Sunao Matsumoto (October 24, 1969 – July 15, 2004), known professionally as Sunao Yoshida (吉田直 ''Yoshida Sunao''), was a Japanese
novelist. He was born in
Fukuoka Prefecture and graduated from
La Salle Junior and Senior High School in
Kagoshima. He attended
Waseda University
, mottoeng = Independence of scholarship
, established = 21 October 1882
, type = Private
, endowment =
, president = Aiji Tanaka
, city = Shinjuku
, state = Tokyo
, country = Japan
, students = 47,959
, undergrad = 39,382
, postgrad ...
and earned a
Master's degree from
Kyoto University. Yoshida died of a
lung blockage in 2004.
Yoshida was known primarily for "Light novels," a category in Japanese publishing that includes youth-oriented stories, often featuring
anime
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening o ...
-style cover illustrations.
In 1997, Yoshida was awarded the ''Sneaker Taisho'' literary prize for his
debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...
, ''Genocide Angel''. He was the author of the novel series ''
Trinity Blood'', which was serialized in
Kadokawa Shoten's ''
The Sneaker
is a Japanese light novel magazine that was published by Kadokawa Shoten between 1993 and 2011. It was launched April 1993 then proceeded to be published monthly for most of its run. The magazine was aimed at a young adult male audience. It serial ...
'' magazine. The popularity of ''The Sneaker'' dropped significantly after Yoshida's death. The ''Trinity Blood'' series was published in North America by
Tokyopop.
Two years after Yoshida's death, from January to October 2006, his home village of Ashiyamachi, Fukuoka, in conjunction with publishers
Kadokawa Shoten,
Gonzo
Gonzo may refer to:
People
* Gonzo (nickname), a list of people with the nickname
* Radislav Jovanov Gonzo (born 1964), Croatian music video director Radislav Jovanov, also known as Gonzo
* Matthias Röhr (born 1962), German musician whose sta ...
and
Broccoli
Broccoli (''Brassica oleracea'' var. ''italica'') is an edible green plant in the cabbage family (family Brassicaceae, genus ''Brassica'') whose large flowering head, stalk and small associated leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Broccoli is cl ...
, held a "Sunao Exhibit" to memorialize his achievements.
Gainax's scheduled project
Neppu Kairiku Bushi Road
is a Japanese media franchise that was originally announced in 2003 by the title ''Neppu Kairiku Bushi Lord'' as a collaboration between the companies Gainax, Takara and Broccoli. After the death of story creator Sunao Yoshida in 2004 and the ...
was indefinitely delayed after his death, as he was supposed to be its world designer.
Gainax Pages - Nepuu Kairiku Bushilord
/ref> The project was eventually taken over by Kinema Citrus and Orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
and completed in 2013.
Publications
*''Jenosaido Enjeru - Hangyaku Kamigami''. (Genocide Angel: Treason of the Gods) 1997. Kadogawa Shoten.
*''Toriniti Burado Rage Against the Moons''. (Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons) six volumes, 2001-2004. Kadogawa Shoten.
*''Toriniti Burado Reborn on the Mars''. (Trinity Blood: Reborn on Mars) six volumes, 2001-2003. Kadogawa Shoten.
*''Toriniti Burado Reborn on the Mars "Kyokko no Kiba"''. (Trinity Blood: Reborn on Mars 7, Aurora's Tusk) unfinished.
References
4. Nguyen, Dominic. "Trinity Blood". (November 2006) ''Newtype USA''. p. 146.
20th-century Japanese novelists
21st-century Japanese novelists
1969 births
2004 deaths
Writers from Fukuoka Prefecture
{{Japan-writer-stub