Sano Shōichi (佐野 昌一, December 26, 1897 - May 17, 1949), know by his pen name Unno Jūza (海野 十三), was a Japanese novelist who was the founding father of Japanese science fiction.

Biography

Unno was born on December 26, 1897, in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, to a family of medical doctors. He studied at the Waseda University. In 1928 he debuted as a writer with the novel The case of the mysterious death in the electric bath (Denkifuro no kaishijiken). During the Pacific War he wrote a great number of science-fiction novels, remaining in Tokyo throughout the air raids. Japan's defeat in World War II was for him a hard blow, and Unno spent the last years in his life in a state of deep depression. His scientific work was influenced by that of Nikola Tesla. Unno died on May 17, 1949, aged 51.

Legacy

Captain Jūzō Okita of Space Battleship Yamato was named as a tribute to Unno.

Works

Utei Tenku Series

Utei Tenku Series (烏啼天駆シリーズ):

Under alias of Oka Kyūjūrō

English Translations