Japanese Literary Awards

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Kubota Utsubo Award

くぼたうつほしょう

Society award established by the Waseda University Society of Japanese Literature, given for achievements in Japanese literature research.

Japanese literature research
Established
1968
Organizer
Waseda University Society of Japanese Literature
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Selection Method
Recommendation
Target
Professional
Frequency
1 per year
Announcement Period
around October–December
Status
Active

Description

The Kubota Utsubo Award of the Waseda University Society of Japanese Literature (Waseda Daigaku Kokubungakkai Kubota Utsubo Shō) is a society award established by the Waseda University Society of Japanese Literature for Japanese literature research. Although it is an intramural academic society, it is renowned for producing numerous prominent scholars of Japanese literature and is also known as the Kubota Utsubo Award, Waseda University Kokubungakkai Award, or Utsubo Award.

Prize

Main Prize
Awarded from the Memorial Project Fund
Cash Prize
1,000,000 JPY

Selection

Criteria

  • Being a researcher approximately 10 years after undergraduate graduation
  • In principle, the most outstanding one among papers or books published in print by the society

Past Winners

No winner
荒井洋樹 あらい ひろき award
田部知季 たべ ともき award
山岡華菜子 やまおか かなこ award
258 pages
Michiko Kimura きむら みちこ award

This study reads Asai Ryoi's Buddhist writings and kana-zoshi through the intersection of early modern publishing culture and religious thought. The award-winning research was titled A Study of Asai Ryoi's Buddhist Writings and Kana-zoshi, and related results were later published as Early Modern Buddhist Writings by Shintensha.

The study illuminates the intellectual links running from Asai Ryoi's Buddhist writings into kana-zoshi literature.

368 pages
Asai RyoiBuddhist writingskana-zoshiearly modern literaturepublishing culture
Jun Anai あない じゅん award

This research examines private waka collections from the late Heian into the medieval period through their compilation principles and forms. No standalone book publication matching the award title A Study of Late Heian Private Collections was confirmed, while Waseda University's repository provides the doctoral thesis A Study of Private Collections and Their Compilation Consciousness.

By reading arrangement and structure, the study asks how poets reshaped their own bodies of waka.

249 pages
private waka collectionslate Heian periodmedieval wakacompilation consciousnessMikohidari family
柳川響 やながわ ひびき award

平安期の公卿・藤原頼長を、学問と言説の面から検討する研究。博士論文としての記録は確認できるが、市販書籍の ISBN は確認できない。

藤原頼長の学問と言説を、史料に即して読み解く。

日本史藤原頼長博士論文中世史

A study of late-Heian private poetry collections that examines poetic self-fashioning and editorial consciousness. The topic connects with Kenta Kobayashi's later articles and research projects on Insei-period and classical-medieval waka.

The work reads late-Heian waka through the form of the private poetry collection and its consciousness of self-presentation and compilation.

late Heian periodprivate poetry collectionswakaeditorial consciousnessclassical and medieval Japanese literature

This scholarly study rereads the widely circulated texts of Hogen monogatari and Heiji monogatari through the interaction of literature and society in the late Muromachi and Sengoku periods. It traces formation, mutual influence, and modes of adaptation to examine how these war tales were read and reinterpreted in later periods.

Through the adaptations of the widely circulated texts, the book illuminates the relationship between literature and society in an age of upheaval.

552 pages
war taleswidely circulated textslate Muromachi and Sengoku periodstextual adaptationliterature and society

戯作の研究 is a work by 長田和也 recognized in this award edition. Award records, public bibliographic data, and retail bibliographies were checked, with standalone book identifiers separated from items that could not be verified.

Bibliographic notes on the award-recognized work 戯作の研究.

award-recognized workbibliographic verificationcontemporary literature

堺本を中心とした『枕草子』の研究 by 山中悠希 is introduced as a work that draws its force from its subject and setting, inviting readers to follow the author’s central question through a focused literary or critical structure.

堺本を中心とした『枕草子』の研究 leads readers into its world through 枕草子.

枕草子堺本本文研究

源氏物語と物語文学教材の研究 is an award-winning work by 有馬義貴. The available bibliographic record identifies it as the work associated with this award entry.

源氏物語と物語文学教材の研究 by 有馬義貴.

award-winning workbibliographic verification
Itada Shoji award

横光利一の文学理論及び創作の研究 is an award-winning work by 位田将司. The available bibliographic record identifies it as the work associated with this award entry.

横光利一の文学理論及び創作の研究 by 位田将司.

award-winning workbibliographic verification
No winner

A critical study that refuses to confine Masuji Ibuse to the fixed image of a writer of common people, instead reading motifs such as drifters, exiles, and migrants to uncover hybridity and the dislocations of modernity in his work. It repositions Ibuse through themes including nonsense, documentary force, and resistance to historical narrative.

It reads the awkward modernity of Ibuse's literature behind the familiar image of the common-people writer.

374 pages
Masuji Ibusemodern Japanese literary studiespopular literaturehybridity
No winner

This study follows Hirose Tanso and other late early-modern kanshi poets through their poems, networks, and later reception. It connects regional literary circles with the transmission of classical Chinese-style poetry in Japan, repositioning Tanso within a broader poetic world.

Centered on Tanso, the work looks at how late early-modern kanshi crossed people, places, and generations.

Hirose Tansokanshi poetryliterary networksregional culture

鎌倉中期和歌に関する研究 is a work of poetry and tanka by 錺武彦. It centers on 短歌と詩歌の言葉 and layers in 土地と記憶, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

鎌倉中期和歌に関する研究 is an important poetry and tanka work in the award history of 錺武彦.

短歌と詩歌の言葉土地と記憶poetry and tanka
Youhei Kozai award

菅茶山を中心とする近世漢詩文の研究 is a work of poetry and tanka by 小財陽平. It centers on 短歌と詩歌の言葉 and layers in 土地と記憶, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

菅茶山を中心とする近世漢詩文の研究 is an important poetry and tanka work in the award history of 小財陽平.

短歌と詩歌の言葉土地と記憶poetry and tanka
Ken Ito award

'風土記の編纂と叙述の研究' is a winning work of the 窪田空穂賞 by Ken Ito.

'風土記の編纂と叙述の研究' is a winning work of the 窪田空穂賞 by Ken Ito.

history and memorysociety and memory
山本亮介 やまもと りょうすけ award

A scholarly study that examines Yokomitsu Riichi’s fiction and criticism as a whole, exploring the logic and ethical problems of his literary activity.

横光利一の研究 draws readers in through its focus on Yokomitsu Riichi.

470 pages
Yokomitsu Riichimodern literaturecritical study
平浩一 たいら ひろかず award

昭和初年代の文学状況の研究 is an award-recognized work by 平浩一. It is known through the prize record and appears to portray a turning point in character or circumstance within a compact literary form.

Although no standalone publication could be confirmed, the prize record preserves its place in regional and open-call literary culture.

award-recognized workregional literatureopen-call writing
小村宏史 こむら ひろし award

A study of ancient Japanese myth from the perspective of early Japanese literature, reading myth in relation to community expectations in the seventh and eighth centuries.

The book examines the place where myth emerges through both ancient society and literature.

320 pages
ancient mythearly Japanese literaturecommunityJapanese literary studies
藤巻尚子 ふじまき しょうこ award

A literary study of the reception of Romance of the Three Kingdoms in Japan, following how it has been read and used in narrative, theater, and historical imagination.

It traces how Three Kingdoms narratives changed within Japanese literature and culture.

Three Kingdomsreception historycomparative literatureJapanese literary studies
No winner
金子俊之 かねこ としゆき award

A scholarly study of Basho’s Oku no Hosomichi, examining the text, travel, and haikai history from a specialist perspective.

A scholarly study of Basho’s Oku no Hosomichi, examining the text, travel, and haikai history from a specialist perspective.

award-winning workmemoryhuman relationships
名木橋忠大 なきはし ただひろ award

Tadahiro Nakihashi's study revisits the poetry and life of Michizo Tachihara. It follows the poet's brief life, lyric structure, and literary context, offering readers a deeper path into his work.

立原道造研究 is a work whose contours are visible through its award history, with the author's concerns emerging through subject and voice.

modern poetryMichizo Tachiharapoet study
土佐秀里 とさ ひでさと award

A body of scholarship on early Japanese literature, centered on the Man’yoshu. It examines notation, place names, mythic background, and poetic conception to understand ancient language culture through specific poems.

It reads the ideas and institutions of early literature through the words and expressions of ancient waka.

early Japanese literatureMan’yoshuancient wakanotationplace names
永田英理 ながた えいり award

Research on early modern haikai, especially Basho-style linking and haikai as communal literary practice. It considers how haikai was inherited, transformed, and theorized through both works and poetics.

Through techniques of linking born in the haikai gathering, it reads continuity and change in early modern literature.

haikaiBasholinking techniqueearly modern literaturecommunal poetics
Hideo Hirata ひらた ひでお award

神仏をめぐる中世和歌の研究 is an award-recognized work by 平田英夫. It uses the impression carried by its title as an entry point into the movement of people and the atmosphere around them.

神仏をめぐる中世和歌の研究 presents the literary world of 平田英夫 as an award-recognized work.

award-recognized workpeople and societythe mood of its time
土屋有里子 つちや ゆりこ award

『沙石集』の翻刻と研究 is an award-recognized work by 土屋有里子. It uses the impression carried by its title as an entry point into the movement of people and the atmosphere around them.

『沙石集』の翻刻と研究 presents the literary world of 土屋有里子 as an award-recognized work.

award-recognized workpeople and societythe mood of its time
Toru Terashima てらしま とおる award

暁台の研究 is a work by 寺島徹 recognized by the 窪田空穂賞. It is introduced here as the prize-winning work itself, with the available publication data checked against Japanese bibliographic sources.

暁台の研究 brought wider attention to 寺島徹's writing through its prize recognition.

著作Prize-winning workModern Japanese literature
Kazuhiro Fujimaki ふじまき かずひろ award

長谷寺・室生寺縁起をめぐる研究 is a work by 藤巻和宏 associated with kubota-utsubo-award/2000-1#0. Even where a standalone book could not be confirmed in public sources, it is identified through its award context.

長谷寺・室生寺縁起をめぐる研究 by 藤巻和宏 is a work preserved through its award history.

award-winning workliteraturecritical recognition
井田太郞 いだ たろう award

酒井抱一の研究 is a work by 井田太郞 associated with kubota-utsubo-award/2000-1#1. Even where a standalone book could not be confirmed in public sources, it is identified through its award context.

酒井抱一の研究 by 井田太郞 is a work preserved through its award history.

award-winning workliteraturecritical recognition
No winner
No winner
井上優 いのうえ ゆう award

森鷗外研究―小説生成の磁場と表現方法をめぐる考察― is a work by 井上優 associated with the 窪田空穂賞. It was recognized in a literary award context and is presented as a work centered on the concerns suggested by its title.

Recognized by the 窪田空穂賞, 森鷗外研究―小説生成の磁場と表現方法をめぐる考察― draws readers in through the impression created by its title.

窪田空穂賞森鷗外研究―小説生成の磁場と表現方法をめぐる考察―literature
Akira Suzuki すずき あきら award

八坂本を中心とする平家物語の研究 is a work by 鈴木 明 associated with the 窪田空穂賞. It was recognized in a literary award context and is presented as a work centered on the concerns suggested by its title.

Recognized by the 窪田空穂賞, 八坂本を中心とする平家物語の研究 draws readers in through the impression created by its title.

窪田空穂賞八坂本を中心とする平家物語の研究literature
Kimiko Kono こうの きみこ award

日本霊異記と中国の伝承についての研究 is a work by 河野貴美子.

日本霊異記と中国の伝承についての研究, a work by 河野貴美子.

Makoto Kikuchi きくち まこと award

平安時代散文作品における歴史意識の研究 is a work by 菊池真.

平安時代散文作品における歴史意識の研究, a work by 菊池真.

Nishizawa Ippū いのうえ かずと award

西沢一風の研究 is a work by 井上和人.

西沢一風の研究, a work by 井上和人.

No winner
浅田徹 あさだ とおる award

平安後期和歌に関する研究 by 浅田徹 is a work recognized by kubota-utsubo-award. No standalone book identifiers were confirmed, so the entry focuses on the work itself.

An introduction to 平安後期和歌に関する研究 by 浅田徹 in its award context.

award-winning workliterary prize平安後期和歌に関する研究
Shinji Konno こんの しんじ award

中世国語資料を対象とした表記史的研究 by 今野真二 is a work recognized by kubota-utsubo-award. No standalone book identifiers were confirmed, so the entry focuses on the work itself.

An introduction to 中世国語資料を対象とした表記史的研究 by 今野真二 in its award context.

award-winning workliterary prize中世国語資料を対象とした表記史的研究
上野順子 うえの じゅんこ award

新古今時代和歌の研究 is an award-winning work by 上野順子, recognized by the 窪田空穂賞. It presents its subject through the form suggested by the title and stands as part of the author's published career.

新古今時代和歌の研究 is a work by 上野順子 honored by the 窪田空穂賞.

award-winning workliterary prizeliterature
十重田裕一 とえだ ゆういち award

横光利一における映画的方法の研究 is an award-winning work by 十重田裕一, recognized by the 窪田空穂賞. It presents its subject through the form suggested by the title and stands as part of the author's published career.

横光利一における映画的方法の研究 is a work by 十重田裕一 honored by the 窪田空穂賞.

award-winning workliterary prizeliterature
今井明 いまい あきら award

A Study of Medieval Waka and Poetics Centered on Fujiwara Teika examines medieval waka and poetic scholarship through Fujiwara Teika. It considers his expression as a poet, poetic theory, and reception of the classics, placing Teika at the center of medieval literary history.

Through expression and poetics around Fujiwara Teika, the study rereads the structure of medieval waka.

Fujiwara Teikamedieval wakapoeticsclassical studies
倉員正江 award

A Study of Early Modern Fiction Centered on Ukiyo-zoshi examines the forms and development of early modern Japanese fiction with ukiyo-zoshi at its core. It approaches the movement from kana-zoshi to ukiyo-zoshi and later fiction through relations among authors, readers, and publishing.

Centering on ukiyo-zoshi, the study reads the forms of early modern fiction and the movement of publishing culture.

ukiyo-zoshiearly modern fictionpublishing cultureliterary history
小野恭晴 おの やすはる award

A Study of Medieval Songs is Yasuharu Ono's research on medieval Japanese song. Covering imayo, rice-field songs, Buddhist songs, recitation, and kouta, it examines the literary qualities and historical development of medieval song traditions.

The study closely reads medieval voices as materials for literary history.

595 pages
medieval songsimayoBuddhist songsliterary history
Ichirō Ikezawa いけざわ いちろう award

A Study of Early Modern Kanshibun Centered on Ota Nanpo is Ichiro Ikezawa's work of early modern literary scholarship. Centering on the Edo writer Ota Nanpo, it examines kanshibun, comic Chinese-style verse, and networks of literary refinement.

Centered on Ota Nanpo, the study traces the world of Edo-period kanshibun.

Ota Nanpoearly modern literaturekanshibunEdo literati
Tessho Nonaka のなか てっしょう award

保元物語の研究 is a literary work by 野中哲照. It presents character, atmosphere, and social context through fiction or criticism.

保元物語の研究 is an important work for reading 野中哲照's expression in the context of 窪田空穂賞.

literaturecharacterperiod atmosphere
Katsuaki Sato さとう かつあき award

天和期蕉門の研究 is a literary work by 佐藤勝明. It presents character, atmosphere, and social context through fiction or criticism.

天和期蕉門の研究 is an important work for reading 佐藤勝明's expression in the context of 窪田空穂賞.

literaturecharacterperiod atmosphere
Miyako Yoshii よしい(こもり)みやこ award

源氏物語の研究 by 吉井(小森)美弥子 was recognized by the 窪田空穂賞. The work draws its force from the relationship between personal experience, social setting, and the author's distinctive perspective.

源氏物語の研究 places human experience and the atmosphere of its time at the center of the work.

award-winning workliteraturework
Masayuki Maeda まえだ まさゆき award

今昔物語集の構造に関する研究 by 前田雅之 was recognized by the 窪田空穂賞. The work draws its force from the relationship between personal experience, social setting, and the author's distinctive perspective.

今昔物語集の構造に関する研究 places human experience and the atmosphere of its time at the center of the work.

award-winning workliteraturework
坂本清恵 さかもと きよえ award

近松浄瑠璃における胡麻章の研究 by 坂本清恵 is a literary work that follows memory, relationships, and the shadows cast by time. As an award-winning work, it is framed around the concerns suggested by its title and leaves a quiet afterimage for the reader.

近松浄瑠璃における胡麻章の研究 layers people, time, and place behind the force of its compact title.

memoryfamilytimeloss
No winner
Masahiro Tanahashi たなはし まさひろ award

A study of kibyoshi, the illustrated popular fiction of late Edo Japan, examining its literary worlds, publishing culture, and depictions of manners and society. Through humor, parody, and social satire, it considers the reading culture of Edo.

A study that reads kibyoshi as literature where Edo entertainment and critical wit intersect.

kibyoshiearly modern Japanese literatureEdo publishing culturegesaku fiction
Hiroto Yoshihara よしはら ひろと award

A study of engi materials connected with Hachiman worship, examining the overlap of shrine-temple legends, setsuwa narratives, and religious culture. It focuses on how narrative sustained belief and regional memory.

The work reads the bond between medieval religious culture and literature through narratives of Hachiman worship.

Hachiman worshipshrine-temple originsmedieval literatureBuddhist narrative
Seori Takahashi たかはし せおり award

A critical study of Taisho-period literature, reading literary expression through the era's social change, intellectual climate, and writers' methods.

大正期文学 presents 高橋世織's concerns in the form of an award-winning work.

文学研究大正期近代文学批評
吉田茂 よしだ しげる award

A scholarly work on the medieval waka text Shijonomiya Shimotsuke Shu, tracing courtly literary culture through close textual study.

四条宮下野集 presents 吉田茂's concerns in the form of an award-winning work.

257 pages
和歌中世文学本文研究古典
石川一 いしかわ はじめ award

“拾玉集” is a literary work by 石川一. As a prize-winning work, it conveys the author's concerns and distinctive expression.

An entry point into 石川一's literary world through the prize-winning work “拾玉集.”

literatureaward-winning workexpression
三宅晶子 みやけ あきこ award

能の作者別脚本構造 is A scholarly work in classical literature or performing-arts studies, examining textual and structural questions through close reading of sources.

能の作者別脚本構造 remains a work referred to through its prize history.

classical studiesphilologystructure
Takashi Nakashima なかしま たかし award

西村本の書誌的研究 is A scholarly work in classical literature or performing-arts studies, examining textual and structural questions through close reading of sources.

西村本の書誌的研究 remains a work referred to through its prize history.

classical studiesphilologystructure
Hideo Watanabe わたなべ ひでお award

平安朝初期散文と漢詩文 is a prize-recognized work. It approaches its central subject through the conditions of its time, social context, and individual experience.

平安朝初期散文と漢詩文 distills the author's concerns while retaining the shape of an award-recognized work.

award-winning workhistorical contextpeople and society
Sadahiko Kato かとう さだひこ award

初期俳諧における季語・季寄 is a prize-recognized work. It approaches its central subject through the conditions of its time, social context, and individual experience.

初期俳諧における季語・季寄 distills the author's concerns while retaining the shape of an award-recognized work.

award-winning workhistorical contextpeople and society
Kazuaki Komine こみね かずあき award

"Konjaku Monogatari-shu: Tenjiku Section" is Kazuaki Komine's study of the Tenjiku, or Indian, section of Konjaku Monogatari-shu. It examines the sources, arrangement, and narrative structure of the Indian Buddhist tales and points toward issues that would shape later scholarship on the collection.

A study asking how the Tenjiku tales were gathered, arranged, and made into a narrative world.

Konjaku Monogatari-shuTenjiku sectionmedieval setsuwaBuddhist talessources and structure
Masako Mitamura みたむら まさこ award

Masako Mitamura's work on The Pillow Book focuses on laughter and narration in Sei Shonagon's writing, reading courtly relationships, the shared world of Teishi's salon, and the author's self-expression through those motifs.

A study of The Pillow Book that reads the expressive structure of court society through laughter and narration.

classical Japanese literatureThe Pillow BookSei Shonagonlaughternarration
Yasuyoshi Sekiguchi せきぐち やすよし award

豊島与志雄 is a work connected with tanka poetry and criticism by 関口安義, placing personal feeling and the texture of time within a taut poetic language. Its award record points to attention given to the way it links daily life, memory, and reflection through poetic form.

Lyric feeling and critical awareness meet, revealing layers of time behind brief language.

tankalyricismmemorylanguage
菅谷廣美 すがや ひろみ award

修辞及華文 is a work connected with tanka poetry and criticism by 菅谷廣美, placing personal feeling and the texture of time within a taut poetic language. Its award record points to attention given to the way it links daily life, memory, and reflection through poetic form.

Lyric feeling and critical awareness meet, revealing layers of time behind brief language.

tankalyricismmemorylanguage
Takeshi Tokuda とくだ たけし award

読本 is a work connected with tanka poetry and criticism by 徳田武, placing personal feeling and the texture of time within a taut poetic language. Its award record points to attention given to the way it links daily life, memory, and reflection through poetic form.

Lyric feeling and critical awareness meet, revealing layers of time behind brief language.

tankalyricismmemorylanguage
Takemoto Mikio たけもと みきお award

能 is a work connected with tanka poetry and criticism by 竹本幹夫, placing personal feeling and the texture of time within a taut poetic language. Its award record points to attention given to the way it links daily life, memory, and reflection through poetic form.

Lyric feeling and critical awareness meet, revealing layers of time behind brief language.

tankalyricismmemorylanguage
No winner

A study of the Kotohira manuscript of The Tale of Heiji, reading textual formation and narrative structure through love, death, and battle narrative.

A study that draws out the expressive world of war tales from manuscript detail.

war talestextual studyThe Tale of Heijimedieval literature
No winner
No winner

芭蕉における「さび」の構造 is a literary work by 復本一郎. Recognized in 1973, it is valued for its focused voice and for the way it leaves a sense of people, place, and time with the reader.

芭蕉における「さび」の構造 captures a sense of people and time within a tightly shaped form.

memory and placehuman feelingsocial context
No winner
Sueo Kira award

貞門・談林俳諧の研究 is known as a work by 雲英末雄.

貞門・談林俳諧の研究 stands in 雲英末雄's award record.

award-winning workwork
町田栄 award

志賀直哉の研究 is known as a work by 町田栄.

志賀直哉の研究 stands in 町田栄's award record.

award-winning workwork

近世中期文学の研究 is a work by 中野三敏 recognized by the kubota-utsubo-award in 1970. It is presented here as an individual award-winning work, with bibliographic identifiers added where public records confirm a book edition.

近世中期文学の研究, a work recognized by the kubota-utsubo-award.

award-winning workliterary prizepublication status

Senzai Wakashu ni Kansuru Kenkyu is a study of waka by Yoichi Matsuno. Focusing on the imperial anthology Senzai Wakashu, it examines formation, structure, poetic style, and selection principles, contributing to the understanding of medieval waka history.

A study that explores a turning point in medieval waka through the formation and style of the Senzai Wakashu.

waka studiesSenzai Wakashumedieval literatureimperial anthology

A study of Kagami Shiko, a haikai poet in Basho's circle, considering his place in haikai history and the qualities of his work. It traces the development of early modern haikai through evidence-based scholarship.

各務支考の研究 is a work in which a study of Kagami Shiko, a haikai poet in Basho's circle, considering his place in haikai history and the qualities of his work.

haikaiearly modern literatureKagami Shikoscholarship

A critical study that reads Tatsuo Hori and Shigeharu Nakano together, examining lyricism, thought, and expression in modern Japanese literature. It offers a way to reconsider Showa-era writing.

堀辰雄・中野重治の研究 is a work in which a critical study that reads Tatsuo Hori and Shigeharu Nakano together, examining lyricism, thought, and expression in modern Japanese literature.

modern literatureauthor studyShowa literaturecriticism