Kurumizawa Koshi
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of a writer in Showa period
Japan
. His real name was Shimizu Masatarō.
, Kurumizawa graduated from the Commerce Department of Takushoku University
. He worked for the Japanese government broadcasting company, NHK
, as a producer of radio programs
, and wrote on the side. His first novel Soshi futatabi kaerazu ("The Desperado Does Not Return"), published under his actual name, was awarded a prize in 1955 for best work by a new author. He set aside all of the earnings from his writing, and used to fund a round-the-world trip from 1958-1967. On his return to Japan, he adopted the Kurumizawa Kōshi pen-name, and began to write adventure novels.
His 1983 novel, Tenzan o koete ("Crossing the Tenzan Mountains") won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award
, and in the same year he was awarded the prestigious Naoki Prize
for his story Kuro Pan Furyoki about the suffering of a Japanese prisoner of war
in Siberia
after World War II
.
A fervent fan of author Naoki Sanjugo, Kurimizawa made sure that he secured the plot next to Naoki's grave in the temple of Choman-ji in Yokohama
, and erected his own gravestone there prior to his death.
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His real name was Shimizu Masatarō.
Biography
Born in the Mukojima district of TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Kurumizawa graduated from the Commerce Department of Takushoku University
Takushoku University
Takushoku University is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Prince Taro Katsura . The university is located in Tokyo and has two campuses: the main campus in the Bunkyō district, and a satellite campus in the Hachiōji district...
. He worked for the Japanese government broadcasting company, NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, as a producer of radio programs
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
, and wrote on the side. His first novel Soshi futatabi kaerazu ("The Desperado Does Not Return"), published under his actual name, was awarded a prize in 1955 for best work by a new author. He set aside all of the earnings from his writing, and used to fund a round-the-world trip from 1958-1967. On his return to Japan, he adopted the Kurumizawa Kōshi pen-name, and began to write adventure novels.
His 1983 novel, Tenzan o koete ("Crossing the Tenzan Mountains") won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award
Mystery Writers of Japan Award
The are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of Japan. They honor the best in crime fiction and critical/biographical work published in the previous year.- MWJ Award for Best Novel winners :...
, and in the same year he was awarded the prestigious Naoki Prize
Naoki Prize
The Naoki Prize is a Japanese literary award presented semiannually. The official name is Naoki Sanjugo Prize. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the Bungeishunjū magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo...
for his story Kuro Pan Furyoki about the suffering of a Japanese prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
A fervent fan of author Naoki Sanjugo, Kurimizawa made sure that he secured the plot next to Naoki's grave in the temple of Choman-ji in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, and erected his own gravestone there prior to his death.
External links
- E-texts of works at Aozora BunkoAozora BunkoAozora Bunko is a Japanese digital library. This online collection encompasses several thousands of works of Japanese-language fiction and non-fiction. These include out-of-copyright books or works that the authors wish to make freely available....
(Japanese site)]