Unno Jūza


Sano Shōichi, know by his pen name Unno Jūza, was a Japanese novelist who was the founding father of Japanese science fiction.

Biography

Unno was born on December 26, 1897, in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, to a family of medical doctors. He studied at the Waseda University.
In 1928 he debuted as a writer with the novel The case of the mysterious death in the electric bath.
During the Pacific War he wrote a great number of science-fiction novels, remaining in Tokyo throughout the air raids. Japan's defeat in World War II was for him a hard blow, and Unno spent the last years in his life in a state of deep depression.
His scientific work was influenced by that of Nikola Tesla.
Unno died on May 17, 1949, aged 51.

Legacy

Captain Jūzō Okita of Space Battleship Yamato was named as a tribute to Unno.

Works

Aru Uchū-jin no Himitsu Angō Onban Jiken Ikiteiru Chō Uchū Joshū Dai Ichi-gō Uchū Sentai Uchū Senpei Uchū no Maigo Unno Jūza Haisen Nikki Ei Hondo Jōriku Sakusen no Zen'ya Osoroshiki Tsuya Gaikotsukan Kaisei Gan Kaitei Toshi Kagi kara Nukedashita Onna Kaban Rashikunai Kaban Kayakusen Kifutsudō Jiken Kyōryū-tei no Bōken Kyōryū-tō Kinzoku Ningen Kūchū Hyōryū Isshūkan Gun'yōzame Kōun no Kuroko Kokusai Satsujin-dan no Hōkai Sankakkei no Kyōfu Sanju-nen Go no Sekai Sannin no Sōseiji Jigoku Kaidō Jūhachi-ji no Ongaku-yoku Shōnen Tanteichō Jinzō Ningen Efu-shi Sekigaisen Otoko Sen-nen Go no Sekai Dai Uchū Enseitai Dai Go Hyōgaki Chikyū Yōsai Chikyū wo Nerau Mono Chichūma Chō-Ningen X-go Tōmei Neko Tokkyo Tawan Ningen Hōshiki 2000 nen Sensō Nō no Naka no Reijin Hitotsubokan Hyōgaki no Kaijin Fushigikoku Tanken Fushū Hōsō Sareta Yuigon Maruamru Jū Miezaru Teki Yūsei Shokumin Setsu Yūrei-sen no Himitsu Yohōshō Kokuji Reikon Dai Jū-gō no Himitsu
  • ''Jinzō Ningen Satsugai Jiken''

Utei Tenku Series

Utei Tenku Series :Kizoku wa Shiharau Shinzō Tōnan Kizoku Higan Angō no Yakuwari
  • ''Surikae Kaiga''

Under alias of Oka Kyūjūrō

Yukima
  • ''Chikyū Hakkyō Jiken''

English Translations

Fast Forward Japan: Stories by the Founding Father of Japanese Science Fiction The Secret of the Cosmic Dust. Translated by Till Weingärtner. The Irish Journal of Asian Studies Vol.7, 2021.