Jun'ya Yokota

Jun'ya Yokota (横田順彌, Yokota Jun'ya, 11 November 1945 - 4 January 2019) was a Japanese science fiction writer and a researcher of Meiji era cultural history. He is the winner of multiple Taisho Awards, the Ozaki Memorial Prize, and the Mystery Writers of Japan Award.

Jun'ya Yokota
Native name	横田順彌
Born	(1945-11-11)November 11, 1945 Saga Prefecture, Japan
Died	January 4, 2019(2019-01-04) (aged 73) Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Pen name	横田順弥 (Yokota Jun'ya) 真木じゅん (Masaki Jun)
Occupation	Writer Cultural scholar
Language	Japanese
Nationality	Japan
Alma mater	Hosei University Law School
Period	1970–2019
Genres	Science fiction Fantasy
Subjects	Meiji era culture and history
Notable awards	Taisho (1988, 2011) Ozaki Memorial Prize (2011) Mystery Writers of Japan Award (2012)
Children	Masako Suzuki

He also used the pseudonyms 横田順弥 (same pronunciation) and Jun Masaki (真木じゅん, Masaki Jun).

Biography

Yokota was born 11 November 1945 in Saga Prefecture, Japan.^[1][2]

He became known for his knowledge of classic science fiction and his use of humor and gags in his writing.^[3][4][5] Together with Shingo Aizu, he wrote Kaidanji Oshikawa Shunrō: Nihon SF no Oya, the definitive work on Japanese science fiction author Shunrō Oshikawa. This work won the Nihon SF Taisho Award and nominated for a Seiun Award in 1988.^[5][6]

His 2011 work, The History of Modern Japanese Fantastic Fiction: Meiji Edition (近代日本奇想小説史　明治篇, Kindai Nihon Shōsetsushi - Meiji-hen), won a Taisho Award, the Mystery Writers of Japan Award, and the Ozaki Hokki Memorial Popular Literature Research Prize.^[5][7][8] The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan awarded him the Special Services Award for lifetime achievements in the field of science fiction in 2018.^[1][7]

He died of heart failure on 4 January 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.^[2][4][5] A funeral was held for close relatives. His daughter, Masako Suzuki, lead the mourning, and an open memorial services was held afterward.^[5]

Selected works

Novels

• Uchū Gomi Taisensō (宇宙ゴミ大戦争) (January 1977, Hayakawa, ISBN 4150300917)
• 2095 no Shōnen (2095年の少年) (September 1977, Shūeisha, ISBN 4086101378)
• Nazo no Uchūjin UFO (謎の宇宙人UFO) (June 1978, Hayakawa)
• Uchū no Faiaman (宇宙のファイアマン) (September 1978, Shūeisha)
• Dassen! Taimu Mashin Kitan (脱線!たいむましん奇譚) (December 1978, Kodansha)
• Poemu-kun to Mirakuru Taun no Nakama-tachi (ポエム君とミラクルタウンの仲間たち) (June 1979, Kisotengaisha)
• Ginga Patorōru Hōkoku (銀河パトロール報告) (August 1979, Futabasha)
• Asuteroido Yūkyōden (小惑星帯遊侠伝) (August 1980, Shūeisha)^[7]
• Kaseijinrui no Gyakushū (火星人類の逆襲) (May 1988, Shinchosha, ISBN 410142103X)^[7]
• Rosuto Wārudo no Himitsu (人外魔境の秘密) (February 1991, Shinchosha, ISBN 4101421048)^[7]

Short story collections

• Hansekai e Yatta Otoko: Yokojun no Shōto Shōto Shuu (反世界へ行った男　ヨコジュンのショート・ショート集) (January 1981, Tokuma Shoten, ISBN 419122154X)
• Fantanjī-san Horafuki Yobanashi (ふぁん太爺さんほら吹き夜話) (March 1981, Shūeisha)
• Yonimo Bakageta Monogatari (世にも馬鹿げた物語) (April 1981, Kadokawa Shoten)
• Yokisenu Hōteishiki: Hacha Hacha SF Tanpenshū (予期せぬ方程式―ハチャハチャSF短篇集) (May 1981, Futabasha)

Nonfiction

• SF Jiten (SF事典) (Yokota Jun'ya) (May 1977, Kōsaidō)
• Yokojun no Bikkuri Hausu (ヨコジュンのびっくりハウス) (March 1980, Futabasha)
• Nihon SF Koten Koten 1-3 (日本SFこてん古典 1-3) (Yokota Jun'ya)^[7]
  • Volume 1 (May 1980, Hayakawa)
  • Volume 2 (December 1980, Hayakawa)
  • Volume 3 (April 1981, Hayakawa)
• Daijin Kamereon-shō (対人カメレオン症) (June 1980, Kodansha)
• Ranchō Henchō Waruagaki Chōkagaku Kōza (乱調変調悪あがき超科学講座) (January 1982, Tokuma Shoten, ISBN 4191224166)
• Nagai Gō Sengenshoku Baka Zukan: Yokota Jun'ya Hacha Hacha SF Kessakushū (永井豪選原色馬鹿図鑑 横田順弥ハチャハチャSF傑作集) (February 1982, Uraku Shuppansha)
• SF Daijiten (SF大辞典) (November 1986, Kadokawa, ISBN 4041495059)^[7]
• Kaidanji Oshikawa Shunrō: Nihon SF no Oya with Shingo Aizu (December 1987, Pan Research Institute, ISBN 4893520229)^[5][6][7]
• Kindai Nihon Shōsetsushi - Meiji-hen (近代日本奇想小説史　明治篇) (January 2011, Pilar Press, ISBN 9784861940163)^[1][7]
• Kindai Nihon Shōsetsushi - Nyūmon-hen (近代日本奇想小説史　入門篇) (March 2012, Pilar Press, ISBN 9784861940422)

Awards and honors

Yokota received the following awards and honors:

Year	Organization	Award title, Category	Work	Result	Refs
1981	Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan	Seiun Award, Best Japanese Long Work	Asuteroido Yūkyōden (小惑星帯遊侠伝)	Nominated	[7]
1982	Mystery Writers of Japan	Mystery Writers of Japan Award, Special Award	Nihon SF Koten Koten 1-3 (日本SFこてん古典 1-3)	Nominated	[7]
1987	Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan	Seiun Award, Best Nonfiction	SF Daijiten (SF大辞典)	Nominated	[7]
1988	Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan	Seiun Award, Best Nonfiction	Kaidanji Oshikawa Shunrō: Nihon SF no Oya	Nominated	[7]
	Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan	Nihon SF Taisho Award	Kaidanji Oshikawa Shunrō: Nihon SF no Oya	Won	[6][7]
1989	Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan	Seiun Award, Best Japanese Long Work	Kaseijinrui no Gyakushū (火星人類の逆襲)	Nominated	[7]
1992	Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan	Seiun Award, Best Japanese Long Work	Rosuto Wārudo no Himitsu (人外魔境の秘密)	Nominated	[7]
2011	Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan	Nihon SF Taisho Award, Special Award	Kindai Nihon Shōsetsushi - Meiji-hen (近代日本奇想小説史　明治篇)	Won	[7]
	大衆文学研究会 (Daishū Bungaku Kenkyūkai)	Ozaki Hokki Memorial Popular Literature Research Prize	Kindai Nihon Shōsetsushi - Meiji-hen (近代日本奇想小説史　明治篇)	Won	[5][8]
2012	Mystery Writers of Japan	Mystery Writers of Japan Award, Special Award	Kindai Nihon Shōsetsushi - Meiji-hen (近代日本奇想小説史　明治篇)	Won	[7]
2018	Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan	Nihon SF Taisho Award, Special Services Award		Won	[1][7]

References

1. "Summary Bibliography: 横田順彌". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
2. "会員・横田順彌氏死去" [Member Jun'ya Yokota's death] (in Japanese). Mystery Writers of Japan. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
3. "横田順彌さん死去　73歳　SF作家" [SF writer Jun'ya Yokota dead at age 73]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
4. "横田順彌は結婚して嫁+子供あり!心不全で死去" [Per his daughter-in-law and children, Jun'ya Yokota has died of heart failure] (in Japanese). 暇人異聞録 (Himajin Ibunroku). 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
5. "SF作家の横田順彌さん死去" [Death of SF writer Jun'ya Yokota] (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
6. "Title: 快男児 押川春浪". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
7. "横田順彌" (in Japanese). 文学賞の世界 (World of Literary Prizes). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
8. "尾崎秀樹記念・大衆文学研究賞 受賞作一覧" [Ozaki Hokki Memorial Popular Literature Research Prize List] (in Japanese). Roadside Library. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.