Kenzo Kitakata Explained

Kenzo Kitakata
Birth Date:	October 26, 1947
Birth Place:	Karatsu, Saga, Japan
Occupation:	Author, novelist
Nationality:	Japanese
Period:	1970–present
Genre:	Hardboiled, historical fiction
Awards:	Mystery Writers of Japan Award (1985)

is a Japanese novelist, especially known for his hardboiled novels. He studied law at Chuo University in the early 1970s. He served as the 10th President of the Mystery Writers of Japan from 1997 to 2001.

Works in English translation

Hardboiled novels

• Ashes (original title: Bō no Kanashimi), trans. Emi Shimokawa (Vertical, 2003)^[1]
• Winter Sleep (original title: Fuyu no Nemuri), trans. Mark Schilling (Vertical, 2005)^[2]
• The Cage (original title: Ori), trans. Paul Warham (Vertical, 2006)^[3]
• City of Refuge (original title: Nogare no Machi), trans. Y.T. Horgan (Vertical, 2012)^[4]

Awards and nominations

• 1982 - Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize: Nemuri Naki Yoru (Sleepless Night)
• 1983 - Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers: Nemuri Naki Yoru (Sleepless Night)
• 1983 - Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize: The Cage
• 1984 - Nominee for Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel: The Cage
• 1985 - Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel: Kawaki no Machi (City of Thirst)
• 1991 - Shibata Renzaburo Prize: Hagun no Hoshi (Alkaid)
• 2004 - Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature: Yōkashō (Generals of the Yang Family)
• 2006 - Shiba Ryotaro Prize: Suikoden (Water Margin)
• 2009 - Japan Mystery Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement

Main works

Standalone hardboiled novels

• , 1981
• , 1982 (City of Refuge, Vertical, 2012)
• , 1983
• , 1983
• , 1983
• , 1983 (The Cage, Vertical, 2006)
• , 1984
• , 1984
• , 1984
• , 1984
• , 1984
• , 1984
• , 1984
• , 1985
• , 1985
• , 1985
• , 1985
• , 1985
• , 1985
• , 1986
• , 1986
• , 1986
• , 1986
• , 1986
• , 1987
• , 1987
• , 1987
• , 1987
• , 1988
• , 1989
• , 1989
• , 1990
• , 1990 (Ashes, Vertical, 2003)
• , 1991
• , 1992
• , 1993
• , 1994
• , 1994
• , 1994
• , 1994
• , 1995
• , 1995
• , 1996 (Winter Sleep, Vertical, 2005)
• , 1999
• , 1999
• , 2001
• , 2003

Short story collections

• , 1988
• , 1993
• , 2002

See also

• Japanese detective fiction

External links

• Profile at J'Lit Books from Japan
• Synopsis of The Cage at JLPP (Japanese Literature Publishing Project)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ashes by Kenzo Kitakata. Vertical. October 14, 2013.
2. Web site: Winter Sleep by Kenzo Kitakata. Vertical. October 14, 2013.
3. Web site: The Cage by Kenzo Kitakata. Vertical. October 14, 2013.
4. Web site: City of Refuge by Kenzo Kitakata. Vertical. October 14, 2013.