Shogo Imamura

Shogo Imamura (Japanese: 今村翔吾, Hepburn: Imamura Shōgo, 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.

Shogo Imamura
Native name	今村翔吾
Born	(1984-06-18) June 18, 1984 (age 40) Kamo, Kyoto, Japan
Occupation	Writer
Language	Japanese
Genre	Historical fiction
Years active	2016–present
Notable works	Ikusagami Kangibanka Saiō no Tate
Notable awards	166th Naoki Prize
Relatives	Katsuhiko Imamura [ja] (father)
Website
www.zusyu.co.jp

Early life

Imamura was born in Kamo, Kyoto (now Kizugawa) on June 18, 1984.^[1][2] His father, Katsuhiko Imamura [ja], is a former elementary school teacher.^[3] He graduated from Nara Women's University Secondary School [ja] and Kansai University's Faculty of Letters.^[4][5] Upon graduation, he worked as a dance instructor and an archeologist at the Moriyama Buried Cultural Properties Center.^[3][6]

Career

While in fifth grade, Imamura read Sanada Taiheiki by Shōtarō Ikenami, which lead him to consider pursuing a career as a writer.^[3] After going through health issues in 2013 and 2014, he decided to start writing in his spare time.^[3][7] In 2016, Imamura won the Izu Literary Award [ja] Grand Prize for Kire, Hikogoro.^[6] Later that year, Imamura won the Kyushu Saga Popular Literature Award [ja] 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.^[8]

In February 2018, Imamura quit his job at the Moriyama Buried Cultural Properties Center to pursue writing full time.^[6] His work Warabe no Kami was nominated for the 160th Naoki Prize in 2019.^[9] He was nominated for the 163rd Naoki Prize in 2020 for Jinkan.^[6] He won the 166th Naoki Prize in 2022 for Saiō no Tate.^[10] Later that year, he started screenwriting with Saturday wa Nanisuru!? [ja], a Japanese television drama.^[11] He began appearing on the radio show Imamura Shōgo × Yamazaki Reina no Itotteseshete [ja] in September 2022 with former Nogizaka46 member Rena Yamazaki [ja].^[12] In 2023, Imamura founded Hon Mirai, an organization to promote young writers.^[13]

Personal life

Imamura resides in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan.^[6]

In 2021, Imamura purchased Kinoshita Book Center, a struggling bookstore in Minoh, Osaka. After undergoing renovations, it was reopened on November 1, 2021.^[3] Imamura opened Saga no Shoten, a bookstore in the Saga Station, in December 2023.^[14]

Bibliography

Imamura's works generally fall into the historical fiction genre.^[3][6] Imamura described his style of writing as "writing without a plot" and only a desired ending for the story in mind.^[15] Imamura has cited the works of Shōtarō Ikenami and Ryōtarō Shiba as influences on his work.^[3]

Ushuboro Tobigumi series

• Hikuidori (火喰鳥), Shodensha, 2017, ISBN 9784396342982
• Yoru Karasu (夜哭烏), Shodensha, 2017, ISBN 9784396343378
• Kumonryū (九紋龍), Shodensha, 2017, ISBN 9784396343750
• Oni Kiseru (鬼煙管), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396343972
• Bosatsubana (菩薩花), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396344238
• Yume Kochō (夢胡蝶), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396344481
• Kitsune Hanabi (狐花火), Shodensha, 2018, ISBN 9784396344757
• Gyokkirin (玉麒麟), Shodensha, 2019, ISBN 9784396345044
• Sōfūjin (双風神), Shodensha, 2019, ISBN 9784396345464
• Kogane Hina (黄金雛), Shodensha, 2019, ISBN 9784396345808
• Kasane Taihō (Ue) (襲大鳳（上）), Shodensha, 2020, ISBN 9784396345945
• Kasane Taihō (Shita) (襲大鳳（下）), Shodensha, 2020, ISBN 9784396346232
• Koi Orochi (恋大蛇), Shodensha, 2022, ISBN 9784396343378

Kuramashi ya Kagyō series

• Kuramashi ya Kagyō (くらまし屋稼業), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758441803
• Haru wa Made ka (春はまだか), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758441896
• Natsu no Modori-sen (夏の戻り船), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758442183
• Aki Kure no Go Ri (秋暮の五人), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2019, ISBN 9784758442473
• Fuyu Hare no Hanayome (冬晴れの花嫁), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2019, ISBN 9784758442800
• Hanauta no Koro e (花唄の頃へ), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2020, ISBN 9784758443197
• Tatsutori no Mai (立つ鳥の舞), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2021, ISBN 9784758443654
• Kazemachi no Shi Suguru (風待ちの四傑), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2022, ISBN 9784758444804

Ikusagami series

• Ikusagami Ten (イクサガミ 天), Kodansha, 2022, ISBN 9784065269862
• Ikusagami Chi (イクサガミ 地), Kodansha, 2023, ISBN 9784065280126

Other works

• Warabe no Kami (童の神), Kadokawa Haruki Office, 2018, ISBN 9784758413299
• 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
• Teracoya Ao Gidō Shishō, Hashiru (てらこや青義堂 師匠、走る), Shogakukan, 2019, ISBN 9784093865364
• Hachi Pon Me no Yari (八本目の槍), Shinchosha, 2019, ISBN 9784103527114
• Jinkan (じんかん), Kodansha, 2020, ISBN 9784065192702
• Saiō no Tate (塞王の楯), Shueisha, 2021, ISBN 9784087717310
• 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)^[16]
• Kangibanka (2020–2021) (illustrated by Kōji Megumi; serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine)^[17]
• Kuramashi ya Kagyō (2021–present) (illustrated by Yudai; serialized on ComicWalker)^[18]
• Last Samurai Standing (2022–present) (illustrated by Katsumi Tatsuzawa; serialized in Morning)^[19]

References

1. Takii, Asayo (July 25, 2020). 作家の読書道　第219回：今村翔吾さん. Webdoku (in Japanese). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
2. 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. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). June 17, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
3. 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. MBS News (in Japanese). January 10, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
4. 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. Nara Shimbun (in Japanese). January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
5. 【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. Shosetsu Maru (in Japanese). May 3, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
6. 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. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). July 16, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
7. 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). Pinzuba (in Japanese). March 21, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
8. Masuko, Shin'ichi (March 21, 2023). 北方謙三×今村翔吾　特別対談「物語の命運を背負って――」 (in Japanese). Shueisha Bungei. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
9. 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. Oricon (in Japanese). January 16, 2019. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
10. 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』. Oricon (in Japanese). January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
11. 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」. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 9, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
12. 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！ (Press release) (in Japanese). ABC Radio. September 20, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via PR Times.
13. 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. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). March 20, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
14. "Acclaimed Writer Shogo Imamura Opens Bookstore in Saga, Repaying Prefecture that Got Him Started". The Japan News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
15. 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. Fujinkoron (in Japanese). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
16. "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!!」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 25, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
17. Mateo, Alex (July 15, 2021). "Bloody Monday's Kōji Megumi's Kangibanka Manga Ends". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
18. 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. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 2, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
19. 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. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 8, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)