Museum Information

Junichi Watanabe Short Chronology

1933
1954
1957
1963
1965
1966
1969
1970
1980

1983

1986

1990
1997

1998
2003
2006
2007

2008
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014

Born in Sunagawa, Sorachi, Hokkaido (presentKami-Sunagawa Town)
Enrolls in Medical Department, Sapporo Medical
University.
Joins fanzine Tousho (renamed Kurima from sixthissue)
Graduates with doctorate
Embalmer’s Art (Shigesho) receives 12th Shincho
Fanzine Award
Becomes orthopedics lecturer at Sapporo Medical
University
Moves to Tokyo to become full-time writer
Light and Shadow (Hikari to Kage) receives 63rdNaoki Award
The Setting Sun in the Distance (Toki Rakujitu) andThe Russian Brothel of Nagasaki (Nagasaki RussiaYujokan) receive 14th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Award
Publishes Flakes of Snow (Hitohira no Yuki),celebrated as pioneering work for new passion
literature
Publishes Reincarnation (Keshin), celebrated as new
aesthetic literature comparable to works byJunichiro Tanizaki
Receives Bungeishunju Readers Award for Shijimano Koe (Nogi Maresuke Fujin no Shogai)
Publishes Utakata, from which “utakata-zoku” iscoined
Publishes Shiturakuen, which becomes 3,000,000copy best seller
Production of TV program and movie based on
Shiturakuen
Receives Buzzword of the Year Award
Watanabe Junichi Museum opens
Receives Purple Ribbon Medal and 51st Kikuchi Kan
Award
Publishes Ai no Ryukeichi
Publishes Donkan-ryoku, which becomes 1,000,000copy best seller
Donkan-ryoku makes list of top ten buzzwords
Publishes Jukunen Kakumei
Publishes Yokujo no Saho, which sells over 230,000
copies in first week
Publishes Koshu
Publishes Tenjo Guren
Publishes Ai Futatabi
Dies April 30, age 80

Authored 141 books, sold 86,000,000 copies (as of 2014)■Hours■Closed■Fees

9:30am to 6:00pm
November to March, from 9:30am to 5:30pm(Last entry 30 minutes before closing)Mondays(or following day when Monday is a nationalholiday)

Adult¥500/person*
Elementary and Junior High ¥50 /person
Groups of more than 20¥400/person*Disabled and one accompanying person¥300/person(must present disability passbook)■
Concert Hall
The basement hall, equipped with a grand piano and soundand lighting equipment, is available for lectures, concerts,
and performances.
■Access
From Shin-Chitose Airport: one hour by car
From JR Sapporo Station: 15 minutes by car
From Nakajima-Koen Subway Station, Exit 3, Nanboku Line
8-minute walk(take platform escalator facing direction of Makomanai)
From Nakajima-Koen Dori Streetcar Stop: 3-minute walkMuseum is on Kamokamo-Gawa Dori, west of Kitara Concert
Hall渡辺淳一文学館
WATANABE JUNICHI MUSEUM of LITERATURE

South 12 West 6 – 414, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0912,
TEL. 011-551-1282／FAX. 011-551-1286
http://www.ac.auone-net.jp/~bungaku

渡辺淳一文学館
WATANABE JUNICHI MUSEUM of LITERATURE

The Junichi Watanabe Museum of Literature
openedinJune,

1998,inWatanabe’s

hometown of Sapporo.
The beautiful nature of the adjacent Nakajima
Parkcomplements

thenovelandunconventional, yet stately and elegant designof the museum created by architect Tadao
Ando. On the second floor are exhibition rooms,
and on the first floor is a library that houses
the complete collection of Watanabe Junichi’sworks, in addition to a spacious and relaxing
tea area. The basement level is a concert hallthat seats 82 people.
EverythingfromtheselectiontotheConcert Hall (B1)
The hall, which includes a piano, is built to enhance acoustic
qualities and is available for concerts and other performances.
Cafe Corner (1F)
Visitors may read library books
while having tea or coffee served atthe museum.

organization within the permanent display
roomreflects

theconcepts

ofExhibition Room (2F)
Watanabe’s life and literary world
are introduced through a variety
of displays spanning many years.
A panel displays photos from hischildhood to adulthood, andthere are treasured items withinteresting episodes in addition
to autograph manuscripts.

Special Exhibition Room(2F)
Exhibits are introduced indepththroughvariousindividual themes such asseasons, age, and text.

Watanabehimself, and the themes in the special display

B1 Concert Hall, Restroom

room help explain the deeper concepts of the

1F Reception , Café Cornoer, Libraryauthor’s

2F Exhibition Room, Special Exhibition Roomworld.

Thesespirited,

three-dimensional displays of the exhibition rooms
are unlike any other literary museum.
a new type of literary museum which has

Library (1F)The complete works of Junichi Watanabe are displayed inchronological order, as well as books, art, scholarly works, andhobby books by Tadao Ando.

existed alongside Watanabe and experiences
his works firsthand.

Visitors can hear the voice of Watanabe himself by renting our“Exhibit Audio Guide” (extra charge).

The Junichi Watanabe Museum of Literature isArchitecture /Tadao Ando Building Research
The building, designed by Japan’s
leading architect Tadao Ando, represents
a swan standing on one leg in the snow.