Japanese Literary Awards

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Mariko Yoshino

よしの まりこ

Yoshino Mariko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1970-01-01 （Zushi, Kanagawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Zushi, Kanagawa, Japan → Tokyo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Screenwriter, Children's author, Novelization writer
Active Years
2002-
Memberships
Japan PEN Club
Nominations
48th Noma Juvenile Literature Prize (nominated), 51st Noma Juvenile Literature Prize (nominated), 62nd Shogakukan Children's Publication Culture Award (nominated), 54th Noma Juvenile Literature Prize (nominated)

Education

Ferris Jogakuin High School
Country: Japan
Sophia University
Faculty of Letters
Country: Japan

Awards

Nippon TV Scenario Tōryūmon Excellence Award
2002
Work: Soushiki Shinbun (The Funeral Newspaper)
Organization: Nippon Television Network Corporation
Result: Winner
Shincho Entertainment Newcomer Award (1st)
2005
Work: Autumn's Great Triangle
Organization: Shinchosha
Result: Winner
Utsunomiya Kodomo Prize (29th)
Work: Theatrical Troupe: Class 6‑2
Organization: Utsunomiya Children's Award Committee
Result: Winner
Utsunomiya Kodomo Prize (32nd)
Work: The Secret Schoolyard
Organization: Utsunomiya Children's Award Committee
Result: Winner
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival — Radio Drama Division Excellence Award (FY2018)
2018
Work: The Paper Balloon, 73 Years Ago
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Autumn's Great Triangle

2005 Novel

A novel that attentively depicts the emotions and relationships of young people; notable for its cinematic descriptions and rhythmic dialogue.

friendshipromancecoming of age

Memories Taken in Trust

2011 Novel

A short novel about memories and recollection; adapted for NHK FM Theater.

memoryfamilyloss
Adaptations
  • [Radio drama] Memories Taken in Trust (NHK FM Theater) (2011)

The Cat I Took Along

2013 Novel

Through interactions with a cat, the novel portrays warmth and poignancy in everyday life.

animalseveryday lifehealing

Sky-Colored Baumkuchen

2015 Novel

A collection centering on short stories that weave together small moments of everyday life.

daily lifehuman relationshipswomen

Forgotten Spirits Trunk Room

2018 Novel

An adult-oriented story confronting memories and the shadows of the past, with some fantastical elements.

memorythe pastfantasy

Teach Me the Flower Language of Aconitum

2020 Novel

Uses symbolic motifs suggested by the title to explore the complexity of relationships and emotions.

symbolismrelationshipspsychology

Stair Runner

2022 Novel

Using physical activity metaphors, the novel depicts rebirth and personal challenges.

resiliencechallengephysicality

Team of Two

2007 Children's book

A children's book about friendship and growth; selected as a set text for the National Youth Reading Essay Contest.

friendshiplearningcoming of age

Drama Club: Class 6‑2

2012 Children's book

Set in an elementary school classroom; has won and been nominated for children's literature prizes.

schoolfriendshiptheatre

The Secret Schoolyard

2015 Children's book

A tale of small mysteries and everyday life around a schoolyard; recipient and nominee of children's literature awards.

mysteryeveryday lifechild's perspective

Bibliography

  • Autumn's Great Triangle
  • Rain Then Clear, Occasionally a Rainbow
  • Drama Days
  • Route 134
  • The Girl-Club President
  • Extra!
  • Cinema Girl
  • It Starts with a Guy-Friend
  • 99 Love Letters
  • Memories Taken in Trust
  • Postcard Café on the Seaside Street
  • I Don't Choose Romance Films
  • The Cat I Took Along
  • Sprint at 47 Meters per Hour
  • Sky-Colored Baumkuchen
  • The Donkey's Signing Event
  • Forgotten Spirits Trunk Room
  • A Caterpillar Lover's Memoir
  • Teach Me the Flower Language of Aconitum
  • Stair Runner
  • Team of Two
  • Team Tomorrow
  • Team Alone
  • Team Akari
  • Team Future
  • Team Wings
  • 100% Girls
  • 100% Girls — 2nd Season
  • 100% Girls — 3rd Season
  • Drama Club: Class 6‑2
  • Bug-Robo Adventures: Bowing to the Rhinoceros Beetle?!
  • Balloon Classroom
  • How Wonderful If We Were Strangers
  • The Secret Schoolyard
  • Nice Person Ranking
  • Rival on Ice — 1
  • Rival on Ice — 2
  • Rival on Ice — 3
  • Magical Calendar 1 — Time Travel!? Go to the World 400 Years Ago!

Adaptations

  • Puppy's Waltz (TV drama)
  • Memories Taken in Trust (NHK FM Theater — radio drama)
  • The Paper Balloon, 73 Years Ago (NHK FM Theater — radio drama)
  • I Don't Choose Romance Films (NHK Youth Adventure — radio drama)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
cinematic descriptions and scene transitionslight, dialogue-driven narrativeattention to everyday detail
Recurring Motifs
friendshipfamilychild's perspectivemotifs related to film and theatre

Legacy

Mariko Yoshino is a writer active across novels, children's literature, and scripts. She has been recognized for works portraying young people and children, and also writes for radio and television. With multiple awards and nominations in children's literature and continued prolific output, her work spans media and audiences.

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

Archives

  • National Diet Library (Japan)
  • German National Library (DNB)
  • Library of Congress (USA)

In Popular Culture

  • TV drama scripts (Puppy's Waltz)
  • Radio drama scripts (NHK FM Theater works, etc.)
  • Children's books designated as set texts for national reading essay contests

Trivia

  • Graduate of Sophia University, Faculty of Letters.
  • Studied screenwriting at Scenario Center (Osaka) before beginning professional script work.
  • Won the Nippon TV Scenario Tōryūmon Excellence Award in 2002 for 'Soushiki Shinbun'.
  • Maintains an X (formerly Twitter) account @yokohamary (public information).