{{Short description|Japanese science fiction translator and writer (1923–2004)}} thumb|right|240px|Tetsu Yano in 1964 '''Tetsu Yano''' (Japanese 矢野徹 ''Yano Tetsu''; October 5, 1923 &ndash; October 13, 2004) was a Japanese science fiction translator and writer. He began to introduce to Japanese readers the works of US science fiction writers in the late 1940s. He was the first Japanese writer of the genre to visit the United States, in 1953. He took part in founding Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ, 日本SF作家クラブ) in 1963, and served as its president from 1978 to 1979.<ref Name="sfwj">(ja) [http://old.sfwj.jp/member/YANO-TETSU.html SFWJ site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616155012/http://old.sfwj.jp/member/YANO-TETSU.html |date=2015-06-16 }}</ref><ref name="sfwj-intro">(ja) [http://sfwj.jp/about/ SFWJ: about]</ref>

== Biography == Yano was born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture and grew up in Kobe. After studying at Chuo University for three years, he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Army, serving two years and two months.<ref name="sfwj-e">(en) [http://old.sfwj.jp/member/YANO-TETSU.e.html SFWJ-E site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328231808/http://old.sfwj.jp/member/YANO-TETSU.e.html |date=2018-03-28 }}</ref> After the war he made a living collecting trash on a US military base, where he became fascinated with the colorfully illustrated science fiction works thrown away by the soldiers.

He learned to read English and eventually began translating science fiction. The works of Robert A. Heinlein, Frederik Pohl, Desmond Bagley, and Frank Herbert were among the some 360 translations by him. He also wrote stories of his own, including ''The Legend of the Paper Spaceship'', which first appeared in English translation in 1984 and has appeared in several collections. Some of his stories have been adapted into anime.

Yano died on October 13, 2004, from cancer of the large intestine.<ref name="sfwj" /> Although he made a partial recovery after an operation in November of the previous year, he relapsed. His funeral was held on October 16, 2004. The SFWJ gave the Special Award of Nihon SF Taisho Award for his contributions to Japanese science fiction.<ref>(ja) [http://sfwj.jp/awards/winners/ SFWJ: Winners]</ref>

== Works == === Novels === * ''Chikyū zero nen'' ({{lang|ja|地球0年}}) 1969 Rippu shobo * ''Kamui no Ken'' ({{lang|ja|カムイの剣}}) 1970, Rippu shobo : ''The Dagger of Kamui'' * ''Shinsekai yūgekitai'' ({{lang|ja|新世界遊撃隊}}) 1972 Tsuru shobo seikosha * ''Orgami uchūsen no densetsu'' ({{lang|ja|折紙宇宙船の伝説}}) 1978 Hayakawa shobo : ''The Legend of the Paper Spaceship'' * ''Karasu no umi'' ({{lang|ja|カラスの海}}) 1977 Kadokawa shoten * ''442 rentai sentōdan'' ({{lang|ja|442連隊戦闘団}}) 1979 Kadokawa shoten * ''Jisatsu sensuikan totsugeki seyo'' ({{lang|ja|自殺潜水艦突撃せよ}}) 1980 Kadokawa shoten * ''Akumu no senjō'' ({{lang|ja|悪夢の戦場}}) 1982 Hayakawa shobo * ''Kōtei heika no senjō'' ({{lang|ja|皇帝陛下の戦場}}) 1983 Kadokawa shoten * ''Telepath-gari no wakusei'' ({{lang|ja|テレパス狩りの惑星}}) 1992 Hayakawa shobo <!--連邦宇宙軍シリーズ5 --> * ''Sōgen wo yuku hansen'' ({{lang|ja|草原をゆく帆船}}) 1993 Hayakawa shobo<!--連邦宇宙軍シリーズ6 --> * ''Sabaku no time-machine'' ({{lang|ja|砂漠のタイムマシン}}) 1993 Hayakawa shobo <!--連邦宇宙軍シリーズ7-->

== Translations == * ''Tenkai no ō'' (Star King) by Edmond Hamilton * ''Uchū no senshi'' (Starship Troopers) by Robert A. Heinlein * ''Akutoku nanka kowakunai'' (I Will Fear No Evil) by Robert A. Heinlein * ''Dune'' (Dune) by Frank Herbert

== English translated novel == * ''The Dagger of Kamui'' (Kamui no Ken)

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links== * [http://www.sfwj.or.jp/member/YANO-TETSU.e.html Official SFWJ profile] * [http://www.iblist.com/author6705.htm Internet Book List profile] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828024959/http://www.sfwa.org/News/yano.htm SFWA obituary] * [http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/yano_tetsu Entry] in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yano, Tetsu}} Category:Japanese science fiction writers Category:Japanese male short story writers Category:Japanese speculative fiction critics Category:Japanese speculative fiction translators Category:1923 births Category:2004 deaths Category:People from Matsuyama, Ehime Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer in Japan Category:Chuo University alumni Category:20th-century Japanese translators Category:Imperial Japanese Army personnel of World War II