In 2023 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan celebrates its sixtieth anniversary. A member of the group writes about its history, introducing some of the luminaries who have guided it—and Japanese sci-fi as a whole—for more than a half-century.
Japanese Science Fiction and the SFWJ
Japanese science fiction is probably best known internationally for its many giant monster and robot films in the tradition of Godzilla, and for futuristic anime such as Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy) and Akira. In fact, though, it represents a long and varied tradition, little known or understood in the West.
Ever since the 1960s, one organization has been central to the growth and development of SF in the Japanese archipelago: the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ). With the SFWJ celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this year, I trace the evolution of the association over more than half a century in this two-part series.
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