Kenzaburo Oe Prize
Encyclopedia
The Kenzaburō Ōe Prize is a literary award, and is sponsord by Kodansha
(講談社).
Established in 2006 in memory of two anniversaries:
100th anniversary of Kodansha's establishment and the 50th anniversary of the writing life of Kenzaburō Ōe
(大江健三郎).
The objects of this award are Japanese literary novels published in the last year, and the best work is elected by Ōe only.
Since one of the aims of this award is the promotion of Japanese novels of the young generation which
are the representations of words of the Japanese intellectuals,
this prize is awarded to the best novel which contains the best 'literary words' with possibilities and results judged by Ōe.
The winner receives no cash award, but the awarded novel will be translated into other languages such as English, French and German for publications.
Kenzaburō Ōe has an open conversation with the winner, which works as compensation for Ōe's criticism.
The first winner in 2007 is Yū Nagashima (長嶋有) for 'Yūko-chan no Chikamichi (夕子ちゃんの近道), The shortcut of Yūko-chan'.
Kodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
(講談社).
Established in 2006 in memory of two anniversaries:
100th anniversary of Kodansha's establishment and the 50th anniversary of the writing life of Kenzaburō Ōe
Kenzaburo Oe
is a Japanese author and a major figure in contemporary Japanese literature. His works, strongly influenced by French and American literature and literary theory, deal with political, social and philosophical issues including nuclear weapons, social non-conformism and existentialism.Ōe was awarded...
(大江健三郎).
The objects of this award are Japanese literary novels published in the last year, and the best work is elected by Ōe only.
Since one of the aims of this award is the promotion of Japanese novels of the young generation which
are the representations of words of the Japanese intellectuals,
this prize is awarded to the best novel which contains the best 'literary words' with possibilities and results judged by Ōe.
The winner receives no cash award, but the awarded novel will be translated into other languages such as English, French and German for publications.
Kenzaburō Ōe has an open conversation with the winner, which works as compensation for Ōe's criticism.
The first winner in 2007 is Yū Nagashima (長嶋有) for 'Yūko-chan no Chikamichi (夕子ちゃんの近道), The shortcut of Yūko-chan'.
List of winners
| Year | Author | Japanese title | English title |
| 2007 | 長嶋有 Yū Nagashima |
夕子ちゃんの近道 Yūko-chan no Chikamichi |
The shortcut of Yūko-chan |
| 2008 | 岡田利規 Toshiki Okada Toshiki Okada Toshiki Okada is a Japanese playwright, theater director, and novelist, founder of the theatrical company chelfitsch. He was awarded the 2008 Kenzaburō Ōe Prize for The end of the special time we were allowed , a book consisting of two novels... |
わたしたちに許された特別な時間の終わり Watashitachi ni Yurusareta Tokubetsu na Jikan no Owari |
The end of the special time unrestricted to us |
| 2009 | 安藤礼二 Reiji Ando |
光の曼荼羅 日本文学論 Hikari no Mandara, Nihon Bungaku Ron |
A Mandala of light, On Japanese literature |
| 2010 | 中村文則 Huminori Nakamura |
掏摸 Suri |
Pickpocket |