Taichi Ishizaka（Real name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1934-06-06 （Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan）
Died
2023-11-29 （Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan） age 89
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
screenwriter, novelist
Active Years
1960-2017
Influenced By
Keisuke Kinoshita, Yasujirō Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, So Kuramoto, Kuniko Mukoda, Masataka Tamukai

Education

Waseda University, Faculty of Education
Faculty of Education / Japanese Language and Literature
Period: 1954-1958
Year of Graduation: 1958
Country: Japan
Had close relationship with playwright Shuji Terayama during study

Awards

Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts
1983
Work: Nagaraeba and Otokotachi no Tabiji
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受賞
Kuniko Mukoda Award
1983
Work: Nihon no Omokage
Organization: Tokyo News Service Co.
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
1985
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Yamamoto Shugoro Prize
1988
Work: Ijin-tachi to no Natsu
Organization: Yamamoto Shugoro Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize for Best Screenplay
1991
Work: Shonen Jidai
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
NHK Broadcasting Culture Award
1980
Organization: NHK
Result: 受賞
Elan d'or Award Special Prize
1980
Organization: Japan Motion Picture Producers Association
Result: 受賞
TV Award Outstanding Individual
1984
Organization: Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Art Award
1992
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
The Television Drama Academy Awards Scriptwriting Award
1996
Work: Ie e Oideyo
Organization: Nippon Television Network Corporation
Result: 受賞
The Television Drama Academy Awards Scriptwriting Award
1997
Work: Fuzoroi no Ringo Tachi IV
Organization: Nippon Television Network Corporation
Result: 受賞
Kikushima Ryuzo Award
2008
Work: Honto to Uso to Tequila
Organization: Kikushima Ryuzo Award Committee
Result: 受賞
The Television Drama Academy Awards Scriptwriting Award
2009
Work: Arifureta Kiseki
Organization: Nippon Television Network Corporation
Result: 受賞
Hashida Award Special Prize
2009
Organization: Hashida Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Galaxy Award 55th Anniversary
2013
Organization: NHK
Result: 受賞
Kobayashi Hideo Prize
2014
Work: Tsukihi no Zanzou
Organization: Kobayashi Hideo Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Asahi Prize
2015
Organization: Asahi Shimbun
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sorezore no Aki

1973 TV drama

A TV drama depicting the crisis of collapse in an ordinary family.

familycollapsemiddle-class

Kishibe no Album

1977 TV drama

A sharp home drama depicting the impact of postwar Japanese society on a family.

postwar Japan societyfamilyhome drama

Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi

1983 TV drama

A popular TV drama series realistically depicting the youth ensemble of university students.

youthuniversity studentsensemble drama

Otokotachi no Tabiji

1976 TV drama

A popular drama series in NHK's screenwriter series, broadcast intermittently over multiple seasons.

journeylifefamily

Ijin-tachi to no Natsu

1987 Novel

One of the fantasy trilogy novels, recipient of the Yamamoto Shugoro Prize.

fantasyfamilysummer
Adaptations
  • [Movie] Ijin-tachi to no Natsu (1988)

Shonen Jidai

1990 Movie

A film scripted by Yamada that won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Screenplay.

childhoodgrowthfamily

Bibliography

  • Otokotachi no Tabiji (1977, NHK Publishing)
  • TV Drama Scenario Series: Kofuku Station Perimeter / Ueno Station Perimeter (1978, Drama Hall)
  • Amerika Monogatari (1979, NHK Publishing)
  • Shishi no Jidai (1980, Educational Historical Publications)
  • Omoidezukuri (1982, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Kisetsu ga Kawaru Hi (1982, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Sorezore no Aki (1982, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Soshun Sketchbook (1983, Daiwa Shobo / Shincho Bunko)
  • Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi (1983, Daiwa Shobo / Shincho Bunko)
  • Yugurete (1983, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi II (1985, Daiwa Shobo / Shincho Bunko)
  • Midori no Yume wo Mimasenka? (1983, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Kagayakitaino (1984, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Mayonaka no Nioi (1984, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Nihon no Omokage (1984, NHK Publishing / Iwanami Gendai Bunko)
  • Taichi Yamada Complete Works, 19 Volumes (1985-1989, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Love (1986, Chuo Koronsha)
  • Otona ni Naru made Gaman Suru (1986, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Shatsu no Mise (1986, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Suna no Ue no Dance (1990, Shinchosha)
  • Suteta Yume Playback: From Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi (1991, Asuka Shinsha)
  • Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi III (1991, Magazine House)
  • Kesa no Aki (1994, Shincho Bunko)
  • Toshiba Sunday Theater Masterpiece Collection: Tokyo no Aki (1994, Line Books)
  • Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi IV (1997, Magazine House)
  • Futari no Nagai Kage / Hayashi no Naka no Napoli (2008, Shin Nihon Publishing)
  • Yondeinai Ehon (2011, Shogakukan)
  • Knife no Yukue (2015, Kadokawa)
  • Taichi Yamada Selection (2016-2017, Satoyama-sha)
  • Fuzoroi no Ringo-tachi V / Otokotachi no Tabiji Motorcycle (2023, Kokusho Kankokai)
  • Toki wa Tachidomaranai: The Great East Japan Earthquake Trilogy (2024, Daiwa Shobo)
  • Owari ni Mita Machi Otokotachi no Tabiji Special (2024, Kokusho Kankokai)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Involves characters from various generations, from youth to elder.Style that reflects the creator's personality.Pioneer of sharp home dramas.
Recurring Motifs
familyintergenerational relationshipssocial underdogsrealism of everyday life

Health

  • cerebral hemorrhage
    2017年以降
    Difficulty in scriptwriting and effective retirement from writing.

Legacy

A renowned screenwriter and novelist who left many representative works and awards, significantly influencing Japanese TV drama. Spent final years in quiet life, with works continuously highly regarded.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Script Archives Consortium

Quotes

  • I believe works where the creator's face is clearly visible are good works.
    Source: Interview

Trivia

  • Real name is Taichi Ishizaka.
  • Had close relationship with Shuji Terayama during university.
  • Had a cerebral hemorrhage making writing difficult; temporarily announced retirement but later denied it.
  • Served as a judge for Kawasaki City’s civic song.