Yasutaka Tsutsui


Yasutaka Tsutsui is a Japanese novelist, science fiction author, and actor. His Yumenokizaka bunkiten won the Tanizaki Prize in 1987. He has also won the 1981 Izumi Kyoka award, the 1989 Kawabata Yasunari award, and the 1992 Nihon SF Taisho Award.
𝕏 TsutsuiYasutaka

Writing style

His work is known for its dark humor and satirical content. He has often satirized Japanese taboos such as disabilities and the Tenno system, and has been subject to much criticism as a result. His works are seen as the basis for Japan's postmodern science-fiction. Features of his work include psychoanalysis and surrealism, which were themes of his 1957 master's thesis. He has dealt with themes such as time-travel in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, a massively multiplayer online game's virtual world in Gaspard in the Morning, and dream worlds in Paprika.

Adaptations

One of Tsutsui's first novels, Toki o Kakeru Shōjo, has been adapted into numerous media including film, television, and manga. Another novel, Paprika, was adapted into an animated film by the director Satoshi Kon in 2006. Many other works, including the four-part novel Fugō Keiji, have been dramatized on Japanese television.

Controversies

Tsutsui has gained notoriety for his politically incorrect humor and views. On April 4, 2017, Tsutsui was criticized for posting a tweet referring to the Statue of Peace, a memorial to victims of sexual slavery during World War II, stating, "That girl is cute. Everyone, let's go and ejaculate in front of her and shower her with semen", on his Twitter. The tweet has long since been deleted. Tsutsui also later backtracked on his claims and apologized for it.

English translations

The novel What the Maid saw, translated by Adam Kabat, was published by Kodansha America Inc. in 1990, and again by Alma Books as The Maid in 2010.
Salmonella Men on Planet Porno, a collection of short stories translated by Andrew Driver, was published by Alma Books in October 2006 and again by Pantheon Books in 2008.
The novel Hell, translated by Evan Emswiler, was published by Alma Books in October 2007.
The novel Paprika, translated by Andrew Driver, was published by Alma Books in April 2009 and again by Vintage Contemporaries in 2013.
The novella The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, translated by David Karashima, was published by Alma Books in April 2011.
The collection of short stories, translated by Andrew Driver, was published in July 2017 by Kurodahan Press.

Works

Besides numerous film and TV acting credits, Yasutaka Tsutsui has published dozens of novels and short story collections, and records in Japan.

Series

Nanase Trilogy
  • 家族八景 Kazoku Hakkei
  • 七瀬ふたたび Nanase Futatabi
  • エディプスの恋人 ''Edipusu no Koibito''

Novels

  • 48億の妄想 48 Oku no Mōsō
  • 馬の首風雲録 Umanokubi Fuunroku
  • 時をかける少女 Toki o Kakeru Shōjo
  • 霊長類、南へ Reichōrui, Minami-e
  • 緑魔の町 Ryokuma no Machi
  • 脱走と追跡のサンバ Dassō to Tsuiseki no Samba
  • 俗物図鑑 Zokubutsu Zukan
  • 男たちのかいた絵 Otoko Tachi no Kaita E
  • 俺の血は他人の血 Ore no Chi wa Tanin no Chi
  • 富豪刑事 Fugō Keiji
  • 大いなる助走 Oi Naru Josō
  • 美藝公 Bigeikō
  • 虚人たち Kyojin Tachi
  • 虚航船団 Kyokō Sendan
  • イリヤ・ムウロメツ Ilya Muromets
  • 旅のラゴス Tabi no Ragosu
  • 歌と饒舌の戦記 Uta to Jōzetsu no Senki
  • 夢の木坂分岐点 Yumenokizaka Bunkiten
  • 驚愕の広野 Kyōgaku no Kōya
  • 新日本探偵社報告書控 Shin-Nihon Tanteisha Hōkokusho Hikae
  • フェミニズム殺人事件 Feminizumu Satsujin Jiken
  • 残像に口紅を
  • 文学部唯野教授 Bungakubu Tadano Kyōju
  • ロートレック荘事件 Rōtorekku-Sō Jiken
  • 朝のガスパール Asa no Gasupāru
  • パプリカ Paprika
  • 邪眼鳥 Jaganchō
  • 敵 Teki
  • わたしのグランパ Watashi no Guranpa
  • 恐怖 Kyōfu
  • 愛のひだりがわ Ai no Hidarigawa
  • ヘル Hell
  • 銀齢の果て Ginrei no Hate
  • 巨船べラスレトラス Kyosen Berasu Retorasu
  • ダンシング・ヴァニティ Dancing Vanity
  • ビアンカ・オーバースタディ Bianca Overstudy
  • 聖痕 Seikon
  • モナドの領域 ''Monado no Ryōiki''

Short stories (collections)

  • 東海道戦争 Tōkaidō Sensō
  • ベトナム観光公社 Betonamu Kankō Kōsha
  • アルファルファ作戦 Arufarufa Sakusen
  • 幻想の未来・アフリカの血 Gensō no Mirai/Afurika no Chi
  • にぎやかな未来 Nigiyaka na Mirai
  • アフリカの爆弾 Afurika no Bakudan
  • 筒井順慶 Tsutsui Junkei
  • わが良き狼 Waga Yoki Ōkami
  • 心狸学・社怪学 Shinrigaku, Shakaigaku
  • ホンキイ・トンク Honky Tonk
  • 欠陥大百科 Kekkan Ōhyakka
  • 母子像 Boshizō
  • 馬は土曜に蒼ざめる Uma wa Doyō ni Aozameru
  • 発作的作品群 Hossa-teki Sakuhingun
  • 日本列島七曲り Nihon Rettō Nanamagari
  • 将軍が目覚めた時 Shōgun ga Mezameta Toki
  • 農協月へ行く Nōkyō Tsuki-e Iku
  • 暗黒世界のオデッセイ Ankoku Sekai no Odessei
  • おれに関する噂 Ore-ni Kansuru Uwasa
  • ウィークエンドシャフル Weekend Shuffle
  • 笑うな Warau-na
  • メタモルフォセス群島 Metamorufosesu Guntō
  • あるいは酒でいっぱいの海 Aruiwa Sake de Ippai no Umi
  • バブリング創世記 Baburingu Sōseiki
  • 宇宙衛生博覧会 Uchū Eisei Hakurankai
  • エロチック街道 Erochikku Kaidō
  • 串刺し教授 Kushizashi Kyōju
  • くたばれPTA Kutabare PTA
  • お助け Otasuke
  • 原始人 Genshijin
  • 薬菜飯店 Yakusai Hanten
  • 夜のコント・冬のコント Yoru no Konto, Fuyu no Konto
  • 最後の伝令 Saigo no Denrei
  • 鍵 Kagi
  • 座敷ぼっこ Zashiki Bokko
  • 家族場面 Kazoku Bamen
  • ジャズ小説 Jazu Shōsetsu
  • 満腹亭へようこそ Manpukutei-e Yōkoso
  • 魚藍観音記 Gyoran Kannon Ki
  • エンガッツィオ司令塔 Engattsio Shireitō
  • 天狗の落し文 Tengu no Otoshibumi
  • 懲戒の部屋 Chōkai no Heya
  • 驚愕の曠野 Kyōgaku no Kōya
  • 最後の喫煙者 Saigo no Kitsuensha The Last Smoker
  • 睡魔のいる夏 Suima no Iru Natsu
  • 傾いた世界 Katamuita Sekai
  • 日本以外全部沈没 Nihon Igai Zembu Chinbotsu
  • 怪物たちの夜 Kaibutsu Tachi no Yoru
  • 近所迷惑 Kinjo Meiwaku
  • わが愛の税務署 Waga Ai no Zeimusho
  • カメロイド文部省 Kameroido Monbushō
  • ポルノ惑星のサルモネラ人間 Poruno Wakusei no Sarumonera Ningen
  • ヨッパ谷への降下 Yoppadani-e no Kōka
  • 壊れかた指南 Kowarekata Shinan
  • 陰悩録 Innōroku
  • 如菩薩団 Nyobosatsudan
  • 夜を走る Yoru o Hashiru
  • 佇むひと Tatazumu Hito
  • くさり Kusari
  • 出世の首 Shusse no Kubi
  • 繁栄の昭和 Hanei no Shōwa
  • 世界はゴ冗談 ''Sekai ha Gojōdan''

Discography