# Kiyoshi Shigematsu

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. His most notable works include Naifu (ナイフ) (1997), Eiji (エイジ) (1999) and Bitamin F (ビタミンF) (2000).
Shigematsu’s works in other genre including journals, editorials and critics are highly commended. He also worked in novelising screenplays.

## Biography

Shigematsu was born in Kume, Okayama Prefecture in Japan in 1963. 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.
Shigematsu's life has changed during his years studying in Waseda University School of Education. Katsumi Togo (東郷 克美 Tōgō Katsumi) was his mentor. Since his third year of study, he worked as an editorial staff for Waseda University's literary journal, Waseda bungaku. At that time, Kenji Nakagami was the mentor of the editorial department. Shigematsu once mentioned that his works showed the influence of Nakagami. 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. 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. 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.
After graduating from Waseda University, he worked for Kadokawa Shoten as an editorial writer. 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.
In 1991, Shigematsu debut as an author with his first novel, Bifoa Ran (Before Run). He distinguished himself as a young adult writer, focusing on themes including bullying, juvenile crime and domestic problems.
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. Shigematsu projected his own experience in his novel "Kiyoshiko" (きよしこ) (2002).
In 2007, Shigematsu wrote the lyrics for the theme song, Meguriai, for the 74th The Nationwide Contest of Music sponsored by NHK (secondary division). The same year, Shigematsu also contributed over thirty stories, entitled "A Thousand Years of Dreams", to the video game Lost Odyssey.

## Awards

* 1999 Naifu (ナイフ) - Tsubota Shōji Literary Prize
* 1999 Eiji (エイジ) - 14th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
* 2000 Bitamin F (ビタミンF) - 124th Naoki Prize
* 2001 Jūjika (十字架) - 44th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Prize
* 2006 Sono Hi no Mae ni (その日のまえに) - 3rd Japan Booksellers' Award (5th place)
* 2008 Kassiopeia no Oka de (カシオペアの丘で) - 5th Japan Booksellers' Award (10th place)'
* 2014 Zetsumetsu Shōnen (ゼツメツ少年) - 68th Mainichi Shuppan Literary Prize

## Nominations

* 1994 Miharitō kara Zutto (見張り塔から　ずっと) - 8th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
* 1996 Osanago Warera ni Umare (幼な子われらに生まれ) - 18th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Prize
* 1997 Naifu (ナイフ) - 11th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
* 1998 Teinen Gojira (定年ゴジラ) - 119th Naoki Prize
* 2000 Kakashi no Natsuyasumi (カカシの夏休み) - 123th Naoki Prize

## Works
### 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 |