Kiyoshi Shigematsu (重松 清, Shigematsu Kiyoshi, born 6 March 1963) is a contemporary Japanese writer. He is one of the best-selling authors in Japan, and the major theme of his novels is about family.[1] His most notable works include Naifu (ナイフ) (1997), Eiji (エイジ) (1999) and Bitamin F (ビタミンF) (2000).[1]

Kiyoshi Shigematsu
Born (1963-03-06) March 6, 1963 (age 61)
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Writer, novelist
Years active1991–present
Notable workNaifu (Knife) (1997), Eiji (1999), Bitamin F (Vitamin F) (2000)

Shigematsu’s works in other genre including journals, editorials and critics are highly commended.[2] He also worked in novelising screenplays.[3]

Biography

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Shigematsu was born in Kume, Okayama Prefecture in Japan in 1963.[4] He spent most of his youth in Yamaguchi Prefecture. After he has graduated from Yamaguchi Senior High School in 1981, he went to Tokyo at the age of 18.[5]

Shigematsu's life has changed during his years studying in Waseda University School of Education.[2] Katsumi Togo (東郷 克美 Tōgō Katsumi) was his mentor.[6][user-generated source] Since his third year of study, he worked as an editorial staff for Waseda University's literary journal, Waseda bungaku.[1] At that time, Kenji Nakagami was the mentor of the editorial department.[7] Shigematsu once mentioned that his works showed the influence of Nakagami.[8] In fact, Shigematsu seldom read any books until he became the editorial staff of the journal, and thus he could barely involve in the members' conversation.[9] He therefore every time memorised the names of the writers and titles of the novels they mentioned, and searched in libraries and book stores afterwards.[8] He spent most of his money he got from the scholarship on books and read as much as he could, in the hope that he would be able to join the conversation one day.[8]

After graduating from Waseda University, he worked for Kadokawa Shoten as an editorial writer.[1] He later worked as a freelance writer using over 20 pen names, including Akira Tamura (田村 章 Tamura Akira) and Koshir Okada (岡田 幸四郎 Okada Kōshirō), when he novalised dramas and films, wrote for magazines and sometimes took on ghostwriting works.[10][user-generated source]

In 1991, Shigematsu debut as an author with his first novel, Bifoa Ran (Before Run).[1] He distinguished himself as a young adult writer, focusing on themes including bullying, juvenile crime and domestic problems.[1][11]

Shigematsu suffered from a speech disorder known as stammering or stuttering when he was young, and he could hardly pronounce words starting with the sound "k", which made him struggled a lot when pronouncing his own name, Kiyoshi.[12] Shigematsu projected his own experience in his novel "Kiyoshiko" (きよしこ) (2002).[13]

In 2007, Shigematsu wrote the lyrics for the theme song, Meguriai, for the 74th The Nationwide Contest of Music sponsored by NHK (secondary division).[14] The same year, Shigematsu also contributed over thirty stories, entitled "A Thousand Years of Dreams", to the video game Lost Odyssey.[15]

Awards

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Nominations

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Works

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Novels
1990s
Title Year Publisher
ビフォア・ラン
Bifoa Ran
1991
1998
KK Bestsellers
Gentosha Bunko
私が嫌いな私
Watashi ga Kiraina Watashi
1992 Ohta Publishing
四十回のまばたき
Yonjyukai no Mabataki
1993
2000
Kadokawa Shoten
Gentosha Bunko
バック・ビート
Bakku Bīto
1994 Fusosha Publishing
見張り塔からずっと
Miharitō kara Zutto
1995
1999
Kadokawa Shoten
Shincho Bunko
舞姫通信
Maihime Tsushin
1995
1999
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
幼子われらに生まれ
Osanago Warera ni Umare
1996
1999
Kadokawa Shoten
Gentosha Literary Publication
ナイフ
Naifu
1997
2000
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
定年ゴジラ
Teinen Gojira
1998
2001
Kodansha
Kodansha Bunko
エイジ
Eiji
1999
2001
2004
Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.
Asahi Bunko
Shincho Bunko
日曜日の夕刊
Nichiyōbi no Yūkan
1999 The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.
半パン・デイズ
Hanpan Deizu
1999
2002
Kodansha
Kodansha Bunko
2000s
Title Year Publisher
カカシの夏休み
Kakashi no Natsuyasumi
2000
2003
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
ビタミンF
Bitamin F
2000
2003
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
さつき断景
Satsuki Dankei
Retitled:星に願いを さつき断景
Hoshi ni Negai wo Satsuki Dankei
2000
2004
2008
Shodensha
Shodensha Bunko
Shincho Bunko
リビング
Ribingu
2000
2003
Chuokoron-Shinsha
Chuko Bunko
隣人
Rinjin
Retitled: 世紀末の隣人
Seikisue no Rinjin
2001

2003
Kodansha

Kodansha Bunko
口笛吹いて
Kuchibue Fuite
2001
2004
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
かっぽん屋
Kapponya
2002 Kadokawa Bunko
流星ワゴン
Ryusei Wagon
2002
2005
Kodansha
Kodansha Bunko
熱球
Nekkyu
2002
2004
2007
Tokuma Shoten
Tokuma Bunko
Shincho Bunko
小さき者へ
Chisaki Mono e
2002
2006
The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.
Shincho Bunko
きよしこ
Kiyoshiko
2002
2005
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
トワイライト
Towai Raito
2002
2005
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
疾走
Shissō
2003
2005
Kadokawa Shoten
Kadokawa Bunko
哀愁的東京
Aishūteki Tōkyō
2003
2006
Kobunsha
Kadokawa Bunko
お父さんエラい!単身赴任二十人の仲間たち
Otōsan Erai! Tanshin Funin Nijyunin no Nakamatachi
Retitled: ニッポンの単身赴任
Nippon no Tanshin Funin
2003

2005
Kodansha

Kodansha Bunko
送り火
Okuri Bi
2003
2007
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
ニッポンの課長
Nippon no Kachō
2004
2006
Nikkei Business Publications
Kodansha Bunko
卒業
Sotsugyō
2004
2006
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
いとしのヒナゴン
Itoshi no Hinagon
2004
2007
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
その日のまえに
Sono Hi no Mae ni
2005
2008
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
きみの友だち
Kimi no Tomodachi
2005
2008
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
娘に語るお父さんの歴史
Musume ni Kataru Otōsan no Rekishi
2006 Chikuma Purimā Shinshō
小学五年生
Shōgaku Gonensei
2007
2009
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
カシオペアの丘で
Kassiopeia no Oka de
2007
2010
Kodansha

Kodansha Bunko
くちぶえ番長
Kuchibue Banchō
2007 Shincho Bunko
青い鳥
Aoi Tori
2007
2010
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
永遠を旅する者 ロストオデッセイ 千年の夢
Towa wo Tabisuru Mono Rosuto Odissei Sennen no Yume
2007
2010
Kodansha

Kodansha Bunko
ブランケット・キャッツ
Buranketto Kyattsu
The Blanket Cats
2008
2011
2024
Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.
Asahi Bunko
MacLehose Press
"Kisetsu Fū" Series
1. ツバメ記念日 季節風・春
Tsubame Kinenbi Kisetsu Fū - Spring

2. 僕たちのミシシッピ・リバー 季節風・夏
Bokutachi no Mishishippi-Ribā Kisetsu Fū - Summer

3. 少しだけ欠けた月 季節風・秋
Sukoshi Dake Kaketa Tsuki Kisetsu Fū - Autumn

4. サンタ・エクスプレス 季節風・冬
Sanda-Ekusuburesu Kisetsu Fū - Winter

2009
2010

2008
2011

2008
2011

2008
2010


Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko

Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko

Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
ブルーベリー
Burū Berī
Retitled:鉄のライオン
Tetsu no Raion
2008

2011
Kobunsha

Kobunsha Bunko
気をつけ、礼。
Ki wo Tsuke, Rei.
Retitled:せんせい。
Sensei.
2008

2011
Shinchosha

Shincho Bunko
みぞれ
Mizore
2008 Kadokawa Bunko
とんび
Tonbi
2008
2011
2015
Kadokawa Shoten
Kadokawa Bunko
Large Print Edition
希望ヶ丘の人びと
Kibōgaoka no Hitobito
2009
2011
Shogakukan
Shogakukan Bunko
ステップ
Suteppu
2009
2012
Chuokoron-Shinsha
Chuko Bunko
かあちゃん
Kāchan
2009
2012
Kodansha

Kodansha Bunko
あの歌がきこえる
Ano Uta ga Kikoeru
2009 Shincho Bunko
青春夜明け前
Seishun Yoake Mae
2009 Kodansha Bunko
再開
Saikai
ロング・ロング・アゴー
Rongu-Rongu-Agō
2009

2012
Shinchosha

Shincho Bunko
十字架
Jyūjika
2009
2012
Kodansha
Kodansha Bunko
2010s
Title Year Publisher
きみ去りしのち
Kimi Sarishi Nochi
2010
2013
Bungeishunjū
Bunshun Bunko
あすなろ三三七拍子
Asunaro San San Nana Hyōshi
2009
2012
The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.
Kodansha Bunko
ポニーテール
Ponī Tēru
2011
2014
Shinchosha
Shincho Bunko
峠うどん物語
Tōge Udon Monogatari
2011
2014
Kodansha
Kodansha Bunko
希望の地図 3.11から始まる物語
Kibō no Chizu 3.11 kara Hajimaru Monogatari
2012
2015
Gentosha Literary Publication
Gentosha Bunko
空より高く
Sora yori Takaku
2012 Chuokoron-Shinsha
また次の春へ
Mata Tsugi no Haru e
2013 Fusosha Publishing
きみの町で
Kimi no Machi de
2013 Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.
星のかけら
Hoshi no Kakera
2013 Shincho Bunko
ファミレス
Famiresu
2013 Nikkei Publishing Inc.
みんなのうた
Minna no Uta
2013 Kadokawa Bunko
ゼツメツ少年
Zetsumetsu Shōnen
2013 Shinchosha
赤ヘル1975
Aka Heru 1975
2013 Kodansha
一人っ子同盟
Hitorikko Dōmei
2014 Shinchosha
なきむし姫
Nakimushi Hime
2015 Shincho Bunko

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Shigematsu Kiyoshi". Japanese Literature Publishing and Promotion Center. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  2. ^ a b "重松さんからのメッセージ 作者プロフィール". Bungeshinju. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  3. ^ "情熱大陸コラム 重松清 「読む情熱大陸」" Archived 2018-04-10 at the Wayback Machine. Mainichi Broadcasting System. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  4. ^ a b "第14回坪田譲治文学賞" Archived 2016-09-19 at the Wayback Machine. Okayama Literary Prize. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  5. ^ "重松さんからのメッセージ". Bungeshinju. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  6. ^ "重松清(しげまつきよし)とは"[user-generated source]. ピクシブ百科事典. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  7. ^ "三田誠広の小説教室|第三十一回 強い男のやさしさ". eBOOK Initiative Japan. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "重松清さん 46歳の成熟 「十字架」で吉川英治文学賞" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  9. ^ "重松清 中上健次に目かけられた早稲田四畳一間の下宿時代". Nikkan Gendai. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  10. ^ "田村章とは"[user-generated source]. Hatena Keyword. Retrieved 27 Oct 2015.
  11. ^ "#082 ダラダラ生きるのも捨てたもんじゃない". Mammo.tv. Retrieved 30 Oct 2015.
  12. ^ "茅ヶ崎ロータリークラブ 創立50周年記念講演 直木賞受賞作家・重松清『命を語ることば』". 茅ヶ崎ロータリークラブ. Retrieved 3 Nov 2015.
  13. ^ "重松 清『きよしこ』". SHINCHOSHA Publishing Co. Ltd. Dec 2012. Retrieved 3 Nov 2015.
  14. ^ "Nコンアーカイブ". Nコン. Retrieved 30 Oct 2015.
  15. ^ Sheffield, Brandon (2008-04-21). "Developing An Epic: Nakazato On Lost Odyssey And The Future". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  16. ^ "過去の受賞作品". SHINCHOSA Publishing Co., Ltd. Retrieved 30 Oct 2015.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h "重松清-直木賞受賞作家" Archived 2016-09-13 at the Wayback Machine. Naoki Award. Retrieved 30 Oct 2015.
  18. ^ a b "これまでの本屋大賞|本屋大賞". 本屋大賞. Retrieved 3 Nov 2015.