Kiyoshi Shigematsu

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), Eiji (エイジ) (1999) and Bitamin F (ビタミンF) (2000). 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. Since his third year of study, he worked as an editorial staff for Waseda University's literary journal, Waseda bungaku. 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.

In 1991, Shigematsu debut as an author with his first novel, Bifoa Ran (Before Run).

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 2000 Bitamin F (ビタミンF) - 124th Naoki 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) - 123rd Naoki Prize

Works Novels

1990s Title Year Publisher ビフォア・ランBifoa Ran 19911998 KK BestsellersGentosha 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 19932000 Kadokawa ShotenGentosha Bunko バック・ビートBakku Bīto 1994 Fusosha Publishing 見張り塔からずっとMiharitō kara Zutto 19951999 Kadokawa ShotenShincho Bunko 舞姫通信Maihime Tsushin 19951999 ShinchoshaShincho Bunko 幼子われらに生まれOsanago Warera ni Umare 19961999 Kadokawa ShotenGentosha Literary Publication ナイフNaifu 19972000 ShinchoshaShincho Bunko 定年ゴジラTeinen Gojira 19982001 KodanshaKodansha Bunko エイジEiji 199920012004 Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.Asahi BunkoShincho Bunko 日曜日の夕刊Nichiyōbi no Yūkan 1999 The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd. 半パン・デイズHanpan Deizu 19992002 KodanshaKodansha Bunko

2000s Title Year Publisher カカシの夏休みKakashi no Natsuyasumi 20002003 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko ビタミンFBitamin F 20002003 ShinchoshaShincho Bunko さつき断景Satsuki DankeiRetitled:星に願いを さつき断景 Hoshi ni Negai wo Satsuki Dankei 200020042008 ShodenshaShodensha BunkoShincho Bunko リビングRibingu 20002003 Chuokoron-ShinshaChuko Bunko 隣人RinjinRetitled: 世紀末の隣人 Seikisue no Rinjin 2001 2003 Kodansha Kodansha Bunko 口笛吹いてKuchibue Fuite 20012004 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko かっぽん屋 Kapponya 2002 Kadokawa Bunko 流星ワゴンRyusei Wagon 20022005 KodanshaKodansha Bunko 熱球Nekkyu 200220042007 Tokuma ShotenTokuma BunkoShincho Bunko 小さき者へChisaki Mono e 20022006 The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.Shincho Bunko きよしこKiyoshiko 20022005 ShinchoshaShincho Bunko トワイライトTowai Raito 20022005 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko 疾走Shissō 20032005 Kadokawa ShotenKadokawa Bunko 哀愁的東京Aishūteki Tōkyō 20032006 KobunshaKadokawa 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 NakamatachiRetitled: ニッポンの単身赴任 Nippon no Tanshin Funin 2003 2005 Kodansha Kodansha Bunko 送り火Okuri Bi 20032007 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko ニッポンの課長Nippon no Kachō 20042006 Nikkei Business PublicationsKodansha Bunko 卒業Sotsugyō 20042006 ShinchoshaShincho Bunko いとしのヒナゴンItoshi no Hinagon 20042007 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko その日のまえにSono Hi no Mae ni 20052008 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko きみの友だちKimi no Tomodachi 20052008 ShinchoshaShincho 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 20072009 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko カシオペアの丘でKassiopeia no Oka de 20072010 Kodansha Kodansha Bunko くちぶえ番長Kuchibue Banchō 2007 Shincho Bunko 青い鳥Aoi Tori 20072010 ShinchoshaShincho 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 20072010 Kodansha Kodansha Bunko ブランケット・キャッツBuranketto KyattsuThe Blanket Cats 200820112024 Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc.Asahi BunkoMacLehose Press "Kisetsu Fū" Series1. ツバメ記念日 季節風・春 Tsubame Kinenbi Kisetsu Fū - Spring2. 僕たちのミシシッピ・リバー 季節風・夏 Bokutachi no Mishishippi-Ribā Kisetsu Fū - Summer3. 少しだけ欠けた月 季節風・秋 Sukoshi Dake Kaketa Tsuki Kisetsu Fū - Autumn4. サンタ・エクスプレス 季節風・冬 Sanda-Ekusuburesu Kisetsu Fū - Winter 20092010200820112008201120082010 BungeishunjūBunshun BunkoBungeishunjūBunshun BunkoBungeishunjūBunshun BunkoBungeishunjūBunshun Bunko ブルーベリーBurū BerīRetitled: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 200820112015 Kadokawa ShotenKadokawa BunkoLarge Print Edition 希望ヶ丘の人びとKibōgaoka no Hitobito 20092011 ShogakukanShogakukan Bunko ステップSuteppu 20092012 Chuokoron-ShinshaChuko Bunko かあちゃんKāchan 20092012 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 20092012 KodanshaKodansha Bunko

2010s Title Year Publisher きみ去りしのちKimi Sarishi Nochi 20102013 BungeishunjūBunshun Bunko あすなろ三三七拍子Asunaro San San Nana Hyōshi 20092012 The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.Kodansha Bunko ポニーテールPonī Tēru 20112014 ShinchoshaShincho Bunko 峠うどん物語Tōge Udon Monogatari 20112014 KodanshaKodansha Bunko 希望の地図 3.11から始まる物語Kibō no Chizu 3.11 kara Hajimaru Monogatari 20122015 Gentosha Literary PublicationGentosha 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1975Aka Heru 1975 2013 Kodansha 一人っ子同盟Hitorikko Dōmei 2014 Shinchosha なきむし姫Nakimushi Hime 2015 Shincho Bunko