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Morihide Katayama

かたやま もりひで

Katayama Morihide

Aliases: 片山 素秀
Pen Names: Morihide Katayama（Primary byline used for writing and criticism）, Motohide Katayama（Former legal name used in earlier publications）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1963-08-29 （Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan (birthplace) → Grew up in Tokyo, Japan → Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan (resident)

Career

Occupations
Political scientist, Music critic, University professor, Critic, Author, Radio presenter
Active Years
1990-2025
Affiliations
Keio University (Faculty of Law), International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Visiting Associate Professor, 2009–2011), Mihara City Art and Culture Center Popolo (Director, from April 2020), Art Tower Mito / Mito Arts Tower (Director, from November 2024)
Memberships
Member, Yoshida Hideo Award selection committee, Member, Ōya Sōichi Nonfiction Award selection committee, Member, Kobayashi Hideo Award selection committee, Member, Suntory Music Award selection committee
Influenced By
Hiroshi Kageyama, Bunzō Hashikawa, Rikio Harada

Education

Keio University
Faculty of Law / Department of Political Science
Degree: 学士
Country: Japan
Graduated from the undergraduate program; exact graduation year not clearly stated in public sources.
Meiji University Graduate School of Political Science and Economics
Graduate School of Political Science and Economics
Country: Japan
Studied in the master's program, reportedly under Bunzō Hashikawa.
Keio University Graduate School of Law
Graduate School of Law (Doctoral Program)
Country: Japan
Withdrew from the doctoral program after completing coursework (left after earning required credits).

Awards

Humanities Research Association Prize
2006
Work: Study of the Prewar Japanese Compositional World
Organization: Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University
Result: Winner
Yoshida Hideo Award
2008
Work: 'Onban Kōgengaku' and 'Onban Hakubutsushi' (Record Studies)
Organization: Art Tower Mito (Yoshida Hideo Award)
Result: Winner
Suntory Academic Award
2008
Work: 'Onban Kōgengaku' and 'Onban Hakubutsushi' (Record Studies)
Organization: Suntory Foundation
Result: Winner
Shiba Ryōtarō Prize
2012
Work: Unfinished Fascism: The Fate of Japan, a 'Non-holding Nation'
Organization: Shiba Ryōtarō Foundation
Result: Winner
Art Encouragement Prize — Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
2025
Work: Dairaku Hitsu: My Biography of Akira Ifukube
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Onban Kōgengaku (Disc Studies) — Katayama Morihide Book 1

2008 Music criticism / Non-fiction

An essay collection that reexamines modern Japanese music history through SP records and recorded materials.

Music historyRecord restoration and archival researchModern Japanese history

Onban Hakubutsushi (Record Natural History) — Katayama Morihide Book 2

2008 Music criticism / Essays

An essay collection exploring the relationship between audiences and performances through the medium of records.

Media studiesHistory of recordingPerformance culture

Unfinished Fascism: The Fate of Japan, a 'Non-holding Nation'

2012 History of political thought / Non-fiction

A scholarly critique that discusses the unfinished nature of fascism in Japan and its implications through modern Japanese history.

Political thoughtFascism studiesModern Japanese history

The Core of Classical Music

2014 Music commentary / Non-fiction

A guidebook interpreting major classical composers and their works.

Classical musicComposer studiesMusic history

Dairaku Hitsu: My Biography of Akira Ifukube

2024 Biography / Music history

A biographical study of composer Akira Ifukube, written from the author's distinctive perspective.

BiographyJapanese music historyComposer research

Godzilla and the Rising Sun: The Complete 'Yabu o Niramu' Columns by Morihide Katayama

2010 Essays / Social commentary

A compilation of the 'Yabu o Niramu' columns from Weekly SPA!, covering topics from politics to film and music.

ColumnsSocial commentaryCultural criticism

Bibliography

  • Right-wing Thought in Modern Japan
  • Onban Kōgengaku — Katayama Morihide Book 1
  • Onban Hakubutsushi — Katayama Morihide Book 2
  • Classic Labyrinth Library — Katayama Morihide Book 3
  • Godzilla and the Rising Sun: Collected 'Yabu o Niramu' Columns
  • Unfinished Fascism: The Fate of Japan, a 'Non-holding Nation'
  • Dairaku Hitsu: My Biography of Akira Ifukube
  • The Core of Classical Music

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Blend of scholarly analysis and essayistic proseCritical and expository style
Recurring Motifs
Intersection of music and politicsReexamination of modern Japanese historyStudy of recorded materials and archives

Legacy

Recognized as a public intellectual combining research in the history of political thought with music criticism; has influenced reassessments of modern Japanese history and music history. Maintains a broad readership through university teaching and media appearances.

Museums

  • Mihara City Art and Culture Center Popolo (Director) Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
  • Art Tower Mito / Mito Arts Tower (Director) Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

In Popular Culture

  • The 'Yabu o Niramu' column in Weekly SPA! was collected into a book and widely read
  • Regular appearances on NHK and radio programs increased his reach to general audiences

Trivia

  • Previously published under his legal name '片山 素秀' (Katayama Motohide).
  • Closely involved in record restoration projects and writing explanatory material for historic recordings.
  • Known for the long-running 'Yabu o Niramu' column in Weekly SPA! which was later published as a book.
  • Served as director of Mihara's Popolo center and Mito Arts Tower.