Kō Machida

Kō Machida (町田 康) is a Japanese author, punk rock singer, poet and actor.

Career
Machida formed a punk rock band called Inu (meaning a dog in Japanese) in 1978. His stage name was Machida Machizō (町田町蔵). Inu released their first album Meshi Kuuna! (literary "Don't eat food!") in 1981. The band split shortly after the album release. He went on to form a number of bands and released several albums. His albums earned reasonable critical acclaims but the commercial success was limited.

His first literary work published was Kūge in 1992 that included a selection of his poems. His first novel was Gussun Daikoku in 1996 that earned him the Bunkamura Deux Magots Literary Award. His unique style of story-telling marked by non-sense, irrelevance and slapsticks is influenced by Kamigata (Kansai) Rakugo and Jidaigeki (samurai dramas). Some critics link him to self-destructive I Novel writers before the World War II such as Kamura Isota and Chikamatsu Shūkō. Oda Sakunosuke is also cited as his influencer.

He won the 123rd Akutagawa Prize with Kiregire ("Shreds") in 2000 and the Tanizaki Prize with Kokuhaku ("Confession") in 2005.

Discography
Albums
 * Meshi Kuuna! by Inu (1981)
 * Ushiwakamaru Nametottara Dotsuitaru Zo by Inu (Published in 1984, recorded in 1979)
 * Doterai Yatsura by Machida Machizo from Shifuku Dan (1986)
 * Hona, Donaisee Iune by Machida Machizo (1987)
 * Harafuri by Machida Machizo + Kitazawa Gumi (1992)
 * Chūshajō no Yohane by Machida Machizo + Kitazawa Gumi (1994)
 * Dōnikanaru by Machida Ko + The Glory (1995)
 * Nōnai Shuffle Kakumei by Machida Ko (1997)
 * Miracle Young by Miracle Young (2003)
 * Machida Kō Group Live 2004 Oct 6th by Machida Ko Group (2004)

Singles
 * Kokoro no Unitto by Machi Tai (2002)

Filmography (Selected)
He played major roles in the following films.
 * The Burst City directed by Sogo Ishii (1982)
 * Endless Waltz directed by Koji Wakamatsu (1995)
 * H Story directed by Nobuhiro Suwa (2001)

Selected literary works

 * Kūge (供花) - His debut poem selection 1992
 * Kussun Daikoku (くっすん大黒) - Bunkamura Deux Magots Literary Award 1996
 * Ore, Nanshin Shite (俺、南進して) 1999 co-authored with Nobuyoshi Araki
 * Shreds (Kiregire, きれぎれ) - Akutagawa Prize 2000
 * Gonge no Odoriko (権現の踊り子) - Kawabata Yasunari Literary Award 2003
 * Confession (Kokuhaku, 告白) - Tanizaki Prize 2005