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Jin Mayama

まやま じん

Mayama Jin

Pen Names: Kazumi Kiwamu（Debut pen name (joint byline used for 'Double Gearing')）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1962-07-04 （Sakai, Osaka, Japan）
Died
{"note": "living"}
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Shin-Kanaoka, Sakai, Osaka, Japan → Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan (resident at time of the 1995 Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Non-fiction writer, Former newspaper reporter
Active Years
1987-
Affiliations
Yomiuri Shimbun Chubu (former), Japan PEN Club
Memberships
Japan PEN Club
Influenced By
Frederick Forsyth
Nominations
2nd Yamada Futaro Award nominee (Corruptio), 146th Naoki Prize nominee (Corruptio), 35th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award nominee (Greed)

Education

Doshisha University
Faculty of Law / Department of Political Science
Degree: 学士（法学）
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Department of Political Science
Momoyama Gakuin High School
Country: Japan
Wrote a long manuscript during high school (submitted ~550 pages to the Edogawa Rampo Prize)

Awards

Yamada Futaro Award
2012
Work: Corruptio
Organization: Yamada Futaro Award Committee
Result: nominated
Naoki Prize
2012
Work: Corruptio
Organization: Naoki Prize Committee
Result: nominated
Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award
2014
Work: Greed
Organization: Yoshikawa Eiji Award Committee
Result: nominated

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Double Gearing (Chain Collapse)

2003 Economic fiction

An economic novel depicting the collapse risk of a life insurance company. Mayama's debut, initially published under the pen name 'Kazumi Kiwamu'.

FinanceInsuranceCorporate ethicsEconomy

Hagetaka (series)

2004 Economic fiction

A series about corporate takeovers centered on the Hagetaka Fund. Adapted into television dramas and a film; Mayama's best-known work.

Corporate takeoversPrivate equity fundsCapitalismEthics
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Hagetaka (NHK Saturday Drama) (2007)
  • [Film] Hagetaka (film) / 大友啓史 (Keishi Otomo) (2009)
  • [TV drama] Hagetaka (TV Asahi) (2018)
  • [TV drama (spin-off)] Spiral: The Miracle of the Small Factory (Hagetaka spin-off) (2019)

Red Zone

2009 Economic thriller

An economic thriller published after serialization, focusing on crisis management and corporate wrongdoing.

Crisis managementCorporate wrongdoingEconomy

Corruptio

2011 Political fiction

A long novel depicting collusion between politicians and corporations and the structures of power. Shortlisted for several literary awards.

Political corruptionPower strugglesMedia and politics

Greed

2013 Economic fiction

A work that depicts human drama and economic conflicts caused by greed and profit-seeking. Shortlisted for the Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award.

GreedFinanceEthics

Tōkakushi

2015 Political suspense

A socially minded novel about the behind-the-scenes of elections and politics. Adapted into a television special.

ElectionsPolitical manipulationDemocracy
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Tōkakushi (TV Asahi drama special) (2020)

Bibliography

  • Double Gearing (2003)
  • Hagetaka (Vol. I & II) (2004)
  • Buyout (Hagetaka II) (2006)
  • Fortress of Illusion (2005)
  • Magma: Novel of the International Energy War (2006)
  • Beijing (Vol. I & II) (2008)
  • Red Zone (Vol. I & II) (2009)
  • Pride (2010)
  • Corruptio (2011)
  • Apocalypse (2013)
  • Greed (Vol. I & II) (2013)
  • Hagetaka Side Story: Spiral (2015)
  • Tōkakushi (2015)
  • And Then the Night When Stars Shine (2014)
  • Can You See the Sea? (2016)
  • Nevertheless, the Sun Rises (2021)
  • Operation Z (2017)
  • Trigger (Vol. I & II) (2019)

Adaptations

  • Hagetaka (NHK drama, film, TV Asahi drama)
  • Magma (WOWOW drama)
  • Operation Z (WOWOW drama)
  • Tōkakushi (TV Asahi drama special)
  • Hagetaka 4.5: Spiral (TV Tokyo DramaBiz)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realistic, research-based style focusing on contemporary economy and politicsFast-paced dialogue and detailed industry depiction
Recurring Motifs
Corporate takeovers and fundsConflict between power and ethicsEarthquakes/disasters and human resilience

Legacy

Recognized as a leading writer of economic fiction, known for works about corporate takeovers and politics. Through adaptations such as 'Hagetaka' (TV and film), he reached a broad audience and is noted for presenting contemporary Japanese social issues within entertaining narratives.

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

Archives

  • Held in the National Diet Library of Japan
  • Listed in major bibliographic databases (CiNii, VIAF, etc.)

In Popular Culture

  • Became widely known through TV and film adaptations of 'Hagetaka'
  • Frequently cited in media as a writer of socially engaged entertainment

Quotes

  • I had struggled so hard to live, and yet I thought, 'Would this disaster kill me?'
    Source: Interview (Sankei Shimbun) (2018)
  • I thought as an elementary school student that novels could be a tool to voice discomforts with society.
    Source: Remarks (various interviews) (2018)

Trivia

  • Debut novel was originally published under the pen name 'Kazumi Kiwamu' (later credited as a joint authorship)
  • Joined Yomiuri Shimbun Chubu in 1987 and worked as a reporter in Gifu before becoming a freelance writer
  • Survived the Great Hanshin–Awaji Earthquake; the experience informed his disaster-related works
  • The 'Hagetaka' series was adapted for TV and film, with lead actors including Nao Omori and Go Ayano
  • While in high school he submitted a manuscript of about 550 pages to the Edogawa Rampo Prize