日本の文学賞

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Yoko Yamaguchi

やまぐち ようこ

Yamaguchi Yoko

プロフィール

性別
女性
生誕
1937-05-10 （Nagoya, Aichi, Japan）
死没
2014-09-06 （Tokyo, Japan） 77歳
国籍
Japan
言語
Japanese
居住地歴
Nagoya (birthplace) → Ginza, Tokyo (club owner) → Tokyo (lived; died)

経歴

職業
Author, Lyricist, Club owner, TV/radio judge, Radio personality
活動期間
1957年〜2014年
所属
Japan Music Writers Association
所属団体
Japan Music Writers Association
影響を受けた人物
Keitaro Kondo, Minoru Endo
影響を与えた人物
Yuri-o Matsui, Kazumi Fuyuki
ノミネート
Mitsugu Onna (Candidate, 89th Naoki Prize), Yajirobee (Candidate, 91st Naoki Prize)

学歴

Kyoto Women's Junior & Senior High School
期間: 在籍中に中退
国: Japan
Left school at age 16 (dropped out)

受賞歴

Naoki Prize
1985
対象作品: Enka no Mushi / Old Plum
主催: Naoki Prize Committee
結果: 受賞
Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award
1984
対象作品: Private Live
主催: Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Award Committee
結果: 受賞
Japan Record Awards (Achievement Award)
2014
主催: Japan Record Awards Committee
結果: 功労賞

受賞・候補エディション

作品

代表作

Half-Dozen Affairs

1981年 Novel

A collection-like novel focused on human relationships and romance, portraying women's love affairs with both humor and sharpness.

lovehuman relationshipswomen's lives

Private Live

1983年 Novel

Set in clubs and the music world, it depicts a cast of characters whose private lives intersect with the public sphere. Known as the work that won the Yoshikawa Eiji Newcomer Award.

music industrynightlifehuman drama

Enka no Mushi

1985年 Novel

A novel set against the enka music world and Ginza nightlife that incisively explores human flaws and obsessions. One of the works awarded the Naoki Prize.

enka music worldGinzadesire and loneliness

Old Plum

1985年 Novel

A delicate depiction of the lives and memories of women who have aged through time. One of the works awarded the Naoki Prize.

agingwomenreminiscence

Tsubaki Manor

1984年 Novel

A longer novel about human desire, deception, and the double faces of nightlife. Through Ginza scenes and its characters, it conveys a Showa-era atmosphere.

Ginzaunderworldhuman psychology

Ginza Spring Lights

1987年 Novel / Short stories

A collection centered on short stories set in Ginza and bars. It continues her lifelong theme of portraying human relationships in the night city.

Ginzabarshuman sentiment

全著作

  • Half-Dozen Affairs
  • The Landlady
  • Private Live
  • The Woman Who Dotes
  • Tsubaki Manor
  • Living in the Depths of Night
  • Enka no Mushi
  • Old Plum
  • Tokyo Love Story
  • The Woman Who Talks to Trees
  • Ginza Spring Lights
  • Shin Shin
  • Sound of the Moon
  • Winter Lady of Karuizawa
  • A Chilling Karuizawa

作風・主題

文体
Popular-fiction narrative voiceRealistic depictions of Ginza and nightlifeDirect and frank languageIn-depth psychological portraits of characters
頻出モチーフ
Ginzabars and clubsmale-female relationshipsshow businessShowa-era urban landscapes

健康

  • Respiratory failure
    2014年（晩年）
    Died in hospital in Tokyo on 2014-09-06

評価・遺産

She is widely known both as a lyricist behind many hit songs and as a novelist who won the Naoki Prize. Her works about Ginza and the music world are considered important portrayals of Japanese popular culture. She also contributed to mentoring younger creators through the Japan Music Writers Association.

関連学会

  • Japan Music Writers Association

資料所蔵先

  • NHK Archives (Person Records)
  • National Diet Library (collections)

大衆文化への影響

  • Known in popular music for numerous hit songs she wrote lyrics for
  • Widely recognized through roles as a judge on NHK Kouhaku and appearances on TV and radio

豆知識

  • Born out of wedlock to a father who ran a ryotei (traditional restaurant) and a mother who worked as a waitress.
  • Dropped out of high school at 16 and at one point ran a coffee shop named 'Yoko' in Nagoya.
  • Selected as a Toei New Face in 1957 and briefly worked as an actress, but did not continue in the film industry long-term.
  • Opened and ran the Ginza club 'Hime', where many regulars later became figures in the entertainment and literary worlds.
  • As a lyricist in the late 1960s and early 1970s, wrote many hit songs (e.g., 'Yokohama Tasogare', 'Furusato', 'Yozora').
  • As a novelist, won the Naoki Prize in 1985 for 'Enka no Mushi' and 'Old Plum'.
  • Her niece is the comedian 'Hi-heel Momoko' (daughter of her elder brother).
  • Although she could not drink alcohol, she was an outspoken fan of the Seibu Lions baseball team.
  • Died from respiratory failure on 2014-09-06 in Tokyo; posthumously recognized with a merit award at the Japan Record Awards on 2014-12-30.