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Atsumi Joji

あつみ じょうじ

Atsumi Joji

Aliases: 丈兒
Pen Names: Atsumi Joji（Pen name used in publications）, Joji (legal name)（Legal/birth name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1953-05-27 （Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
novelist, author
Active Years
1985-

Education

Nihon University
College of Humanities and Sciences / Department of Sociology
Country: Japan
Graduated from the College of Humanities and Sciences (Department of Sociology)

Awards

Bungei Prize
1985
Work: Midnight Homo sapiens
Organization: Bungei (Bungei Prize)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Midnight Homo sapiens

1985 Novel

A novel published in 1985 that examines loneliness and fractured human relationships in contemporary society. It won the 21st Bungei Prize. Cover design by Tadanori Yokoo.

lonelinessurban lifemodern society

A Journey Around John Lennon: A New York Sentimental Trip

1990 Travel writing / Essay

A travelogue/essay themed on John Lennon — a sentimental account of travel in New York.

musictravelsentiment

Mori no Hypocrite

1992 Short story

A short story published in Shueisha's 'Subaru' magazine, sharply depicting personal emotions and relationships.

human psychologyhypocrisy

The Lone Butterfly's Dream: A Novel on Kitamura Tōkoku

1996 Novel

A novel centered on the poet and critic Kitamura Tōkoku, blending literary-historical perspectives with inner personal struggles.

literary historybiographical fictionideas

Japan Syndrome

2001 Essays / Criticism

A collection of essays critically examining Japanese society and culture, focusing on social phenomena.

social criticismcultural commentary

Seventeen: The Record of Evil — The High-School Girl Concrete-Encased Murder Case

2003 Non-fiction novel

A non-fiction novel based on the concrete-encased murder of a high-school girl, portraying the case, background, and related social issues based on reporting.

crimesocial issuesvictim perspectivejuvenile crime
Adaptations
  • [Film] Concrete / 中村拓武 (2004)

Darkness of the Atom (vol. 1 & 2)

2011 Novel

A two-volume novel dealing fictionally with themes around nuclear power and science.

scienceethicssociety

The Silent Recipient

2012 Novel

A novel published after being serialized in newspapers (e.g. Hawaii Hochi, Shizuoka Shimbun). It thematically focuses on silence and untold matters.

silencememorysociety

Latent Murder

2018 Novel

A 2018 novel addressing crime and psychological themes suggested by the title.

criminal psychologytension

Bibliography

  • Midnight Homo sapiens
  • A Journey Around John Lennon: A New York Sentimental Trip
  • Mori no Hypocrite
  • The Lone Butterfly's Dream: A Novel on Kitamura Tōkoku
  • Japan Syndrome
  • Seventeen: The Record of Evil — The High-School Girl Concrete-Encased Murder Case
  • Darkness of the Atom (vol. 1 & 2)
  • The Silent Recipient
  • Latent Murder

Adaptations

  • Film 'Concrete' (2004, dir. Takumu Nakamura), adapted from '十七歳、悪の履歴書'

Style & Themes

Literary Style
socially engaged prosea blend of journalistic reporting and fictional technique
Recurring Motifs
crime and social shadowsindividual lonelinessurban landscapes

Legacy

A novelist active since the 1980s, Atsumi Joji is known for works that address social issues and crime in both non-fiction and fiction. One of his notable works was adapted into a film, attracting attention at the intersection of literature and cinema.

Archives

  • Authority file at the National Diet Library (NDL)

In Popular Culture

  • Film 'Concrete' (2004) — a film adaptation based on 'Seventeen: The Record of Evil'

Trivia

  • The cover design for 'Midnight Homo sapiens' was by Tadanori Yokoo.
  • 'Seventeen: The Record of Evil' was adapted into the film 'Concrete' in 2004.
  • An official website for the author exists in archived form on the Internet Archive.