Japan Literary Grand Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 18 (1986) award
Tadanobu Tsunoda
つのだ ただのぶ
Tsunoda Tadanobu
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1926-10-08 （Nakano, Tokyo, Japan）
- Died
- null
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Nakano, Tokyo, Japan → Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Medical and Dental University)
Career
- Occupations
- Medical researcher, Otolaryngologist, University professor, Researcher, Author
- Active Years
- 1949-2016
- Affiliations
- Tokyo Medical and Dental University, National Center for Hearing and Language Disorders, Institute for Research on Intractable Diseases, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Medical and Dental University | Faculty of Medicine | Otorhinolaryngology | 医学士 | 1945–1949 | Japan |
| Tokyo Medical and Dental University | Graduate School (Medical Sciences) | Otorhinolaryngology | 医学博士 | 1951–1957 | Japan |
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Faculty of Medicine
/ Otorhinolaryngology
Degree:
医学士
Period:
1945–1949
Year of Graduation:
1949
Country:
Japan
Graduated in 1949 with specialization in otorhinolaryngology
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Graduate School (Medical Sciences)
/ Otorhinolaryngology
Degree:
医学博士
Period:
1951–1957
Year of Graduation:
1957
Country:
Japan
Doctoral thesis: "Method for detecting stapes fixation"
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Japan Literary Award (Arts & Sciences category) | Discovery of the Brain: The Microcosm Within the Brain | 学芸部門 | Shinchosha | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Order of the Sacred Treasure (Zuihō Shōju-shō) | — | — | Cabinet Office (Japan) | 受章 |
Japan Literary Award (Arts & Sciences category)
1986
Work:
Discovery of the Brain: The Microcosm Within the Brain
Category:
学芸部門
Organization:
Shinchosha
Result:
受賞
Order of the Sacred Treasure (Zuihō Shōju-shō)
2016
Organization:
Cabinet Office (Japan)
Result:
受章
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Japanese Brain: Brain Function and Eastern–Western Culture
1978 Science / Non-fictionA popular-science exploration arguing that certain auditory and cognitive traits among Japanese people reflect lateralized brain functions. It presented ideas about Japanese sensitivity to natural sounds and sparked public debate.
NeuroscienceJapanese identityLeft–right brain functionsNatural sound perception
Right Brain and Left Brain: Their Functions and Cultural Differences
1981 Science / EssaysDiscusses functional differences between the hemispheres and their cultural implications, based on examples and experimental observations.
Hemispheric differencesCultural comparisonCognitive science
Discovery of the Brain: The Microcosm Within the Brain
1985 Science / ExpositionExplains brain structure and function for a general audience, introducing concepts such as brain 'microcosms' and reporting results related to the Tsunoda test. The book received a literary award in the scholarly category.
Brain structureConsciousnessExperimental methodology
Brain Sensors: Exploring the Possibility of Earthquake Prediction
1987 Science / Non-fictionPresents observations and theories suggesting that the human brainstem may respond sensitively to crustal strain and geomagnetic changes, proposing the possibility of using human sensors for earthquake prediction.
Earthquake predictionBrainstem responsesEnvironment–biology interaction
The Brain of the Japanese Language User: Reason, Sensibility, Emotion, Time and Earth Science
2016 Science / Cultural studiesA later work revisiting relationships among language, brain, sensibility, and reason, and examining links with temporal and geomagnetic factors; it continued to generate discussion after publication.
Language and brainSensibility vs. reasonTemporality
Bibliography
- The Japanese Brain: Brain Function and Eastern–Western Culture
- Right Brain and Left Brain: Their Functions and Cultural Differences
- Continued: The Japanese Brain
- Discovery of the Brain: The Microcosm Within the Brain
- Brain Sensors: Exploring the Possibility of Earthquake Prediction
- Right Brain and Left Brain: Probing the Subconscious with Brain Sensors
- The Brain of the Japanese Language User: Reason, Sensibility, Emotion, Time and Earth Science
- Language, Consciousness and Life in Life Sciences (co-authored)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Expository style that renders academic material accessible to general readersA narrative approach that links theory and observation
- Recurring Motifs
- Hemispheric differencesNatural sounds (insect sounds, murmuring streams)Microcosm (synchronization of brain and celestial phenomena)Geomagnetic and crustal stress responses
Legacy
Tadanobu Tsunoda popularized aspects of neuroscience to a wide readership and linked them to discussions of Japanese identity; however, his methods and conclusions drew strong criticism from experts. He is noted for stimulating public debate.
Academic Societies
- The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan
- Acoustical Society of Japan
In Popular Culture
- The book 'The Japanese Brain' sold over 300,000 copies, was widely covered in TV and magazines, and sparked public debate.
Quotes
-
Japanese people have a particular sensitivity to natural sounds, which forms a basis for culture and sensibility.
Source: The Japanese Brain: Brain Function and Eastern–Western Culture (1978)
Trivia
- Proposed an original experimental method known as the "Tsunoda test".
- 'The Japanese Brain' sold over 300,000 copies and became a bestseller.
- Received the Japan Literary Award (scholarly category) from Shinchosha in 1986.
- Awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Zuihō Shōju-shō) in 2016.
- His methods and conclusions have been criticized within the academic community.