was a Japanese

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...

fanzine published from 1957 until its 204th issue in 2013. It was Japan's first science fiction fanzine. It was awarded a special Seiun Award in 1982 as Japan's oldest science fiction fanzine, and received an honorable mention for Best Amateur Magazine at the 1962 Hugo Awards.

History

''Uchūjin'' began publication with the May 1957 issue. Science fiction author and translator Takumi Shibano 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, Yasutaka Tsutsui, Ryū Mitsuse, Shinji Kajio, 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 cit ...

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, and Masaki Yamada. At the first Nihon SF Taikai 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 Tadashi (Kanji: 正, 禎, 忠, 荘, 匡史 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 coach ...

* 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 a ...

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 Norio (written: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , or in hiragana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese rower *Norio Hayakawa (born 1944), American activist *, Japanese speed skater *, Ja ...

* Shinji Kajio *

Ichirō Kanō , also written Ichiro, Ichirou or Ichiroh is a masculine Japanese given name. The name is occasionally given to the first-born son in a family. Like many Japanese names, Ichirō can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: * 一� ...

* Sakyo Komatsu * Tadashi Kōsai *

Aran Kyōdomari Aran m 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 * Aran, Ker ...

* Taku Mayumura * Hiroshi Minamiyama * Ryu Mitsuse * Tsutomu Miyazaki *

Kōsei Ono (born 17 April 1987 in Nagoya, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union player who plays at fly half for the Japan national rugby team. Career Ono moved to New Zealand aged 3, and went to Christchurch Boys' High School, the school that famously ...

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 actor and television personality *, Japanese film director *, ...

* Hakukō Saitō *

* Aritsune Toyota * Yasutaka Tsutsui * Katsufumi Umehara * Masaki Yamada * Tetsu Yano * Baku Yumemakura

Best collections

Several collections of works from ''Uchūjin'' were published in Japan. * series: Volumes 1-3 (May 1977, Kodansha), published for the 20th anniversary of the fanzine * series, published for the 30th anniversary of the fanzine **Volume 1: (December 1987, Kawade Shobō Shinsha, ) **Volume 2: (December 1987, Kawade Shobō Shinsha, ) * edited by Takumi Shibano, 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