Masami Fukushima
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese science fiction
editor, author, critic, and translator. As the first chief editor of SF Magazine
, he endeavoured to propagate science fiction in Japan and became known as the "Demon of SF". His real name is . He also used the pen name: .
(Sakhalin),Fukushima was the son of a public official. His family moved to Manchuria
after his father's transfer in 1934. In 1937 they moved to the mainland of Japan. Fukushima grew up in Yokohama
.
He entered Nihon University
in 1945 and transferred to Meiji University
in 1950 where he majored in French literature. In 1954 he dropped out and began to study translation under and writing children's literature
under .
In 1956, Fukushima was invited to join Hayakawa Publishing Corporation . The following year, he initiated the Hayakawa SF series and in 1959 founded SF Magazine
and served as chief editor until he left the company in 1969. Hayakawa World SF Complete Collection was also planned by Fukushima.
He aimed to make SF more highbrow, and initially rejected space opera
. To avoid being considered "childish literature", Fukushima adopted exclusively the paintings of Seikan Nakajima for the covers of SF Magazine and Hayakawa SF series. (see covers)
Beside his work in widening the Japanese SF genre, he translated many English SF authors such as Isaac Asimov
, Arthur C. Clarke
, Robert A. Heinlein
into Japanese, and edited SF anthologies.
Fukushima died in 1976 aged 47.
There is a prize for Juvenile SF in his memory.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
editor, author, critic, and translator. As the first chief editor of SF Magazine
SF Magazine
SF Magazine is a science fiction magazine in Japan. It began publication with the February 1960 issue, which appeared in bookshops at the end of 1959. It was Japan’s first successful prozine.-History:...
, he endeavoured to propagate science fiction in Japan and became known as the "Demon of SF". His real name is . He also used the pen name: .
Biography
Born in Toyohara, Karafuto PrefectureKarafuto Prefecture
, commonly called South Sakhalin, was the Japanese administrative division corresponding to Japanese territory on Sakhalin from 1905 to 1945. Through the Treaty of Portsmouth, the portion of Sakhalin south of 50°N became a colony of Japan in 1905...
(Sakhalin),Fukushima was the son of a public official. His family moved to Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
after his father's transfer in 1934. In 1937 they moved to the mainland of Japan. Fukushima grew up in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
.
He entered Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
in 1945 and transferred to Meiji University
Meiji University
is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki, founded in 1881 by three lawyers of the Meiji era, Kishimoto Tatsuo, Miyagi Kōzō, and Yashiro Misao. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Japanese universities in Tokyo, Japan....
in 1950 where he majored in French literature. In 1954 he dropped out and began to study translation under and writing children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
under .
In 1956, Fukushima was invited to join Hayakawa Publishing Corporation . The following year, he initiated the Hayakawa SF series and in 1959 founded SF Magazine
SF Magazine
SF Magazine is a science fiction magazine in Japan. It began publication with the February 1960 issue, which appeared in bookshops at the end of 1959. It was Japan’s first successful prozine.-History:...
and served as chief editor until he left the company in 1969. Hayakawa World SF Complete Collection was also planned by Fukushima.
He aimed to make SF more highbrow, and initially rejected space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
. To avoid being considered "childish literature", Fukushima adopted exclusively the paintings of Seikan Nakajima for the covers of SF Magazine and Hayakawa SF series. (see covers)
Beside his work in widening the Japanese SF genre, he translated many English SF authors such as Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
, Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
into Japanese, and edited SF anthologies.
Fukushima died in 1976 aged 47.
There is a prize for Juvenile SF in his memory.