Gunzo Newcomer Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 20 (1977) excellent work
Kenichi Yamakawa
やまかわ けんいち
Yamakawa Kenichi
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1953-07-19 （Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Chiba City (birthplace) → Tokyo (Waseda University — lived/studied) → Yamagata Prefecture (worked at Tohoku University of Art and Design)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Writer, Rock critic, Musician, University professor, Editor
- Active Years
- 1970-
- Affiliations
- Tohoku University of Art and Design (Professor), Ameba Books (Editorial director)
- Influenced By
- The Rolling Stones, Faces, Bob Marley, Blues (genre)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiba Prefectural Chiba Junior & Senior High School | — | — | — | 在籍期間不明 | Japan |
| Waseda University | School of Commerce | — | — | 在学期間不明 | Japan |
Chiba Prefectural Chiba Junior & Senior High School
Period:
在籍期間不明
Country:
Japan
Graduated from a local combined junior and senior high school
Waseda University
School of Commerce
Period:
在学期間不明
Country:
Japan
Received the Waseda Campus Literary Prize while a student for '天使が浮かんでいた'.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Waseda Campus Literary Prize | Tenshi ga Ukandeta (Angels Were Floating) | — | Waseda University | 受賞 |
| 1977 | Gunzo New Writers' Award (Outstanding Work) | Glass Ship in the Mirror | 優秀作 | Gunzo (magazine) | 選出 |
Waseda Campus Literary Prize
Work:
Tenshi ga Ukandeta (Angels Were Floating)
Organization:
Waseda University
Result:
受賞
Gunzo New Writers' Award (Outstanding Work)
1977
Work:
Glass Ship in the Mirror
Category:
優秀作
Organization:
Gunzo (magazine)
Result:
選出
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Message in a Bottle
1981 NovelA work that interweaves elements of rock and travel; contains short and long pieces in which everyday life and fantasy intersect.
MusicTravelLonelinessYouth
Glass Ship in the Mirror
1981 NovelOne of his early representative works. Depicts self-exploration and the subtleties of human relationships.
Self-discoveryRelationshipsMusic
Rider's High
1984 Novel (Motorcycle fiction)A novel portraying people passionate about motorcycles. Combines a sense of speed with nostalgia.
MotorcyclesTravelFreedomFriendship
Star and the Reggae Island
1985 NovelA story influenced by reggae and Jamaican culture. Music and landscapes overlap in this work.
MusicReggaeCross-culturalIsland
Rocks
1986 NovelPart of his rock-themed works. Centers on affection for music and character portrayals.
RockMusicYouth
Spanking Love
1995 Novel (Erotica)One of the works dealing with perverse love and desire. An erotic-themed work published in the 1990s.
DesirePerverse loveEroticism
Bibliography
- Message in a Bottle (1981)
- Glass Ship in the Mirror (1981)
- A Farewell Greeting (1981)
- Wind Left on the Window (1982)
- Loneliness of Park Avenue (1983)
- The Sky Where Santa Is (1983)
- Kiraboshi / Scintillating Stars (1983)
- Rider's High (1984)
- Beyond the Corner (1984)
- Crystal Night (1984)
- Southern Cross Story (1985)
- Star and the Reggae Island (1985)
- Rocks (1986)
- Rainy Day Short Stoppers (1986)
- The Tragedy at Kuroashika Bar (1986)
- Route 19 Recollections (1987)
- Chocolate Vacation (1988)
- Neil of Midsummer (1988)
- Tigger's Breakfast (1989)
- King of Bees (1989)
- Blank Seventies (1989)
- Save the Land (1989)
- Frozen Roses (1991)
- Voyage of the Gigolos (1992)
- The Machine's Dream (1992)
- Cars (1993)
- Joy (1993)
- Clumsy Lovers (1993)
- Canary (1993)
- Mama Africa (1993)
- We Were Born in the Storm, Part 1 (1993)
- Place of Rest (1994)
- The Goddess of Multiple Personalities (1995)
- Spanking Love (1995)
- Desire (1995)
- Looking Out the Window, Sitting Inside the Room: Fragment1990-1995 (1995)
- b. and His Lovers (1997)
- You Are the New Kings of the World (We Were Born in the Storm 2) (1997)
- Apple Jam (1997)
- Gene Rich's Revenge (2001)
- Newscaster (2001)
- Black Leather and Golden Bells (2003)
- Song of Joy (2003)
- Night Fruit, Golden Sweets (2006)
- This Is Rhodes — Jump Here! (2010)
- Promise of Life (2015)
- Problem Child: The Upbringing of Hiroshi Mikitani (2018)
Translations by Author
- Brian Preston — Pot Planet: An Adventure in Marijuana Culture (Ohta Publishing, 2003)
- Nick Brownlee — Cannabis: The Sacred Plant (Ohta Publishing, 2004)
- Terry Tarnow — A Man Fallen in Asia: A Journey of Love and Drugs (Ohta Publishing, 2007)
- Terry Tarnow — Before the Sun Sets (Ohta Publishing, 2007)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Colloquial, brisk prose that incorporates rock and musical rhythmsA narrative voice that moves between essay and fictionA style emphasizing observational and sensory description
- Recurring Motifs
- Music (notably rock, reggae, blues)Motorcycles and travelDesire and perverse loveAutomobiles and classic carsNew Age spirituality
Legacy
Recognized as a writer and critic who bridged rock culture and literature. His body of work—centered on motorcycles, automobiles, and music—explores youth, nostalgia, and desire. His roles as a university professor and editor have also influenced younger generations.
Archives
- Kenichi Yamakawa Digital Collected Works (official site)
In Popular Culture
- Serves as a point of reference in subcultural contexts dealing with rock and motorcycles
- His music- and car-related essays and books are sometimes cited among specialist magazines and enthusiasts
Trivia
- Wrote rock criticism during the 1970s and 1980s
- Served as vocalist for bands such as The Rudie and So Much Trouble and released albums
- A motorcycle and car enthusiast; authored many novels and essays on these subjects
- From the 1990s onward, became interested in New Age themes and claimed aura-vision experiences
- Served as professor and head of the literary department at Tohoku University of Art and Design, retiring in 2019