Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Masumi Fukuda

ふくだ ますみ

Fukuda Masumi

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1956-05-05 （Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Journalist, Non-fiction writer, Freelance writer
Active Years
1978-

Education

Rikkyo University
Faculty of Sociology
Period: 1974-1978
Year of Graduation: 1978
Country: Japan

Awards

Shincho Documentary Prize (6th)
2007
Work: Detchiage: The Truth of the Fukuoka 'Murder Teacher' Case
Organization: Shinchosha
Result: Winner
Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award (Work Prize)
2016
Work: Monster Mother: The Maruko Vocational High School Bullying Suicide Case
Organization: Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Yet I Do Not Wish Execution — The Victim's Brother Who Advocates Abolition of the Death Penalty

1998 Non-fiction

A non-fiction work examining the death penalty from the viewpoint of a victim's brother who advocates abolition.

death penaltyvictim families

Portrait of the Stalin Family

2002 Non-fiction

A reportage based on research into Joseph Stalin's family and their historical influence.

Russian historypower and family

Detchiage: The Truth of the Fukuoka 'Murder Teacher' Case

2007 Non-fiction / Investigative journalism

An investigative report questioning the fabricated allegations in a widely reported Fukuoka case concerning teacher bullying.

education issuesfalse accusations / fabricationmedia criticism
Adaptations
  • [Comic] Detchiage (manga adaptation) (2020)

Assassin State Russia: Pursuing the Vanished Journalists

2010 Non-fiction / International reporting

A reportage tracing the suppression and disappearance of journalists in Russia.

Russiafreedom of the pressinternational journalism

Monster Mother: The Maruko Vocational High School Bullying Suicide Case

2016 Non-fiction / Investigative journalism

A work investigating a case labeled as 'monster parents' and examining the complex background of a bullying-related suicide.

bullyingschool issuesfamily and society

The True Face of 'Poli-Correctness': What Lies Beyond 'Diversity Respect' and 'Word Policing'

2021 Essay / Social commentary

A critical examination of political correctness and the ideological currents the author argues underlie it.

political correctnesscultural theorycontemporary social criticism

Bibliography

  • Yet I Do Not Wish Execution — The Victim's Brother Who Advocates Abolition of the Death Penalty
  • Portrait of the Stalin Family
  • Detchiage: The Truth of the Fukuoka 'Murder Teacher' Case
  • Assassin State Russia: Pursuing the Vanished Journalists
  • Monster Mother: The Maruko Vocational High School Bullying Suicide Case
  • The True Face of 'Poli-Correctness': What Lies Beyond 'Diversity Respect' and 'Word Policing'

Adaptations

  • Detchiage (manga adaptation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
reportage-oriented, hard-hitting styleinvestigative journalism approach
Recurring Motifs
crime reportingexamination of education issuescoverage of Russia and international issues

Legacy

Recognized as an investigative journalist who probes social issues through long-standing reportage; has also drawn criticism for engagements with Unification Church-related groups and for conservative-leaning commentary.

Trivia

  • Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa
  • Graduate of Rikkyo University, Faculty of Sociology
  • Won the Shincho Documentary Prize for 'Detchiage' (2007)
  • Has appeared and contributed to events and media linked to Unification Church-related groups