Shinkichi Noda (1933-2008) was a Japanese writer, critic, and translator, considered a central figure in the third generation of his country's science fiction authors. His career, which began in the 1960s, was closely tied to the world of fandom and specialized magazines, contributing significantly to the growth of the genre in Japan. Among his most important works are the *Ginga Hyōryū* (Galactic Castaways) series and, most notably, his masterpiece, the novel *Hoshi no Hakobune* (The Ark of the Stars), published in 1982. For this latter work, which combines space adventure with profound reflections on the human condition, Noda won the two highest national awards in the field: the prestigious Japan SF Grand Prize (Nihon SF Taisho Award) and the Seiun Award, thereby solidifying his status as a master of Japanese science fiction.