Wikipedia

Shogo Imamura

Shogo Imamura (Japanese: 今村翔吾, Hepburn: Imamura Shōgo, born June 18, 1984) is a Japanese writer. He is best known for writing historical fiction novels. He won the 166th Naoki Prize in 2022.

Shogo Imamura
Native name
今村翔吾
Born (1984-06-18) June 18, 1984 (age 40)
Kamo, Kyoto, Japan
OccupationWriter
LanguageJapanese
GenreHistorical fiction
Years active2016–present
Notable works
Notable awards166th Naoki Prize
RelativesKatsuhiko Imamura [ja] (father)
Website
www.zusyu.co.jp

Early life

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Imamura was born in Kamo, Kyoto (now Kizugawa) on June 18, 1984.[1][2] His father, Katsuhiko Imamura [ja], is a former elementary school teacher.[3] He graduated from Nara Women's University Secondary School [ja] and Kansai University's Faculty of Letters.[4][5] Upon graduation, he worked as a dance instructor and an archeologist at the Moriyama Buried Cultural Properties Center.[3][6]

Career

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While in fifth grade, Imamura read Sanada Taiheiki by Shōtarō Ikenami, which lead him to consider pursuing a career as a writer.[3] After going through health issues in 2013 and 2014, he decided to start writing in his spare time.[3][7] In 2016, Imamura won the Izu Literary Award [ja] Grand Prize for Kire, Hikogoro.[6] Later that year, Imamura won the Kyushu Saga Popular Literature Award [ja] for Kitsune no Shiro. Kenzo Kitakata, who was on the selection committee for the award, recommended to an editor at Shodensha to publish a work by Imamura. Shodensha published Hikuicho: Ushuboro Tobigumi in 2017, which was Imamura's first published work.[8]

In February 2018, Imamura quit his job at the Moriyama Buried Cultural Properties Center to pursue writing full time.[6] His work Warabe no Kami was nominated for the 160th Naoki Prize in 2019.[9] He was nominated for the 163rd Naoki Prize in 2020 for Jinkan.[6] He won the 166th Naoki Prize in 2022 for Saiō no Tate.[10] Later that year, he started screenwriting with Saturday wa Nanisuru!? [ja], a Japanese television drama.[11] He began appearing on the radio show Imamura Shōgo × Yamazaki Reina no Itotteseshete [ja] in September 2022 with former Nogizaka46 member Rena Yamazaki [ja].[12] In 2023, Imamura founded Hon Mirai, an organization to promote young writers.[13]

Personal life

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Imamura resides in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan.[6]

In 2021, Imamura purchased Kinoshita Book Center, a struggling bookstore in Minoh, Osaka. After undergoing renovations, it was reopened on November 1, 2021.[3] Imamura opened Saga no Shoten, a bookstore in the Saga Station, in December 2023.[14]

Bibliography

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Imamura's works generally fall into the historical fiction genre.[3][6] Imamura described his style of writing as "writing without a plot" and only a desired ending for the story in mind.[15] Imamura has cited the works of Shōtarō Ikenami and Ryōtarō Shiba as influences on his work.[3]

Ushuboro Tobigumi series

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  • Hikuidori (火喰鳥), Shodensha, 2017, ISBN 9784396342982
  • Yoru Karasu (夜哭烏), Shodensha, 2017, ISBN 9784396343378
  • Kumonryū (九紋龍), Shodensha, 2017, ISBN 9784396343750
  • Oni Kiseru (鬼煙管), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396343972
  • Bosatsubana (菩薩花), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396344238
  • Yume Kochō (夢胡蝶), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396344481
  • Kitsune Hanabi (狐花火), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396344757
  • Gyokkirin (玉麒麟), Shodensha, 2019, ISBN 9784396345044
  • Sōfūjin (双風神), Shodensha, 2019, ISBN 9784396345464
  • Kogane Hina (黄金雛), Shodensha, 2019, ISBN 9784396345808
  • Kasane Taihō (Ue) (襲大鳳（上）), Shodensha, 2020, ISBN 9784396345945
  • Kasane Taihō (Shita) (襲大鳳（下）), Shodensha, 2020, ISBN 9784396346232
  • Koi Orochi (恋大蛇), Shodensha, 2022, ISBN 9784396343378

Kuramashi ya Kagyō series

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  • Kuramashi ya Kagyō (くらまし屋稼業), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758441803
  • Haru wa Made ka (春はまだか), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758441896
  • Natsu no Modori-sen (夏の戻り船), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758442183
  • Aki Kure no Go Ri (秋暮の五人), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2019, ISBN 9784758442473
  • Fuyu Hare no Hanayome (冬晴れの花嫁), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2019, ISBN 9784758442800
  • Hanauta no Koro e (花唄の頃へ), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2020, ISBN 9784758443197
  • Tatsutori no Mai (立つ鳥の舞), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2021, ISBN 9784758443654
  • Kazemachi no Shi Suguru (風待ちの四傑), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2022, ISBN 9784758444804

Ikusagami series

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Other works

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Manga

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References

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  1. ^ Takii, Asayo (July 25, 2020). 作家の読書道　第219回：今村翔吾さん. Webdoku (in Japanese). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ 直木賞作家・今村翔吾氏の初の密着映像　１８日のＢＳ朝日で公開. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). June 17, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g 直木賞候補の歴史小説家・今村翔吾さんが挑戦する書店経営...自身の原点でもある『予期せぬ本との出会い』を守る. MBS News (in Japanese). January 10, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ 啓林堂書店奈良店で今村翔吾さんサイン本を販売　女大付中高出身の作家、直木賞受賞記念で. Nara Shimbun (in Japanese). January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ 【著者インタビュー】今村翔吾『幸村を討て』／直木賞受賞第一作！　数々の謎に大胆に迫る、異色の真田物. Shosetsu Maru (in Japanese). May 3, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f 今村さん直木賞逃す　「チャンスすぐ来る」元同僚らがエール　���滋賀. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). July 16, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ 今村「2013年に右アキレス腱を断裂、14年に両目が網膜剥離になり右目を一時失明し…」【ユニコーン・川西幸一と直木賞作家・今村翔吾の対談バトル再び】(4). Pinzuba (in Japanese). March 21, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Masuko, Shin'ichi (March 21, 2023). 北方謙三×今村翔吾　特別対談「物語の命運を背負って――」 (in Japanese). Shueisha Bungei. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9. ^ 第160回「芥川賞」上田岳弘氏『ニムロッド』と町屋良平氏『1R1分34秒』がW受賞. Oricon (in Japanese). January 16, 2019. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  10. ^ 第166回「直木賞」"時代もの"W受賞 『氷菓』原作者・米澤穂信氏『黒牢城』 今村翔吾氏『塞王の楯』. Oricon (in Japanese). January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  11. ^ 直木賞作家・今村翔吾氏が脚本家デビュー「ノリで言ったら本当に依頼が来ました」. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 9, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  12. ^ 直木賞作家 今村翔吾と山崎怜奈によるラジオ番組がスタート！ (Press release) (in Japanese). ABC Radio. September 20, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via PR Times.
  13. ^ 作家・今村翔吾さん 「本の未来を守る」団体設立…大津市でキックオフイベント. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). March 20, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Acclaimed Writer Shogo Imamura Opens Bookstore in Saga, Repaying Prefecture that Got Him Started". The Japan News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  15. ^ 直木賞作家・今村翔吾「〈幸村〉という名前の絶対的なパワーはなんだろう」「信之の気持ち、わかるわ～」僕の実家と真田家を重ねて描いた. Fujinkoron (in Japanese). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "メカバレ"厳禁！陰キャ男子とセクサロイドのコメディ新連載「かくして！ マキナさん!!」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 25, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Mateo, Alex (July 15, 2021). "Bloody Monday's Kōji Megumi's Kangibanka Manga Ends". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  18. ^ 金さえ払えばどこへでも、命を懸けて依頼人を逃がす「くらまし屋稼業」マンガ版1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 2, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  19. ^ デスゲーム×明治時代、今村翔吾の歴史大作「イクサガミ」コミカライズがモーニングで. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 8, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
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