Japanese Literary Awards

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Masao Kawai

かわい まさを

Kawai Masao

Pen Names: Kusayama Mato（Pen name used for children's literature and fairy tales）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1924-01-02 （Sasayama Town, Taki District, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (now Tamba-Sasayama)）
Died
2021-05-14 （Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (at home)） age 97
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Sasayama (now Tamba-Sasayama), Hyogo → Kyoto (affiliated with Kyoto University) → Inuyama (honorary citizen, Aichi Prefecture)

Career

Occupations
Primatologist, Children's literature author, Zoologist, Professor Emeritus
Active Years
1950-2021
Affiliations
Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan Monkey Center, Aichi University, Japan Welfare University, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Nature and Human Activities, The Open University of Japan
Influenced By
N. Imanishi (Kinji Imanishi)
Influenced

Education

Niigata Higher School (old system)
Country: Japan
Kyoto University, Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science / Department of Zoology
Degree: 学士（理）
Period: 〜1952
Year of Graduation: 1952
Country: Japan
Undergraduate graduation (Department of Zoology)
Kyoto University (Graduate School)
Graduate School of Science
Degree: 博士（理学）
Period: 研究生〜1962
Year of Graduation: 1962
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: Experimental studies on group society of Japanese macaques

Awards

Asahi Prize
1969
Organization: Asahi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Noma Children's Literature Recommended Work Prize
1976
Work: Shonen Doubutsu-shi (Stories of Young Animals)
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation / (work published by) Fukuinkan Shoten
Result: 受賞
NHK Broadcasting Culture Award
1990
Organization: NHK
Result: 受賞
Purple Ribbon Medal
1990
Organization: Government of Japan (honor)
Result: 受章
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (Recommended Work Prize)
1992
Work: Small Natural History
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1992
Work: The Origin of Man (Vols. 1–2)
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Chunichi Culture Award
1993
Organization: Chunichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Tokai TV Culture Award
1994
Organization: Tokai Television Broadcasting
Result: 受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (3rd class)
1995
Organization: Government of Japan (honor)
Result: 受章
Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award (Special Achievement)
1997
Organization: Kyoto Prefecture
Result: 受賞
The Japan Academy's Royal Society of Edinburgh Prize (Edinburgh Medal equivalent)
2004
Work: Field studies of primates in Japan and Africa — especially environmental adaptation and social formation
Organization: The Japan Academy
Result: 受賞
Junior Fourth Rank
2021
Organization: Government of Japan (court rank)
Result: 叙位

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Gorilla Expedition: Terror in the Equatorial African Rainforest

1961 Scientific travelogue / reportage

A travelogue and field report of gorilla research in Africa, compiling early observations from great ape expeditions.

field researchgreat apesnature and humanity

Ecology of the Japanese Macaque

1965 Academic

A work summarizing behavior, ecology, and social structure of the Japanese macaque.

animal behaviorsocial structurecultural behavior

Stories of Young Animals

1975 Children's literature / reportage

A collection of approachable writings on animals and observations for children; acclaimed in children's literature.

children and natureanimal observationeducation

The Emblem of the Gelada Baboon

1978 Children's literature / scientific essay

A book on the social behavior of gelada baboons (Ethiopia), blending scientific observation and narrative.

social ecologycommunicationevolution

The Origin of Humans

1992 Popular science / academic

An accessible account of human evolution and origins based on primatological research (two volumes).

evolutionhuman natureorigins of culture

Doecru Expedition

2018 Fantasy (children's novel)

A long-form fantasy featuring talking animals; a late-life creative work by the author.

imaginationempathy with animalsnature

Bibliography

  • Gorilla Expedition: Terror in the Equatorial African Rainforest (1961)
  • Ecology of the Japanese Macaque (1965)
  • Stories of Young Animals (1975)
  • The Emblem of the Gelada Baboon (1978)
  • The Origin of Humans (Vols. 1–2) (1992)
  • Doecru Expedition (2018)

Adaptations

  • Film 'School of the Forest'

Translations by Author

  • Jane Goodall, 'The Chimpanzees of Gombe' (translated title: 'Neighbors in the Forest: Chimpanzees and Me') (1973, translation)
  • Alan Gouds? 'Gorilla: Gentle Giants of the Forest' (co-translated) (1984)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Accessible, observational proseBlends scientific insight with narrativeChild-friendly tone when writing for young readers
Recurring Motifs
coexistence with natureanimal perspectivesorigins of evolution and culture

Health

  • pediatric tuberculosis
    幼少期
    Contracted in childhood and was frail, but contact with nature helped recovery and became formative.
  • senescence / natural causes (old age)
    晩年
    Died at home in 2021 of natural causes related to old age.

Legacy

A world-renowned primatologist known for studies of Japanese macaques and gelada baboons; also a respected children's author and advocate for nature education and satoyama conservation.

Museums

  • Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Nature and Human Activities (Honorary Director) Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (vicinity)

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Primatological Society (related)

Archives

  • National Diet Library and various academic databases hold materials

In Popular Culture

  • Film 'School of the Forest' (depicting the Kawai family)

Quotes

  • After the war I wondered why humans do such foolish things. I wanted to go back to the root of human nature and investigate it. To do that, we must go back as far as the monkeys and study the roots of human nature.
    Source: Interview / writings (summarized on the referenced Wikipedia entry) (1994)

Trivia

  • His younger brother is the noted clinical psychologist Hayao Kawai (Hayao Kawai).
  • Used the pen name Kusayama Mato for children's literature.
  • Known for discovering the potato-washing behavior of Japanese macaques on Koshima, Miyazaki Prefecture.