Yoshihiko Funazaki

Yoshihiko Funazaki (舟崎 克彦, Funazaki Yoshihiko; February 2, 1945 – October 15, 2015) was a Japanese novelist, poet, illustrator, manga artist, songwriter, and assistant professor of Shirayuri College. He has written more than 300 books.

Funazaki was born to a wealthy family^{[citation needed]} in Tokyo. After graduating from Gakushuin University in 1968, he worked as a songwriter, screenwriter, and illustrator while working in a real estate company. In 1969, while he had leave of absence, he and Yasuko Funazaki, his wife, started to write a nonsense tale, Tonkachi to Hanashōgun (トンカチと花将軍, The Hammer and the Flowery General). In 1971, he resigned from the company and made his debut as a novelist.

In 1973, he wrote Poppen Sensei no Nichiyōbi (ぽっぺん先生の日曜日, The Sunday of Professor Poppen). The next year, the second novel of this series, Poppen Sensei to Kaerazu no Numa (ぽっぺん先生と帰らずの沼, Professor Poppen and the Swamp of No Return) won Akaitori Bungaku Shō (赤い鳥文学賞, The Redbird Literary Prize).^{[citation needed]}

His autobiographical Ame no Dōbutsuen (雨の動物園, The Rainy Zoo) won Sankei Jidō Shuppan Bunka Shō (The Sankei Child Books Publishing and Culture Award) in 1975, and was selected as "Honor List" of Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1976 respectively. In 1976, Anoko ga Mieru (あのこがみえる, I can see that girl) was nominated for the Graphic Award at the Bologna International Book Fair.

In 1983, Q wa sekaiichi (Q はせかいいち, Q is best in the world) won Sankei Jidō Shuppan Bunka Shō. In 1984, Hakamadare (はかまだれ) won Ehon Nippon Shō (絵本にっぽん賞, Japanese Picture Books Prize). In 1986, Kazehiki Tamago (かぜひきたまご, Coughing Eggs) won Sankei Jidō Shuppan Bunka Shō.

In 1989, Poppen Sensei series won Robō no Ishi Bungakushō (路傍の石文学賞, The Roadside Stone Literary Prize).

Funazaki died on October 15, 2015, at the age of 70 in Mitaka, Tokyo.

Around 1996, Funazaki was informed by a reader that Detective Conan, had similarities to Picasso-kun no tantei note. Funazaki checked Detective Conan and "verified close resemblances."^{[citation needed]} Funazaki considered "these resemble points has possibility of coincidence,"^{[citation needed]} so he contacted Shogakukan. Funazaki was told, "The creator (Gosho Aoyama) might not have read Picasso-kun no tantei note. But I can't deny the possibility that one of his staff members was amused at the situation of Picasso-kun no tantei note and suggested as an idea."^{[citation needed]} (Funazaki had not read any other volume except the first, because he considered that "It is ridiculous that he gave the royalties from Conan books to Gosho Aoyama."^{[citation needed]}) Later, he wrote about this inquiry process in the quarterly magazine Parolu, where he declared, "There is no responsibility (責任の所在がない)," "I'll fall into evil way (グレてやる)".

Funazaki was offended at the response, and he published the third book as a protest against Aoyama.^{[citation needed]}