was the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

of , a Japanese author. He was born in Yabu, Hyogo. In 1947, he wrote a mystery short story and was awarded a prize by the magazine . He was discovered by

Edogawa Rampo , better known by the pen name was a Japanese author and critic who played a major role in the development of Japanese mystery and thriller fiction. Many of his novels involve the detective hero Kogoro Akechi, who in later books was the le ...

and became a novelist. He wrote many

ninja A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enem ...

(忍法帖 ''Ninpōchō'' series) and mystery stories. Many of his works have been adapted for film, TV, manga, and anime.

Works in English translation

Novel

*''

The Kouga Ninja Scrolls is a historical fantasy novel about ninja written in 1958–1959 by the Japanese author Futaro Yamada. It is the first installment in Yamada's ''Ninja Scrolls'' series, which he wrote until his death in 2001. The book was translated into English ...

'' (original title: ''Kōga Ninpōchō''), translation Geoff Sant ( Del Rey, 2006)

Short story

*"The Yellow Lodger" (original title: ''Kiiroi Geshukunin''), translation Damian Flanagan (''The Tower of London: Tales of Victorian London'',

Peter Owen Peter Owen is a makeup artist who won at the 74th Academy Awards in the category of Best Makeup for the film '' The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring''. He shared his win with Richard Taylor. Selected filmography * ''The Dark Cry ...

, 2005) – A

Sherlock Holmes pastiche Sherlock Holmes has long been a popular character for pastiche, Holmes-related work by authors and creators other than Arthur Conan Doyle. Their works can be grouped into four broad categories: *New Sherlock Holmes stories *Stories in which Holm ...

Awards

*1949, the 2nd Detective Story Writers' Club Award *1997, the 45th

Kikuchi Kan , also known as Kan Kikuchi (which uses the same kanji as his real name), was a Japanese author. He established the publishing company Bungeishunjū, the monthly magazine of the same name, the Japan Writer's Association and both the Akutagawa ...

Prize *2000, the 4th Japan Mystery Award *2004, the

Kodansha Manga Award is an annual award for serialized manga published in the previous year, the event is sponsored by the publisher Kodansha. It is currently awarded in three categories: '' shōnen'', '' shōjo'', and general. The awards began in 1977, initially w ...

for general manga for ''

Basilisk In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes. According to the ''Naturalis Historia'' of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene is ...

'', the

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

adaptation of ''

Selected works

Ninja stories ("Ninpōchō" series)

*"Shinobi: Heart Under Blade". (January 2007) ''Newtype USA''. Volume 6, Number 1, page 23. - adapted to film in 2005, to manga in 1963 and two times in 2003, and to anime in 2005 (based on one of 2003 manga). * - adapted to film in 1963, and as a TV series in 1966. * * - adapted to film twice: in 1964 (as ''

Kunoichi ninpō is a 1964 Japanese erotic film directed by Sadao Nakajima in his directorial debut. It is based on Futaro Yamada's novel of the same title. Plot In the Siege of Osaka, five female ninjas who pregnanted with Toyotomi Hideyori's child escape fro ...

'') and in 1991. * - adapted to film twice in 1964 and 1992. * - adapted to film in 1963, 1996, and 2011. * - adapted to film in 1965, 1983 (TV), and 1994. * - adapted to film in 1982 (as ''

Ninja Wars is a 1982 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Kōsei Saitō. It is based on Futaro Yamada's novel of the same title. Cast * Hiroyuki Sanada as Fuefuki Jotaro * Noriko Watanabe as Kagaribi * Mikio Narita as Kashin Koji * Akira Nakao as Matsuna ...

'') and to manga in 2004. * * - adapted to film in 1965 and 1968. * - adapted to film in 1998 and to

in 2005. * - adapted to film in 1969. * - adapted to film in 1995. * * * - adapted to film in 1981, 1996 and 2003, to anime in 1997 and to various manga. * - adapted to film in 1968. * * * - adapted to film in 1993. * * * - adapted to TV in 2018. * * *

Other fiction

* * - adapted to manga in 1978. * - adapted to film in 1956. * * - adapted to manga in 2006. * - adapted to TV series in 1972, TV movie in 1983,

v-cinema Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...

film in 1995, and to manga in 2006. * - adapted to film in 1965. * * - adapted to TV series in 2001. * * * - adapted to manga in 2000.

References

External links

Futarou Yamada Museum
��
Permanent display in the Hyogo Net Museum of Literature

Futaro Yamada
at J'Lit Books from Japan

at JLPP (Japanese Literature Publishing Project)
The War Generation's Genius - comic about Futaro Yamada's early life
Japanese historical novelists Japanese mystery writers Japanese horror writers Japanese lexicographers Mystery Writers of Japan Award winners 1922 births 2001 deaths People from Hyōgo Prefecture Winner of Kodansha Manga Award (General) 20th-century Japanese novelists 20th-century lexicographers {{Japan-writer-stub