Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Yataro Matsuura

まつうら やたろう

Matsuura Yataro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1965 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → United States (resided)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Bookseller, Editor, Translator, Film director
Active Years
1983-
Affiliations
COW BOOKS, Kurashi no Techo (editor-in-chief), Cookpad (Kurashi no Kihon), Oishii Kenko Co., Ltd., DEAN & DELUCA Magazine (editor-in-chief), Tokyo Children's Library (Auditor), m&co. booksellers (former)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Hon'gyo Shikkaku (Failure at One's Main Profession)

2000 Essay

A collection of essays on the author's thoughts about work and daily life, composed of short personal pieces.

daily lifeworkself-improvement

The Place Was Always a Travel Destination

2009 Essay / Travel

An essay collection about insights from travels and daily life. Later adapted into a theatrical film directed by the author.

travelmemoirdaily life
Adaptations
  • [Theatrical film] The Place Was Always a Travel Destination / 松浦 弥太郎 (2021)

Carefully Today: Notes on Tips and Discoveries in Daily Life

2008 Lifestyle / Essay

A book collecting essays and practical tips on mindful, careful daily living.

daily lifehabitspractice

Bibliography

  • Hon'gyo Shikkaku
  • The Worst and Best Bookshop
  • Whistle Sandwich: Essays by Yataro Matsuura
  • Whistle Catalog
  • A Lighter Way of Living
  • Carefully Today: Notes on Tips and Discoveries in Daily Life
  • The Place Was Always a Travel Destination
  • 100 Days
  • The New Normal
  • Yataro Matsuura's Work Techniques
  • Introduction to Sense
  • The Power to Communicate
  • Cheerful Habits
  • Start from One
  • Have a Good Day Today

Adaptations

  • The Place Was Always a Travel Destination - Theatrical film (dir. Yataro Matsuura, 2021)

Translations by Author

  • Miroslav Sasek 'This Is San Francisco' and other travel picture books (translations)
  • Saul Bass / Leonore Klein 'Henri Goes to Paris' (translation)
  • 'My Grandfather' (translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
concise, approachable proseobservational essays rooted in everyday lifepractical, easy-to-read advice
Recurring Motifs
everyday living tipstraveldaily habitswork and vocation

Legacy

Through essays and editorial work focused on daily living, he popularized mindful everyday expression. As an editor and bookseller and through media activities, he has influenced lifestyle culture and public approaches to daily life.

Academic Societies

  • Tokyo Children's Library (public interest corporation)

In Popular Culture

  • Radio appearances (NHK and various FM stations)
  • UNIQLO 'LifeWear Story 100' series (web)
  • Theatrical release as film director (2021)

Quotes

  • I was told that when all media only covered miserable stories, people chose Kurashi no Techo because it did not handle those; media not only report truth but also serve as an escape from reality.
    Source: Lecture (2016) (2016)

Trivia

  • Dropped out of high school and moved to the U.S. alone at age 18.
  • Operated m&co. booksellers in Nakameguro and co-founded COW BOOKS.
  • Served as editor-in-chief of Kurashi no Techo until 2015.
  • Became editor-in-chief of DEAN & DELUCA Magazine from 2019.
  • Released a film he directed in 2021.