Ryō Hanmura

Ryō Hanmura (Japanese: 半村 良, Hepburn: Hanmura Ryō, October 27, 1933 – March 4, 2002) was a Japanese science fiction, fantasy, and horror author. His name is alternatively transliterated as Ryō Hammura. While he wrote books as Ryō Hanmura is real name was Heitarō Kiyono (清野 平太郎, Kiyono Heitarō).[1]

Ryō Hanmura
Born	Heitarō Kiyono October 27, 1933 Tatsuno, Hyogo, Japan
Died	March 4, 2002 (aged 68) Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Genre	Science fiction, fantasy, horror
Notable awards	Naoki Prize for Amayadori 1988 Nihon SF Taisho Award

He won the first Izumi Kyōka Prize for Literature for his novel Musubi no Yama Hiroku (産霊山秘録) in 1973.[2] He won the Naoki Prize for his 1975 novel Amayadori (雨やどり). He won also the 1988 Nihon SF Taisho Award.[3]

One of his novels was the basis of the 1979 film G.I. Samurai (戦国自衛隊, Sengoku Jieitai). A series of role-playing video games called The Legend of Heroes (英雄伝説, Eiyū Densetsu) was loosely based on his novel by the same name.

Works in English translation

• "Cardboard Box" (ボール箱, Bōrubako)
  • The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories. Barricade Books. 1997 [Dembner Books: 1989].
  • Speculative Japan. Kurodahan Press. 2007.[4]
• "Tansu" (箪笥, Tansu) (The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories. Barricade Books. 1997 [Dembner Books: 1989].)

Works

Selected novels

• Ishi no Ketsumyaku 石の血脈. Hayakawa shobou. 1971.
• Oyone Heikichi Toki no Ana Yuki およね平吉時穴道行. =Hayakawa shobou. 1971.
• Hikkakatta Haru ひっかかった春. Freberu-kan. 1972.
• Gunka no Hibiki 軍靴の響き. Jitsugyou no Nippon-sha. 1972.
• Musubi no Yama Hiroku 産霊山秘録. Kadokawa Shoten. 1973.
• Ougon Densetsu 黄金伝説. Shouden-sha. 1973.
• Eiyuu Densetsu 英雄伝説. Shouden-sha. 1973.
• Akuukan Yousai 亜空間要塞. =Hayakawa shobou. 1974.
• Waga Furusato wa Yomi no Kuni わがふるさとは黄泉の国 [Our Home in the Yomi]. Hayakawa shobou. 1974. (contained Sengoku Jieitai)
  • Sengoku Jieitai 戦国自衛隊 [Warring States Self-Defense Force]. 1975.
• Yōseiden 妖星伝. Kodansha. 1975–1993.
• Nisen-sanjūnen Tōhoku Jichiku 二〇三〇年東北自治区 [Tohoku Autonomous Region in 2030]. Shinchosha. 1992.

etc.

References

1. "半村, 良, 1933-2002". Web NDL Authorities. National Diet Library.
2. Izumi Kyouka Bungaku Shou Viewed on 28 January 2011.
3. "Nihon SF Taisho Award Winners List". Science Fiction Writers of Japan. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
4. Speculative Japan | Kurodahan Press

• The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, page 641

External links

• Hanbunko(半文居) Official Web Site (Japanese only)
• Brief obituary at Time under "Ryo Hammura"
• Ryō Hanmura at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Ryō Hanmura at IMDb
• Hanmura Ryō in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction