Shogo Imamura
{{Short description|Japanese writer (born 1984)}}
{{Infobox writer
| native_name = {{nobold|今村翔吾}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|06|18}}
| birth_place = Kamo, Kyoto, Japan
| occupation = Writer
| language = Japanese
| years_active = 2016–present
| genre = Historical fiction
| notable_works = {{ubl|Ikusagami|Kangibanka|Saiō no Tate}}
| awards = 166th Naoki Prize
| relatives = {{ill|Katsuhiko Imamura|ja|今村克彦}} (father)
| signature =
| website = {{URL|https://www.zusyu.co.jp/}}
}}
{{nihongo|Shogo Imamura|今村翔吾|Imamura Shōgo|lead=yes|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.
Early life
Imamura was born in Kamo, Kyoto (now Kizugawa) on June 18, 1984.{{cite web|script-title=ja:作家の読書道 第219回：今村翔吾さん|url=https://www.webdoku.jp/rensai/sakka/michi219_imamura/20200725_1.html|website=Webdoku|last=Takii|first=Asayo|date=July 25, 2020|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://www.sanspo.com/article/20220617-4XLO3TEEZ5IF7DJROCWP4DB7V4/|website=Sankei Sports|date=June 17, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} His father, {{ill|Katsuhiko Imamura|ja|今村克彦}}, is a former elementary school teacher.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://www.mbs.jp/news/feature/kodawari/article/2022/01/087222.shtml|website=MBS News|date=January 10, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} He graduated from {{ill|Nara Women's University Secondary School|ja|奈良女子大学附属中等教育学校}} and Kansai University's Faculty of Letters.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://www.nara-np.co.jp/news/20220121214632.html|website=Nara Shimbun|date=January 21, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:【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|url=https://shosetsu-maru.com/recommended/book-review-953|website=Shosetsu Maru|date=May 3, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} Upon graduation, he worked as a dance instructor and an archeologist at the Moriyama Buried Cultural Properties Center.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20200716/ddl/k25/040/250000c|website=Mainichi Shimbun|date=July 16, 2020|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}
Career
While in fifth grade, Imamura read Sanada Taiheiki by Shōtarō Ikenami, which lead him to consider pursuing a career as a writer. After going through health issues in 2013 and 2014, he decided to start writing in his spare time.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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)|url=https://pinzuba.news/articles/-/1110?page=1|website=Pinzuba|date=March 21, 2023|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} In 2016, Imamura won the {{ill|Izu Literary Award|ja|伊豆文学賞}} Grand Prize for Kire, Hikogoro. Later that year, Imamura won the {{ill|Kyushu Saga Popular Literature Award|ja|九州さが大衆文学賞}} 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.{{cite web|script-title=ja:北方謙三×今村翔吾 特別対談「物語の命運を背負って――」|url=https://www.bungei.shueisha.co.jp/interview/chingisuki-saio/|publisher=Shueisha Bungei|last=Masuko|first=Shin'ichi|date=March 21, 2023|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}
In February 2018, Imamura quit his job at the Moriyama Buried Cultural Properties Center to pursue writing full time. His work Warabe no Kami was nominated for the 160th Naoki Prize in 2019.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2127610/full/|website=Oricon|date=January 16, 2019|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} He was nominated for the 163rd Naoki Prize in 2020 for Jinkan. He won the 166th Naoki Prize in 2022 for Saiō no Tate.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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』|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2221602/full/|website=Oricon|date=January 19, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} Later that year, he started screenwriting with {{ill|Saturday wa Nanisuru!?|ja|土曜はナニする!?}}, a Japanese television drama.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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」|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/m/entertainment/news/202204090000413_m.html?mode=all|website=Nikkan Sports|date=April 9, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} He began appearing on the radio show {{ill|Imamura Shōgo × Yamazaki Reina no Itotteseshete|ja|今村翔吾×山崎怜奈の言って聞かせて}} in September 2022 with former Nogizaka46 member {{ill|Rena Yamazaki|ja|山崎怜奈}}.{{cite press release|url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000244.000040629.html|script-title=ja: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！|publisher=ABC Radio|date=September 20, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja|via=PR Times}} In 2023, Imamura founded Hon Mirai, an organization to promote young writers.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/kansai/news/20230319-OYO1T50007/|website=Yomiuri Shimbun|date=March 20, 2023|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}
Personal life
Imamura resides in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan.
In 2021, Imamura purchased Kinoshita Book Center, a struggling bookstore in Minoh, Osaka. After undergoing renovations, it was reopened on November 1, 2021. Imamura opened Saga no Shoten, a bookstore in the Saga Station, in December 2023.{{cite web|title=Acclaimed Writer Shogo Imamura Opens Bookstore in Saga, Repaying Prefecture that Got Him Started|url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/books-literature/20231207-154132/|website=The Japan News|date=December 7, 2023|access-date=February 29, 2024}}
Bibliography
Imamura's works generally fall into the historical fiction genre. Imamura described his style of writing as "writing without a plot" and only a desired ending for the story in mind.{{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://fujinkoron.jp/articles/-/5813?page=5|website=Fujinkoron|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}} Imamura has cited the works of Shōtarō Ikenami and Ryōtarō Shiba as influences on his work.
=''[[Ushūboro Tobigumi]]'' series=
- {{nihongo|Hikuidori|火喰鳥}}, Shodensha, 2017, {{isbn|9784396342982}}
- {{nihongo|Yoru Karasu|夜哭烏}}, Shodensha, 2017, {{isbn|9784396343378}}
- {{nihongo|Kumonryū|九紋龍}}, Shodensha, 2017, {{isbn|9784396343750}}
- {{nihongo|Oni Kiseru|鬼煙管}}, Shodensha, 2018, {{isbn|9784396343972}}
- {{nihongo|Bosatsubana|菩薩花}}, Shodensha, 2018, {{isbn|9784396344238}}
- {{nihongo|Yume Kochō|夢胡蝶}}, Shodensha, 2018, {{isbn|9784396344481}}
- {{nihongo|Kitsune Hanabi|狐花火}}, Shodensha, 2018, {{isbn|9784396344757}}
- {{nihongo|Gyokkirin|玉麒麟}}, Shodensha, 2019, {{isbn|9784396345044}}
- {{nihongo|Sōfūjin|双風神}}, Shodensha, 2019, {{isbn|9784396345464}}
- {{nihongo|Kogane Hina|黄金雛}}, Shodensha, 2019, {{isbn|9784396345808}}
- {{nihongo|Kasane Taihō (Ue)|襲大鳳（上）}}, Shodensha, 2020, {{isbn|9784396345945}}
- {{nihongo|Kasane Taihō (Shita)|襲大鳳（下）}}, Shodensha, 2020, {{isbn|9784396346232}}
- {{nihongo|Koi Orochi|恋大蛇}}, Shodensha, 2022, {{isbn|9784396343378}}
=''Kuramashi ya Kagyō'' series=
- {{nihongo|Kuramashi ya Kagyō|くらまし屋稼業}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, {{isbn|9784758441803}}
- {{nihongo|Haru wa Made ka|春はまだか}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, {{isbn|9784758441896}}
- {{nihongo|Natsu no Modori-sen|夏の戻り船}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, {{isbn|9784758442183}}
- {{nihongo|Aki Kure no Go Ri|秋暮の五人}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2019, {{isbn|9784758442473}}
- {{nihongo|Fuyu Hare no Hanayome|冬晴れの花嫁}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2019, {{isbn|9784758442800}}
- {{nihongo|Hanauta no Koro e|花唄の頃へ}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2020, {{isbn|9784758443197}}
- {{nihongo|Tatsutori no Mai|立つ鳥の舞}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2021, {{isbn|9784758443654}}
- {{nihongo|Kazemachi no Shi Suguru|風待ちの四傑}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2022, {{isbn|9784758444804}}
=''Ikusagami'' series=
- {{nihongo|Ikusagami Ten|イクサガミ 天}}, Kodansha, 2022, {{isbn|9784065269862}}
- {{nihongo|Ikusagami Chi|イクサガミ 地}}, Kodansha, 2023, {{isbn|9784065280126}}
=Other works=
- {{nihongo|Warabe no Kami|童の神}}, Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, {{isbn|9784758413299}}
- {{nihongo|Hyakka! Zenkoku Kōkōsei Hana Ike Batoru|ひゃっか! 全国高校生花いけバトル}}, Bunkyosha, 2018, {{isbn|9784866510965}}
- {{nihongo|Teracoya Ao Gidō Shishō, Hashiru|てらこや青義堂 師匠、走る}}, Shogakukan, 2019, {{isbn|9784093865364}}
- {{nihongo|Hachi Pon Me no Yari|八本目の槍}}, Shinchosha, 2019, {{isbn|9784103527114}}
- {{nihongo|Jinkan|じんかん}}, Kodansha, 2020, {{isbn|9784065192702}}
- {{nihongo|Saiō no Tate|塞王の楯}}, Shueisha, 2021, {{isbn|9784087717310}}
- {{nihongo|Yukimura o Ute|幸村を討て}}, Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2022, {{isbn|9784120055157}}
=Manga=
- Warabe no Kami (2020–2022) (illustrated by Yō Fukaya; serialized in Monthly Action){{cite web|script-title=ja:"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!!」|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/498868|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=October 25, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}
- Kangibanka (2020–2021) (illustrated by Kōji Megumi; serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine){{cite web|title=Bloody Monday's Kōji Megumi's Kangibanka Manga Ends|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-15/bloody-monday-koji-megumi-kangibanka-manga-ends/.175175|website=Anime News Network|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=July 15, 2021|access-date=February 29, 2024}}
- Kuramashi ya Kagyō (2021–present) (illustrated by Yudai; serialized on ComicWalker){{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/476383|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=May 2, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}
- Last Samurai Standing (2022–present) (illustrated by Katsumi Tatsuzawa; serialized in Morning){{cite web|script-title=ja: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|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/504276|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=December 8, 2022|access-date=February 29, 2024|language=ja}}
- Hikuidori (2025–scheduled) (illustrated by Shinobu Seguchi; serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion){{cite web|script-title=ja:「火喰鳥 羽州ぼろ鳶組」マンガ化＆TVアニメ化決定 ティザーPV公開|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/613267|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=February 26, 2025|access-date=February 26, 2025|language=ja}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.zusyu.co.jp/}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imamura, Shogo}}
Category:21st-century Japanese novelists
Category:21st-century Japanese male writers
Category:Japanese historical novelists
Category:People from Kizugawa, Kyoto