Mildred L. Batchelder Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 40 (2008) Winner
Miyuki Miyabe
みやべ みゆき
Miyabe Miyuki
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1960-12-23 （Koto, Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japanese
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Koto, Tokyo, Japan (birthplace) → Tokyo, Japan (resident)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Novelist
- Active Years
- 1987-
- Affiliations
- Mystery Writers of Japan
- Memberships
- Mystery Writers of Japan
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumidagawa High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Business training school | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Kodansha writing school (writing classes) | — | — | — | 1984 | Japan |
Sumidagawa High School
Country:
Japan
Graduated high school
Business training school
Country:
Japan
Attended a vocational/business training school
Kodansha writing school (writing classes)
Period:
1984
Country:
Japan
Took writing classes run by Kodansha
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | All Yomimono Mystery Novel Newcomer Prize (26th) | Our Neighbour is a Criminal | 新人賞 | All Yomimono | 受賞 |
| 1987 | Mystery Writers of Japan Award | Our Neighbour is a Criminal | 新人賞 | Mystery Writers of Japan | 受賞 |
| 1992 | Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Best Novel, 45th) | The Sleeping Dragon | 長編部門 | Mystery Writers of Japan | 受賞 |
| 1993 | Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize | All She Was Worth | — | Shinchosha | 受賞 |
| 1997 | Japan SF Award (18th) | Gamōtei Jiken | — | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan | 受賞 |
| 1998 | Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize (17th) | The Reason | — | Japan Adventure Fiction Association | 受賞 |
| 1999 | Naoki Prize (120th) | The Reason | — | Japan Literary Promotion Society | 受賞 |
| 2001 | Shiba Ryōtarō Prize | Puppet Master | — | Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2007 | Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature (41st) | Nameless Poison | — | Kodansha | 受賞 |
| 2008 | Mildred L. Batchelder Award | Brave Story | Best Translated Children's Book | Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association) | 受賞 |
| — | Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers (13th) | Honjo Fukagawa Fushigi-zōshi | — | Kodansha | 受賞 |
All Yomimono Mystery Novel Newcomer Prize (26th)
1987
Work:
Our Neighbour is a Criminal
Category:
新人賞
Organization:
All Yomimono
Result:
受賞
Mystery Writers of Japan Award
1987
Work:
Our Neighbour is a Criminal
Category:
新人賞
Organization:
Mystery Writers of Japan
Result:
受賞
Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Best Novel, 45th)
1992
Work:
The Sleeping Dragon
Category:
長編部門
Organization:
Mystery Writers of Japan
Result:
受賞
Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize
1993
Work:
All She Was Worth
Organization:
Shinchosha
Result:
受賞
Japan SF Award (18th)
1997
Work:
Gamōtei Jiken
Organization:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan
Result:
受賞
Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize (17th)
1998
Work:
The Reason
Organization:
Japan Adventure Fiction Association
Result:
受賞
Naoki Prize (120th)
1999
Work:
The Reason
Organization:
Japan Literary Promotion Society
Result:
受賞
Shiba Ryōtarō Prize
2001
Work:
Puppet Master
Organization:
Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Foundation
Result:
受賞
Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature (41st)
2007
Work:
Nameless Poison
Organization:
Kodansha
Result:
受賞
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
2008
Work:
Brave Story
Category:
Best Translated Children's Book
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association)
Result:
受賞
Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers (13th)
Work:
Honjo Fukagawa Fushigi-zōshi
Organization:
Kodansha
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
All She Was Worth
1992 Social mystery / crime fictionA social mystery set during Japan's economic troubles about identity theft, debt and a detective's search for a missing woman, exposing the effects of consumerism.
consumerismidentitydebtcommunity
Adaptations
- [TV movie] Kasha (1994)
- [TV movie] Kasha (2011)
Translations
- All She Was Worth (translated by Alfred Birnbaum)
The Reason
1998 Mystery / social critiqueA multi-perspective murder mystery told largely through interviews with neighbors, suspects and family, exploring social causes and community dynamics.
communitysocial criticismmultiple perspectivesresponsibility and memory
Adaptations
- [Film] The Reason / 大林宣彦 (2004)
Translations
- The Reason
Crossfire
1998 Supernatural mysteryA mystery about a detective pursuing a girl with pyrokinetic powers; blends crime fiction with supernatural elements.
psychic powerscrime investigationisolated youth
Adaptations
- [Film] Pyrokinesis (2000)
Translations
- Crossfire (English translation)
Brave Story
2003 Fantasy / Young adultA coming-of-age fantasy about a boy who finds a portal to another world and confronts personal and family issues through adventure.
coming-of-ageadventurefamilyfantasy world
Adaptations
- [Animated film] Brave Story (2006)
Translations
- Brave Story (translated by Alexander O. Smith)
Puppet Master (The Copycat)
2001 Long-form crime novelA heavyweight crime novel about serial killings committed by a copycat and the reactions of police, media and society.
crime and societymedia influencejustice and revenge
Adaptations
- [Film] Mohōhan (2002)
- [TV drama] Mohōhan (2016)
Translations
- Puppet Master (English translation)
Gamōtei Jiken (The Gamōtei Incident)
1996 Mystery / Japanese SFA mystery set in a residence combining elements of speculative fiction; noted for its atmosphere and narrative style.
mysterySF elementssocial issues
Adaptations
- [NHK drama] Gamōtei Jiken (1998)
Translations
- Gamōtei Jiken
Bibliography
- Perfect Blue
- The Devil's Whisper
- Our Neighbour is a Criminal
- Level 7
- The Sleeping Dragon
- Honjo Fukagawa Fushigi-zōshi
- All She Was Worth
- Stepfather Step
- Lonesome Hunter
- Hostage Canon
- Gamōtei Jiken
- The Reason
- Crossfire
- Bonkura
- Puppet Master
- Shadow Family
- Dream Buster
- Brave Story
- Somebody
- Ico: Castle in the Mist
- Nameless Poison
- Paradise
- The Book of Heroes
Adaptations
- Pyrokinesis (film, 2000)
- Mohōhan (film 2002 / TV drama 2016)
- Brave Story (animated film, 2006)
- The Reason (film, 2004)
- Solomon's Perjury (film, 2015)
- Copycat Killer (Netflix, 2023)
Translations of Works
- All She Was Worth (translated by Alfred Birnbaum)
- Crossfire (translated by Deborah Stuhr Iwabuchi & Anna Husson Isozaki)
- Brave Story (translated by Alexander O. Smith)
- Shadow Family (translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
- The Book of Heroes (English translation)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Genre-blending, plot-driven prose with clear, accessible styleRealist depictions incorporating social issues
- Recurring Motifs
- community and familyconsumerism and personal valuememory and identity
Legacy
Her works, spanning mystery and fantasy while addressing social issues, have been highly regarded domestically and internationally. Numerous adaptations and translations have extended her influence; Kasha, in particular, is regarded as a milestone in women's detective fiction.
Academic Societies
- Mystery Writers of Japan
In Popular Culture
- Brave Story's adaptation into an animated film and video games, influencing popular culture
- Many works adapted into films, TV dramas, manga and games
- Gained international recognition through translations into English and other languages
Quotes
-
Marilyn Stasio noted the relationship between the 'spare style and measured pace' of Birnbaum's translation and the 'somber tone of Miyuki's theme'.
Source: The New York Times (Marilyn Stasio) (1997) -
Amanda Seaman called Kasha 'a watershed moment in the history of women's detective fiction' that inspired 'a new wave of women mystery writers'.
Source: Amanda C. Seaman, Bodies of Evidence (2004)
Trivia
- Her debut 'Our Neighbour is a Criminal' won newcomer awards and brought early attention.
- 'Kasha' sold millions of copies in Japan and was adapted for TV and film.
- The English translation of 'Brave Story' won the Mildred L. Batchelder Award (2008).
- Many works have been adapted across media: film, TV, manga, and games.