Kenzo Kitakata

Kenzo Kitakata (北方 謙三, Kitakata Kenzō, born October 26, 1947^[1][2]) is a Japanese novelist, especially known for his hardboiled novels. He studied law at Chuo University in the early 1970s.^[2] He served as the 10th President of the Mystery Writers of Japan from 1997 to 2001.

Works in English translation

Hardboiled novels

• Ashes (original title: Bō no Kanashimi), trans. Emi Shimokawa (Vertical, 2003)^[3]
• Winter Sleep (original title: Fuyu no Nemuri), trans. Mark Schilling (Vertical, 2005)^[4]
• The Cage (original title: Ori), trans. Paul Warham (Vertical, 2006)^[5]
• City of Refuge (original title: Nogare no Machi), trans. Y.T. Horgan (Vertical, 2012)^[6]

Awards and nominations

• 1982 - Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize: Nemuri Naki Yoru (Sleepless Night)
• 1983 - Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers: Nemuri Naki Yoru (Sleepless Night)
• 1983 - Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize: The Cage
• 1984 - Nominee for Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel: The Cage
• 1985 - Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel: Kawaki no Machi (City of Thirst)
• 1991 - Shibata Renzaburo Prize: Hagun no Hoshi (Alkaid)
• 2004 - Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature: Yōkashō (Generals of the Yang Family)
• 2006 - Shiba Ryotaro Prize: Suikoden (Water Margin)
• 2009 - Japan Mystery Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement

Main works

Standalone hardboiled novels

• Chōshō Harukanari (弔鐘はるかなり), 1981
• Nogare no Machi (逃がれの街), 1982 (City of Refuge, Vertical, 2012)
• Kusari (鎖), 1983
• Manatsu no Sōretsu (真夏の葬列), 1983
• Au ni wa Tōsugiru (逢うには、遠すぎる), 1983
• Ori (檻), 1983 (The Cage, Vertical, 2006)
• Tomo yo, Shizuka ni Nemure (友よ、静かに瞑れ), 1984
• Kimi ni Ketsubetsu no Toki o (君に訣別の時を), 1984
• Kawaki no Machi (渇きの街), 1984
• Kako Rimembā (過去 リメンバー), 1984
• Are wa Maboroshi no Hata Datta no ka (あれは幻の旗だったのか), 1984
• Yagate Fuyu ga Owareba (やがて冬が終われば), 1984
• Yoru yori Tōi Yami (夜より遠い闇), 1984
• Asu Naki Machikado (明日なき街角), 1985
• Kuroi Doresu no Onna (黒いドレスの女), 1985
• Retsujitsu (烈日), 1985
• Futari dake no Kunshō (二人だけの勲章), 1985
• Sabi (錆), 1985
• Yoru yo Omae wa (夜よおまえは), 1985
• Warera ga Toki no Kagayaki (われらが時の輝き), 1986
• Furueru Tsume (ふるえる爪), 1986
• Tamashii no Kishibe (魂の岸辺), 1986
• Kiba (牙), 1986
• Fuyu koso Kemono wa Hashiru (冬こそ獣は走る), 1986
• Gyakkō no Onna (逆光の女), 1987
• Yoru no Owari (夜の終り), 1987
• Gusha no Machi (愚者の街), 1987
• Hyōteki (標的), 1987
• Itsuka Toki ga Nanji o (いつか時が汝を), 1988
• Kaenju (火焔樹), 1989
• Kizu Darake no Maseratti (傷だらけのマセラッティ), 1989
• Aki Hoteru (秋ホテル), 1990
• Bō no Kanashimi (棒の哀しみ), 1990 (Ashes, Vertical, 2003)
• Mizuiro no Inu (水色の犬), 1991
• Sabita Bui (錆びた浮標), 1992
• Omei no Hiroba (汚名の広場), 1993
• Yakusoku (約束), 1994
• Waga Sakebi Tōku (わが叫び遠く), 1994
• Soshite Kare ga Shinda (そして彼が死んだ), 1994
• Yukidomari (行きどまり), 1994
• Kare ga Ōkami datta Hi (彼が狼だった日), 1995
• Saikai (再会), 1995
• Fuyu no Nemuri (冬の眠り), 1996 (Winter Sleep, Vertical, 2005)
• Yoru o Machinagara (夜を待ちながら), 1999
• Hakujitsu (白日), 1999
• Gitai (擬態), 2001
• Baien (煤煙), 2003

Short story collections

• Kiro (帰路), 1988
• Itsuka Hikari wa Nioite (いつか光は匂いて), 1993
• Kōsu Agein [Course Again] (コースアゲイン), 2002

See also

• Japanese detective fiction

References

External links

• Profile at J'Lit Books from Japan (English)
• Synopsis of The Cage at JLPP (Japanese Literature Publishing Project) (English)