Japanese Literary Awards

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Kana Yasuda

やすだ かな

Yasuda Kana

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
children's literature author
Active Years
1999-
Memberships
Japan Children's Literature Association

Education

Osaka Kyoiku University
Faculty of Education
Country: Japan

Awards

Mainichi Children's Novel Contest - Grand Prize (49th)
1999
Work: Beach Wind ~ Scent of the Tide
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Long-form Children's Literature Newcomer Award - Honorable Mention (2nd)
2003
Work: Mikan
Result: 佳作
Kodansha Children's Literature Newcomer Award - Honorable Mention (54th)
2013
Work: Ashitamo, Sankaku
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 佳作
Japan Children's Literature Association Award (59th)
2019
Work: Mukougishi
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Poverty Journalism Award - Special Prize
2019
Work: Mukougishi
Organization: Anti-Poverty Network
Result: 受賞（特別賞）
White Ravens selection (International Youth Library)
2019
Work: Mukougishi
Organization: International Youth Library (White Ravens)
Result: 選定
68th National Contest for Young Readers - Assigned Book (Junior High School Division)
2021
Work: Science the World!
Result: 課題図書
Recommended by the Social Security Council of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare - Children's Welfare Cultural Property
2021
Work: Science the World!
Organization: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Result: 推薦

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Fly! My Butterfly

2007 children's literature
coming of agenature

Ashitamo, Sankaku: Everyday is Rakugo Weather

2014 children's literature
rakugocultural tradition

The Same Sky as That Day

2014 children's literature
memoryfamily

Keronyannu

2015 children's literature
fantasyanimals

The Summer with Rei

2016 children's literature
friendshiploss

Kujirajakushi

2017 children's literature
natureexploration

Why! Stories of Jobs: Comedian

2017 children's non-fiction
occupationscomedy

Mukougishi

2018 children's literature

A children's novel addressing social issues and poverty, notable for its empathetic perspective toward people affected by social hardships.

povertysocial issuesempathy
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Mukougishi (2024)

SDGs Stories: Poverty - Everyone is Licking Ice Cream

2020 children's educational
SDGspoverty issues

Science the World!

2021 children's non-fiction
sciencelearning

Anata no Kimochi

2023 children's literature
emotionsgrowth

6days: The Distressed

2024 children's literature
survivalfriendship

Bibliography

  • Fly! My Butterfly
  • Ashitamo, Sankaku: Everyday is Rakugo Weather
  • The Same Sky as That Day
  • Keronyannu
  • The Summer with Rei
  • Kujirajakushi
  • Why! Stories of Jobs: Comedian
  • Mukougishi
  • SDGs Stories: Poverty - Everyone is Licking Ice Cream
  • Science the World!
  • Anata no Kimochi
  • 6days: The Distressed

Adaptations

  • TV drama adaptation: Mukougishi (NHK, 2024)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
gentle, child-directed narrationdepictions that weave in real social issues
Recurring Motifs
familyfriendshipperspective on marginalized people

Legacy

As a children's author, she publishes works that empathize with personal relationships and social issues. Her book Mukougishi, dealing with poverty, received critical recognition and wider public awareness through selections and a TV adaptation.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Association

In Popular Culture

  • Mukougishi adapted into an NHK TV drama

Trivia

  • Born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture.
  • Attended Kobe Shinwa Girls' Junior and Senior High School.
  • Blood type AB, zodiac sign Leo.
  • Contributed to the doujinshi group 'Kisetsufu' (Seasonal Wind).
  • Has an X (formerly Twitter) account (@kanakana623).