was a Japanese

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

fanzine A fanzine (blend word, blend of ''fan (person), fan'' and ''magazine'' or ''zine'') is a non-professional and non-official publication produced by enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) for the pleas ...

published from 1957 until its 204th issue in 2013. It was Japan's first science fiction fanzine. It was awarded a special

Seiun Award The is a Japanese speculative fiction award given each year for the best science fiction works and achievements during the previous calendar year. Organized and overseen by , the awards are given at the annual Nihon SF Taikai, Japan Science Fic ...

in 1982 as Japan's oldest science fiction fanzine, and received an honorable mention for Best Amateur Magazine at the 1962

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by th ...

History

''Uchūjin'' began publication with the May 1957 issue. Science fiction author and translator

Takumi Shibano was a Japanese science-fiction translator and author. He was a major figure in science fiction fandom, fandom in Japan and contributed to establishing the Japanese science fiction genre. A native of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, in 1957 Takumi started Ja ...

as the founding editor, making it the oldest Japanese science fiction fanzine. Shibano (under the pseudonym ) chaired the after participating in the . The club changed its name to ''Uchūjin'' before the first issue, and focused on science fiction writing, translation, critique, and related topics. Since the first issue, many of its contributors went on to become well-known speculative fiction writers, including

Sakyō Komatsu was a Japanese science fiction writer and screenwriter. He was one of the most well known and highly regarded science fiction writers in Japan. Early life Born Minoru "Sakyo" Komatsu in Osaka, he was a graduate of Kyoto University where he st ...

Yasutaka Tsutsui is a Japanese novelist, science fiction author, and actor. His ''Yumenokizaka bunkiten'' won the Tanizaki Prize in 1987. He has also won the 1981 Izumi Kyoka award, the 1989 Kawabata Yasunari award, and the 1992 Nihon SF Taisho Award. Writin ...

Ryū Mitsuse Ryū Mitsuse ( ''Mitsuse Ryū'', March 18, 1928 - July 7, 1999) was a Japanese novelist, science fiction writer, alternate history writer, historical novelist, and essayist. Mitsuse is the author of ''Hyakuoku no Hiru to Sen'oku no Yoru''. Among h ...

Shinji Kajio is a Japanese author of science fiction and fantasy. The film ''Yomigaeri'' is based on Kajio's novel of the same name and he also co-wrote the manga series (2008) with Kenji Tsuruta (who additionally illustrated the series), which was seriali ...

, Akira Hori,

Kōji Tanaka Koji, Kōji, Kohji or Kouji may refer to: *Kōji (given name), a masculine Japanese given name *Kōji (Heian period) (康治), Japanese era, 1142–1144 *Kōji (Muromachi period) (弘治), Japanese era, 1555–1558 *Koji orange, a Japanese citrus ...

Yoshinori Shimizu is a Japanese novelist. He was born in Nagoya, Japan, and has published stories since 1977, especially young adult science fiction. Works in English translation ;Crime Novel *''Labyrinth'' (original title: ''Meikyū''), trans. Deborah Iwabuchi ...

Baku Yumemakura is a Japanese science fiction and adventure writer. His works have sold more than 20 million copies in Japan spread across more than 280 titles and adapted into a variety of formats including feature films, television shows, movies and comic boo ...

, and Masaki Yamada. At the first

Nihon SF Taikai The is an annual science fiction convention held in Japan. Each of these conventions is officially the , but they are more popularly known by the official nicknames given to them based on their locations, e.g. TOKON (when it is held in Tokyo) or ...

in 1962 (which Shibano chaired), ''Uchūjin'' held a fifth anniversary party. They also released a self-parody fanzine titled in the same year. Three collections of the best works from the magazine were released. The magazine publishing frequency changed from monthly to annual in 1973, with the 200th issue being published in 2007. The final issue contained memorial tributes to Shibano, including an interview with his widow.

Contributors

The following writers contributed to ''Uchūjin'' over the years: * Kazumasa Hirai * Tadashi Hirose * Akira Hori * Shinichi Hoshi *

Fujio Ishihara is a former professor of electronics at Tamagawa University, and a Japanese science fiction author. He graduated Waseda University with a degree in electronics. He made his science fiction debut in 1965. During the 1970s and 1980s he has been ...

Eisuke Ishikawa Eisuke (written: 永輔, 英輔, 英介, 栄介, 英助 or エイスケ in katakana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese voice actor *, Japanese politician *, Japanese politician *, Japanese footba ...

* Norio Itō *

* Ichirō Kanō *

Sakyo Komatsu was a Japanese science fiction writer and screenwriter. He was one of the most well known and highly regarded science fiction writers in Japan. Early life Born Minoru "Sakyo" Komatsu in Osaka, he was a graduate of Kyoto University where he st ...

Tadashi Kōsai Tadashi (Kanji: 正, 禎, 忠, 荘, 匡史, 理 Hiragana: ただし), Japanese masculine name, may refer to : *, the first aikido master to live and teach in the west *, Japanese manga story writer, novelist and screenwriter *, Japanese basketball ...

Aran Kyōdomari Aran may refer to: Places Azerbaijan Villages and municipalities: * Aran, Aghjabadi * Aran, Lerik * Aran, Shaki * Aran, Tovuz * Aran, Yevlakh Iran * Aran, Alborz, a village in Alborz Province * Aran, Nain, a village in Isfahan Province * A ...

Taku Mayumura Taku Mayumura ( ''Mayumura Taku'', 20 October 1934 – 3 November 2019) was a Japanese novelist, science fiction writer(ja) Nihon Gensō Sakka Jiten, pp.648-649. and haiku poet. He won the Seiun Award for Novel twice. His novel ''Shiseikan'' (, '' ...

Hiroshi Minamiyama is a common masculine Japanese given name. It can also be transliterated as Hirosi. Written forms Hiroshi can be written using different kanji characters. Here are some examples: *浩, "wide expanse, abundance, vigorous" *弘, "vast, broad, w ...

Ryu Mitsuse Ryū Mitsuse ( ''Mitsuse Ryū'', March 18, 1928 - July 7, 1999) was a Japanese novelist, science fiction writer, alternate history writer, historical novelist, and essayist. Mitsuse is the author of ''Hyakuoku no Hiru to Sen'oku no Yoru''. Among h ...

Tsutomu Miyazaki was a Japanese serial killer who murdered four young girls in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture between August 1988 and June 1989. He abducted and killed the girls, aged from 4 to 7, in his car before dismembering them and molesting their corpses. ...

* Kōsei Ono *

Eiichirō Saitō Eiichiro, Eiichirō, Eiichirou or Eiichiroh (written: , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: * Eiichiro Azuma, American historian *, Japanese scientist *, Japanese actor and television personality *, Japa ...

* Hakukō Saitō *

* Aritsune Toyota *

* Katsufumi Umehara * Masaki Yamada *

Tetsu Yano Tetsu Yano ( Japanese 矢野徹 ''Yano Tetsu''; October 5, 1923 – October 13, 2004) was a Japanese science fiction translator and writer. He began to introduce to Japanese readers the works of US science fiction writers in the late 1940s. ...

Best collections

Several collections of works from ''Uchūjin'' were published in Japan. * series: Volumes 1-3 (May 1977,

Kodansha is a Japanese privately held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha publishes manga magazines which include ''Nakayoshi'', ''Morning (magazine), Morning'', ''Afternoon (magazine), Afternoon'', ''Evening (magazine), Eveni ...

), published for the 20th anniversary of the fanzine * series, published for the 30th anniversary of the fanzine **Volume 1: (December 1987,

Kawade Shobō Shinsha , formerly , is a publisher founded in 1886 in Japan. It is headquartered in Higashigokenchō, Shinjuku, Tokyo. It publishes the magazine '' Bungei'' and administers the Bungei Prize. History Kawade Shobō Shinsha traces its history to 1886 ...

, ) **Volume 2: (December 1987, Kawade Shobō Shinsha, ) * edited by

, published for the 40th anniversary of the fanzine **Volume 1 (December 1997, Shuppan Geijutsusha, ) **Volume 2 (December 1997, Shuppan Geijutsusha, )

Awards and honors

''Uchūjin'' has received the following awards and honors:

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Uchuujin Defunct literary magazines published in Japan Doujinshi Science fiction magazines published in Japan Magazines disestablished in 2013 Magazines established in 1957 Science fiction fanzines Science fiction organizations Defunct literary magazines