Kojima, Nobuo

▪ 2007

      Japanese novelist (b. Feb. 28, 1915, Gifu, Japan—d. Oct. 26, 2006, Tokyo, Japan), chronicled the dramatic post-World War II transformation that occurred in Japanese society, notably the changes that occurred in the household relationship between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, and in 1966 won the inaugural Tanizaki Prize for the novel Hoyo kazoku (1965; “Embracing Family”). Other works of note included the short story “Amerikan sukuru” (1955; “American School”), winner of the Akutagawa Prize; Watakushi no sakka hyoden (1972; “My Critiques on Writers”), recipient that year of the Minister of Education Award for Art; Wakareru riyu (1982; “Reason for Parting”); and his last, Zanko (2006; “Fading Light”), an account of his wife's illness.

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