Updated:July 19, 2017

Mayor’s comment on Mr. Shogo Sato’s winning the Naoki Prize

Jury 19, 2017

I would like to congratulate on Mr. Masahiro Sato's winning the 157th Naoki prize this time.

　Mr. Sato has lived in Sasebo and been an active as a novelist for more than 30 years since his debut work "Eien-No 1/2 (Eternal 1/2) " in 1983.

　I think that this award is a great pleasure and a proud event for Sasebo citizens who have felt familiar with him as "a novelist living in our city Sasebo."

　I've heard that it is rather difficult for a candidate nominated for the first time to win the Naoki Prize. I think that this winning award can be said to be a successful achievement in a dual sense.

　This award-winning work "Tsuki-No-Michikake (Moon Phases)" is interesting as a story and makes us think about "life of human beings", by setting a cycle of reincarnation as a central axis of the story.

　And I felt what he has cultivated as novelist for over 30 years was condensed into this work.

　His award of Naoki Prize follows that of the Yamada Kotaro Prize for "Hato-no-Gekitai-hou (Repulsion of Dove)" two years ago.

　I wish for Mr. Sato's continued success and prosperity.

Norio Tomonaga
Mayor of Sasebo