We spoke with the Japanese fantasy novelist, Osamu Sugimura. From science fiction to horror, Mr. Sugimura’s works, which are beloved by a wide range of people, are now a hot topic overseas. Sugimura is from Shizukuishi in Iwate Prefecture. According to an interview with a local newspaper, there was a time, when he was a student, that he wanted to read a novel about Shizukuishi. Since there weren’t many stories set in his hometown, he decided to write one of his own.
Iwate Prefecture is the land that experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Sugimura’s achievements are often called a treasure of Tohoku (the northeast region in Japan), such as “Goodbye Present” being selected for the Iwate Earthquake Disaster Novel 2020 Award. The English version of “Like That Beautiful Flower ~Earthquake Disaster~”, which was released on Amazon Kindle in 2022, tells the story of the scenery that Sugimura felt and imagined in his heart after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Featuring a train reminiscent of Kenji Miyazawa (who is also from Iwate Prefecture), Sugimura’s “The Night of the Milky Way Train” follows the protagonist as he travels to the future. Fans of Miyazawa’s work also enjoy it very much. Sugimura’s strong love for his hometown has been spun into his beautiful writing, and his passion is attracting attention from readers overseas.
Sugimura is also known for his work pertaining to the Cthulhu Mythos, which is a great legacy created by the American writer H.P. Lovecraft. This horror concept was born in the 1920s. The setting of the gods that appear in Lovecraft’s work has since been collected and systematized into what we now know as the Cthulhu Mythos. “Local Cthulhu Mythos: Rainbow and Shadow”, which was just released in September of 2024, is a collection of Cthulhu Mythos works crafted by Sugimura on the themes of “hometown” and “heart.”
Currently, only the Japanese version is available, but we hope they can publish an English version as well. North American readers, in particular, can’t help but be excited to read the perspective of Sugimura, a Japanese author.
Sugimura’s worldview has had a strong influence on the minds of foreigners who have no knowledge of the culture of Iwate Prefecture. Humanity, which has experienced various negative events in recent years, such as infectious diseases and wars, is definitely moved by Sugimura’s work, no matter where they are in the world. Sugimura is also a regular member of the Iwate Children’s Literature Association. His works provide hope to the younger generation, who will lead the future.
Sugimura says: “I was born and raised in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, which is rich in nature. When I was about 30 years old, I discovered the Cthulhu Mythos and decided to create a workbased on it. Since then, I have incorporated the changes of modern times into my work, creating a fantastic atmosphere. I provide my works to the people of Japan as if I am a chef. Despite being given low praise by some, I am grateful for the time I have now, and I am not afraid of the outside world. I want to continue to make my presence known as an artist, and become the foundation for creating a more artistic world.”
The art born in Iwate continues to move the hearts of people from around the world. I am convinced that the spread of Sugimura’s beautiful worldview will lead to a more peaceful world.
Profile
Osamu Sugimura (born December 13, 1988) is a Japanese author and artist from Iwate Prefecture, known for his science fiction and fantasy novels as well as his work in the Cthulhu Mythos. One of his stories, “Goodbye Present”, was selected for the Iwate Earthquake Disaster Novel 2020 Award. In addition, his story “Flowing Seasons and Gentle Time” was published in the Anima_Solaris 201 issue of SFWEB magazine (2021). In 2023, he will participate in the Domestic AIR (Artist-in-Residence) program and hold an exhibition of his works (2023). He is increasingly expected to play an active role in the international writing community.
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