Japanese Literary Awards

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Tetsuro Matsuzawa

まつざわ てつろう

Matsuzawa Tetsuro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1950-10-15 （Ehime Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Ehime Prefecture, Japan → Kyoto, Japan (residence related to work)

Career

Occupations
Animal psychologist, Primatologist, University professor, Researcher, Author
Active Years
1976-
Affiliations
Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study, Japan Monkey Centre, Kyoto University
Memberships
Japanese Psychological Association, Japanese Primatological Society, Japanese Neuroscience Society
Influenced By
Jane Goodall, Edward O. Wilson
Influenced
Subsequent Japanese primatologists, Researchers in cognitive science and animal cognition

Education

Tokyo Metropolitan Ryogoku High School (and affiliated junior high school)
Period: 卒業 1969
Year of Graduation: 1969
Country: Japan
Kyoto University, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters / Philosophy
Degree: 学士
Period: 1970-1974
Year of Graduation: 1974
Country: Japan
Kyoto University Graduate School, Doctoral Program in Letters
Graduate School of Letters / Doctoral program (withdrawn)
Period: 1974-1976
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: Japan
Left doctoral program (withdrawn)
Kyoto University
Graduate School of Science
Degree: 博士（理学）
Period: 〜1989
Year of Graduation: 1989
Country: Japan
PhD thesis: 'Hierarchy of visual perception in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)' (1989).

Awards

Chichibu-no-miya Memorial Science Award
1991
Organization: Chichibu-no-miya Memorial Science Award
Result: 受賞
Nakayama Prize (Special Award)
1996
Organization: Nakayama Prize
Result: 受賞
Japanese Psychological Association Research Encouragement Award
1998
Organization: Japanese Psychological Association
Result: 受賞
Jane Goodall Prize
2001
Organization: Jane Goodall Prize
Result: 受賞
Chunichi Cultural Prize
2004
Organization: Chunichi Cultural Prize
Result: 受賞
Toki Toshihiko Memorial Award (Japanese Neuroscience Society)
2004
Organization: Japanese Neuroscience Society
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2004
Organization: Government of Japan (Cabinet Office)
Result: 受章
Science Journalist Award
2011
Work: The Power of Imagination (想像するちから)
Organization: Science Journalist Award
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
2011
Work: The Power of Imagination (想像するちから)
Organization: Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
Result: 受賞
Person of Cultural Merit
2013
Organization: Government of Japan (Agency for Cultural Affairs / MEXT)
Result: 選出
Japanese Psychological Association International Award (Special Prize)
2014
Organization: Japanese Psychological Association
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Chimpanzee Who Learned Words

1985 Children's book / popular science

A popular/scientific account aimed at younger readers describing the research of teaching words to the chimpanzee 'Ai'.

chimpanzeeslanguage acquisitionanimal cognition

The World Seen from Chimpanzees

1991 Popular science

A general-audience examination of chimpanzee cognition and social behavior based on observations and experiments.

cognitive sciencebehavioral observationsocial behavior

Chimpanzee Mind: The World of Mind and Cognition

1991 Academic / popular science

A theoretical and experimental account of chimpanzee mind and cognition.

consciousnesscognitive structurescomparative psychology

Chimpanzees Are 'Chimpanjin': Ai and Friends in Africa

1995 Children's / field report

An essay-style book contrasting the captive Ai with wild chimpanzees observed in Africa.

field studiescaptive vs wild comparisonsocial relationships

Ai Became a Mother

2001 General non-fiction

A record of maternal and parenting behavior in chimpanzees, told through Ai's childbirth and raising of offspring.

mother–child relationshipbehavioral observationdevelopment

Chimpanzees: Neighbors in Evolution

2002 Popular science

A popular science discussion of the human–chimpanzee relationship and its evolutionary significance.

evolutionary theorycomparative anatomybehavioral evolution

Ai and Ayumu: 700 Days of Mother and Child

2002 Reportage / non-fiction

A reportage following 700 days in the life of the captive mother and child pair Ai and Ayumu.

mother–child behaviorlong-term observationcultural transmission

The Power of Imagination: What Chimpanzees Taught Us About the Human Mind

2011 Popular science

A general-audience essay drawing lessons about the human mind and imagination from chimpanzee research.

imaginationcognitive scienceorigins of humanity

Bibliography

  • The Chimpanzee Who Learned Words (1985)
  • The World Seen from Chimpanzees (1991)
  • Chimpanzee Mind: The World of Mind and Cognition (1991)
  • Chimpanzees Are 'Chimpanjin': Ai and Friends in Africa (1995)
  • Ai Became a Mother (2001)
  • Chimpanzees: Neighbors in Evolution (2002)
  • Ai and Ayumu: 700 Days of Mother and Child (2002)
  • Neighbors in Evolution: Humans and Chimpanzees (2002)
  • The Power of Imagination: What Chimpanzees Taught Us About the Human Mind (2011)

Translations by Author

  • Edward O. Wilson, 'Sociobiology' Vol.5 (translation/supervision), Shisakusha, 1985
  • Jane Goodall, 'The World of Wild Chimpanzees' (supervised translation, with Yukimaru Sugiyama), Minerva Shobo, 1990
  • Jane Goodall, 'Chimpanzees' Japanese edition (supervision & translation), Kumon Publishing, 1994
  • Goodall & Philip Berman, 'Travellers of the Forest' (translation), Kadokawa, 2000

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scientific yet accessible proseExplanation linking observation and experimentNarrative style made accessible to general readers
Recurring Motifs
mother–child relationshipslanguage and cognitionhuman–chimpanzee comparisonscultural transmission

Legacy

A pioneering figure in primatology and animal cognition both in Japan and internationally. Known for long-term observational projects such as the 'Ai Project' combined with cognitive experiments, and for communicating findings to the public through popular books. His career also includes controversies over research fund expenditures, giving his legacy both scholarly achievements and public debate.

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Psychological Association
  • Japanese Primatological Society
  • Japanese Neuroscience Society

Archives

  • Archives of the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University

In Popular Culture

  • Appearances in popular media such as NHK's 'Human Lecture' series
  • Introduced primatology to wide audiences through children's books and popular science titles

Trivia

  • Led the 'Ai Project' teaching language to chimpanzees and studied juvenile chimpanzees such as Ayumu.
  • PhD thesis titled 'Hierarchy of visual perception in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)' (1989).
  • Served as director of the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, and concurrently as director of the Japan Monkey Centre.
  • Was dismissed from Kyoto University in 2020 over findings of improper research fund expenditures and subsequently filed lawsuits.
  • Named Person of Cultural Merit in 2013 and awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2004.