Akiko Itoyama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
novelist, who won the 134th Akutagawa Prize
.
, she worked as a saleswoman for a major household equipment company and, as is common in Japanese corporate life, was transferred several times to various localities. Treatment for cyclic psychosis led to her writing.
Her works, which focus on human relations, have been nominated for and received literary awards. She was recipient of the 96th Bungakukai New Face Award and a nominee for the 129th Akutagawa Prize by her first volume "It's only talk" in 2003. After three consecutive nominations, she finally won the Akutagawa Prize
January 2006.
She has been praised for her ability to describe provincial scenery and represent regional accents and dialects, reflecting the characters' image, even though she was brought up in Tokyo. She explains that she learned them through repeated company transfers all over Japan.
A translation of her "Waiting in the Offing" (Oki de Matsu) appears in the March 2007 (online) edition of Words Without Borders.
An English translation of "It's Only Talk" was published by The Japan Times in March 2009.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
novelist, who won the 134th Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
.
Biography
After graduation from Shinjuku High School and the Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
, she worked as a saleswoman for a major household equipment company and, as is common in Japanese corporate life, was transferred several times to various localities. Treatment for cyclic psychosis led to her writing.
Her works, which focus on human relations, have been nominated for and received literary awards. She was recipient of the 96th Bungakukai New Face Award and a nominee for the 129th Akutagawa Prize by her first volume "It's only talk" in 2003. After three consecutive nominations, she finally won the Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
January 2006.
She has been praised for her ability to describe provincial scenery and represent regional accents and dialects, reflecting the characters' image, even though she was brought up in Tokyo. She explains that she learned them through repeated company transfers all over Japan.
A translation of her "Waiting in the Offing" (Oki de Matsu) appears in the March 2007 (online) edition of Words Without Borders.
An English translation of "It's Only Talk" was published by The Japan Times in March 2009.
Works
- イッツ・オンリー・トーク It's only talk, won the 96th Bungakukai New Face Award, nominated for the 129th Akutagawa Prize. A film with the same titleIt's Only TalkIt's Only Talk is a Japanese film, released in 2005 and is based on the prize winning novel of the same title written by Akiko Itoyama and directed by Ryuichi Hiroki.-Plot summary:...
was created based on this novel. ISBN 4-16-322630-3 - 海の仙人 Umi no Sennin (Sea Hermit), nominated for the 130th Akutagawa Prize, also won the Minister of Education and Science's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists, in book form. ISBN 4-10-466901-6
- 袋小路の男 Fukurokouji no Otoko (Man in the dead-end street), won the 30th Kawabata Yasunari Prize. ISBN 4-06-212618-4
- 勤労感謝の日 Kinrou Kansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day), nominated for the 131st Akutagawa Prize, included in the book 沖で待つ.
- 逃亡くそたわけ Toubou Kusotawake (Besotted fool runs away), nominated for the 133rd Naoki PrizeNaoki PrizeThe 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...
and New Face Award of the 27th Noma PrizeNoma PrizeThe Noma Prizes were established by Shoichi Noma, or in his honor. More than one award is conventionally identified as the Noma Prize.Noma was the former head of Kodansha, the Japanese publishing and bookselling company...
for Literature. ISBN 4-12-003614-6 - スモールトーク Smalltalk ISBN 4-544-04099-X
- ニート NEET, settles on the matter of NEETNEETNEET is a government acronym for people currently "not in education, employment, or training". It was first used in the United Kingdom but its use has spread to other countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea...
. ISBN 4-04-873643-4 - 沖で待つ Oki de Matsu (Waiting Offshore), won the 134th Akutagawa Prize. ISBN 4-16-324850-1