Japanese Literary Awards

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Masaya Chiba

ちば まさや

Chiba Masaya

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1978-12-14 （Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, French, English
Residence History
Utsunomiya, Tochigi (birthplace) → Tokyo, Japan (studies and research at University of Tokyo) → Paris, France (study abroad) → Kyoto, Japan (Ritsumeikan University) → Boston, USA (visiting researcher)

Career

Occupations
Philosopher, Novelist, University Professor, Critic, Translator
Active Years
2004-
Affiliations
University of Tokyo, Ritsumeikan University, Takasaki City University of Economics (adjunct), Tokyo University of the Arts (adjunct), Edwin O. Reischauer Institute (Harvard University, visiting researcher)
Memberships
Association for Representation and Cultural Studies, Philosophical Association of Japan, Franco-Japanese Philosophical Association, The Aesthetics Society of Japan, Japanese Association for the History of Social Thought
Influenced By
Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault, Jacques Lacan, Félix Guattari, Quentin Meillassoux, Markus Gabriel, Graham Harman, Catherine Malabou, Samuel Beckett, Paul Klee, Takahiro Nakajima, Yoshiyuki Koizumi, Izumi Suzuki, Shuzo Kuki, Akira Asada, Hiroki Azuma
Nominations
Candidate, 162nd Akutagawa Prize ("Deadline"), Candidate, 33rd Mishima Yukio Prize ("Deadline"), Candidate, 165th Akutagawa Prize ("Overheat"), Candidate, 36th Mishima Yukio Prize ("Electric"), Candidate, 169th Akutagawa Prize ("Electric")

Education

Tochigi Prefectural Utsunomiya High School
Period: 〜1997年3月
Year of Graduation: 1997
Country: Japan
Alma mater (high school)
University of Tokyo, College of Arts and Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences / Interfaculty Initiative in Cultural Studies (Representation and Cultural Studies)
Degree: 学士
Period: 1997-2001
Year of Graduation: 2001
Country: Japan
Studied representation and cultural studies during undergraduate course
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo
Interfaculty Initiative in Cultural Studies / Representation and Cultural Studies course
Degree: 修士（学術）
Period: 2001-2004
Year of Graduation: 2004
Country: Japan
Master's thesis on Gilles Deleuze and the 'philosophical animal'
Université Paris Nanterre (Paris X)
Faculty of Literature, Languages and Philosophy (Philosophy)
Degree: Master 2 (Diplôme)
Period: 2005-2006
Year of Graduation: 2006
Country: France
Studied as a French government-funded exchange student
École normale supérieure (France)
Period: 2005-2007
Year of Graduation: 2007
Country: France
Attended as a foreign research student
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo
Interfaculty Initiative in Cultural Studies / Representation and Cultural Studies course
Degree: 博士（学術）
Period: 2004-2012
Year of Graduation: 2012
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: Gilles Deleuze and the Philosophy of Becoming (later published as a monograph)

Awards

Kinokuniya Jinbun Award
2013
Work: Don't Move Too Much
Organization: Kinokuniya Bookstore
Result: 大賞 (Grand Prize)
Representation and Cultural Studies Association Award
2014
Work: Don't Move Too Much
Organization: Association for Representation and Cultural Studies
Result: 受賞
Noma Literary Newcomer's Prize
2019
Work: Deadline
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Kawabata Yasunari Literature Prize
2021
Work: Magic Mirror
Organization: Kawabata Yasunari Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
New Book Award
2023
Work: Introduction to Contemporary Thought
Category: 大賞
Organization: Chuokoron-Shinsha
Result: 大賞 (Grand Prize)
Kyoto City New Artist Award
2023
Organization: City of Kyoto
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Don't Move Too Much

2013 Philosophy 368 pages

A revised version of his doctoral thesis examining Gilles Deleuze's philosophy of becoming and discussing contemporary philosophical issues.

Deleuze studiesphilosophy of becomingmetaphysicsontology

Another Way — Twitter Philosophy

2014 Essays / Philosophy

A collection of fragmentary philosophical essays engaging with Twitter and short-form media.

media theoryfragmentary thoughtcommunication

The Philosophy of Studying

2017 Philosophy / Education

A philosophically oriented examination of the practice of studying, discussing the meaning and methods of learning for a general readership.

theory of learningeducationmethodology

Meaningless Meaning

2018 Philosophy / Essay

An essay collection focusing on meaninglessness and the absence of meaning, developing philosophical insights from everyday and cultural phenomena.

meaninglessnesscultural criticismphilosophical prose

American Travelogue

2019 Prose / Travelogue

A prose collection recounting experiences in hotels and cafes during his stay at Harvard.

travel writingcultural observationscenes of everyday life

Deadline

2019 Novel

His first full-length novel, depicting contemporary urban life and relationships; it won the Noma Literary Newcomer's Prize.

urban lifelonelinessinterpersonal relations

Overheat

2021 Fiction / Short fiction

Composed of short-fiction pieces, including "Magic Mirror," exploring human desire and relationships.

short fictiondesiresexuality

Electric

2023 Novel

A recent novel exploring contemporary sensibilities and rhythms of modern society through fiction.

contemporary societysensibilityrhythm

Bibliography

  • Don't Move Too Much: Gilles Deleuze and the Philosophy of Becoming (2013)
  • Another Way — Twitter Philosophy (2014)
  • The Philosophy of Studying: For the Coming Fools (2017)
  • Meaningless Meaning (2018)
  • American Travelogue (2019)
  • Deadline (2019)
  • Overheat (2021)
  • Introduction to Contemporary Thought (2022)
  • Electric (2023)
  • The Philosophy of Sense (2024)

Translations by Author

  • Catherine Malabou, 'Heidegger, Critic of Capitalism' (co-translation / translation work)
  • Jacques Derrida related essays (co-translation, 2009)
  • Félix Guattari, 'Anti-Oedipus Draft' (co-translator, 2010)
  • Quentin Meillassoux, 'After Finitude' (co-translator, 2016)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
diary-like, fragmentary prosecombination of scholarly rigor and popular toneintersection of criticism and essay
Recurring Motifs
philosophical animalexcessive connectivitycut/ruptureirony, humor, pleasuremeaningless meaningprovisionally fixed identitydifference and rhythmphilosophy of production

Legacy

Known for bridging contemporary French thought with criticism of art, literature, and fashion. He has introduced speculative realism and other anglophone theories to Japan and connected academic and general audiences through both introductory works and fiction.

Academic Societies

  • Association for Representation and Cultural Studies
  • Philosophical Association of Japan
  • Franco-Japanese Philosophical Association
  • The Aesthetics Society of Japan
  • Japanese Association for the History of Social Thought

In Popular Culture

  • Demonstrated a connection between fashion culture and philosophy through research and practice of 'gal-o' fashion
  • Came out as gay and gained attention for writings and representation on sexuality

Trivia

  • Both parents had art/design backgrounds; exposed to art from an early age
  • Often adopts 'gal-o' (gal-flavored male) fashion in public appearances
  • Has publicly stated that he is gay