Nanae Aoyama Explained

is a Japanese fiction writer. She has won the Akutagawa Prize, the Bungei Prize, and the Yasunari Kawabata Literary Prize. Her work has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, German, French, English, Italian and Polish.

Early life and education

Aoyama was born in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from the University of Tsukuba, where she studied library science.^{[1] [2]}

Career

After graduating from university, Aoyama moved to Tokyo to take a job at a travel firm. She began writing her first novel, Mado no akari, while working full-time.^[3] Mado no akari was published in 2005, and won the 42nd Bungei Prize. In 2007 Hitori biyori, Aoyama's story about freeters working part-time jobs, won the 136th Akutagawa Prize.^[4] After winning the Akutagawa Prize, Aoyama quit her office job to pursue writing full-time.^[5] In 2009 she won the Yasunari Kawabata Literary Prize for her short story Kakera, which was published in a collection of the same name. She was the youngest author ever to win the prize.^[6] Watashi no kareshi, Aoyama's first full-length novel, was published in 2011. In 2016 she collaborated with illustrator Satoe Tone on the children's book Watashi Otsuki-sama.

Writing style

Aoyama has cited Françoise Sagan and Kazuo Ishiguro as literary influences. Literary scholar Judith Pascoe proposed that Wuthering Heights was a literary influence on Aoyama's work, particularly Meguri ito, and later confirmed this influence with Aoyama herself.^[7]

Recognition

• 2005 42nd Bungei Prize^[8]
• 2007 136th Akutagawa Prize (2006下)^[9]
• 2009 Yasunari Kawabata Literary Prize^[10]

Bibliography

Japanese

• Mado no akari (窓の灯, "The Light of Windows"), Kawade Shobō Shinsha, 2005,
• Hitori biyori (ひとり日和, "A Perfect Day to Be Alone"), Kawade Shobō Shinsha, 2007,
• Yasashii tameiki (やさしいため息, "A Gentle Sigh"), Kawade Shobō Shinsha, 2008,
• Kakera (かけら, "Fragments"), Shinchosha, 2009,
• Mahou tsukai kurabu (魔法使いクラブ, "Magic Users Club"), Gentosha, 2009,
• Owakare no oto (お別れの音, "The Sound of Separation"), Bungeishunjū, 2010
• Watashi no kareshi (わたしの彼氏, "My Boyfriend"), Kodansha, 2011,
• Akari no kohan (あかりの湖畔, "The Lakeshore in the Light"), 2011, Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2011,
• Hanayome (花嫁, "The Bride"), Gentosha, 2012,
• Sumire (Sumire), Bungeishunjū, 2012,
• Meguri ito (めぐり糸), Shueisha, 2013,
• Kairaku (快楽, Pleasure), Kodansha, 2013,
• Kaze, Kawade Shobō Shinsha, 2014,
• Mayu, Shinchōsha, 2015,
• Watashi otsukisama, NHK, 2016
• Hatchi to mārō, Shōgakukan, 2017,

English translation

• A Perfect Day to Be Alone, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, MacLehose Press, 2024

External links

• J'Lit | Authors : Nanae Aoyama | Books from Japan

Notes and References

1. Web site: 本学卒業の青山七恵さんが芥川賞を受賞. japanese. University of Tsukuba. June 22, 2018. December 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206190451/https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/news/20070329105058.html. dead.
2. News: ら生まれたおちゃめな双子の物語. japanese. Weekly Bunshun. 瀧井. 朝世. July 1, 2017. June 22, 2018.
3. News: Nanae Aoyama: Office worker takes exalted literary status in her stride. The Japan Times. Hani. Yoko. March 4, 2007. June 22, 2018.
4. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160410201853/http://www.tokyograph.com/news/akutagawa-prize-awarded-to-nanae-aoyama/. April 10, 2016. Akutagawa Prize awarded to Nanae Aoyama. Tokyograph. January 17, 2007.
5. Web site: Nanae Aoyama. Books from Japan. June 22, 2018.
6. Web site: Review: "Fragments" by Nanae Aoyama. Japanese Writers' House. Goto. Satoko. June 1, 2010. June 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180623032840/https://www.trannet.co.jp/pre_up/web_news/2010/0617.html. June 23, 2018. dead.
7. Book: Pascoe, Judith. On the Bullet Train with Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights in Japan. University of Michigan Press. Ann Arbor, MI. December 5, 2017. 150.
8. News: 文芸賞に１５歳、中３の三並さん 史上最年少. Japanese. Asahi Shimbun. September 9, 2005. June 22, 2018. March 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311070916/http://www.asahi.com/culture/entertainment/news/TKY200509050241.html. dead.
9. Web site: 芥川賞受賞者一覧. japanese. 日本文学振興会. June 22, 2018.
10. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20090926121247/http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/prizes/kawabatasho/. September 26, 2009. 第35回 川端康成文学賞受賞作品発表. japanese. Shinchosha Publishing.