In October, actor Hiro Mizushima (水嶋 ヒロ, 26) （齋藤智裕）was chosen as the winner of the 5th Poplar Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction for his debut work "KAGEROU" (第5回ポプラ社小説大賞受賞作), and he later revealed that it will be published as a book on December 15. According to news reports today, there are already more than 400,000 pre-orders for the book, based on information from stores across the country.
One source from the publishing industry said that in the current market, a book that won a New Writer Award would normally only get 4,000 to 5,000 copies printed for a first edition. At 400,000 pre-orders, "KAGEROU" is already poised to become a bestseller.
A few details about the story have also been revealed. The main character in "KAGEROU" is a 41-year-old man, burdened with debt and laid off from his job. Planning to end his life, he climbs over the fence of a department store rooftop in order to jump. However, he is stopped by a mysterious man in black clothes and ends up bound by contract to a secret organization. While continuing to live in suffering, he confronts the question of "What is life?"
In November, Hiro Mizushima (Tokyo Dogs, Kamen Rider Kabuto, Gokusen 2) under his real name, Saito Tomohiro who just won the Poplar Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction with his first novel, KAGEROU.
Last November 1, Hiro Mizushima made his appearance on a press conference. This would be his first public appearance after two months of not showing up.
水嶋ヒロ 処女作が大賞受賞
“I feel obliged to receive this honorable award. I’m grateful that my very first work was chosen as grand prize among many entries, especially since it was evaluated without recognizing ‘Mizushima Hiro’s name," Mizushima said.
The winner of the Poplar Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction receives a prize amount of 20 million yen, however, according to his new management agency, A stAtion, Mizushima declined the prize. The reason for his declination, is that he wants them to use the money to assist new talented writers.
Hiro Mizushima also talked about the rumor of him being kicked out from Kenon (his previous agency), because he got married with Ayaka without telling the agency. He emphasized that he was the one who left the agency, and the relationship with the agency is still good. According to him, he will start creating things related to ‘life’, which is the most important theme to everybody.
Preorder "KAGEROU" here for US$25.99!
2010年10月31日消息，水岛宏用“齐藤智”的笔名投出了小说《KAGEROU》用处女作小说《KAGEROU》获得了“第5届POPULA公司小说大奖”（第5回ポプラ社小说大赏），并获得了2000万的奖金（获奖后并未领取奖金）。这是该奖项久违4年的大奖。这部作品是以他本人从幼稚园到小学毕业在瑞士的亲身体验，外加周围朋友的异国感受写成的长篇小说，讨论自杀现象，呼唤尊重生命为主题的作品，据说是受了老婆绚香音乐创作的刺激，勾起了他的写作欲望。
來源：百度百科, Tokyograph
