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Sosuke Mita

みた むねすけ

Mita Sōsuke

Aliases: 真木 悠介 / まき ゆうすけ
Pen Names: Yusuke Maki（Used as a pen name for some works (including some academic writings)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1937-08-24 （Tokyo Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2022-04-01 （Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan） age 84
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Mexico (study abroad) → Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Sociologist, University Professor, Author
Active Years
1965-2022
Affiliations
University of Tokyo (Faculty of Liberal Arts; Professor Emeritus), Kyoritsu Women's University (Faculty of Home Economics, Professor), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo (Professor)
Influenced By
G. W. F. Hegel, Carlos Castaneda
Influenced
, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Education

The University of Tokyo
Faculty of Letters / Department of Sociology
Degree: 学士（社会学）
Period: 〜1960年
Year of Graduation: 1960
Country: Japan
Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters (1960)
Graduate School, University of Tokyo
Graduate School / Sociology (graduate program)
Degree: 修士（社会学）
Country: Japan
Degree listed as Master of Sociology (specific year not indicated in the source)
The University of Tokyo, Doctoral Program
Doctoral Program / Sociology
Period: 〜1965年
Year of Graduation: 1965
Country: Japan
Left the doctoral program after earning credits (did not complete doctorate)

Awards

Kido Prize
1964
Work: Types of Unhappiness in the Contemporary Era (essay)
Category: 社会心理学
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
2012
Work: Definitive Collected Works of Sōsuke Mita (10 vols.)
Category: 企画部門
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (Zuihō Chūjushō)
2017
Organization: Cabinet Office (Japan)
Result: 叙勲（受章）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Theory of Contemporary Society

1996 Sociology

Examines the dynamics of the information and consumer society and outlines ways to address contemporary crises while preserving the principles of a free society.

information societyconsumer societysocial structure

Comparative Sociology of Time

1981 Sociology

A comparative sociological analysis of concepts of time across cultures and societies.

time studiescomparative sociologyculture

Origins of the Self: The Animal Sociology of Love and Egoism

1993 Sociology

Explores the formation of the self, egoism, and the origins of social relations from a sociological perspective.

selfhoodrelationsegoism

The Sound of Air Currents: Symphonizing Communes

1977 Sociology/Cultural Studies

An essayistic work discussing communes and collective life from a communeist perspective.

communescommunityculture

Social Psychology of Modern Japan

1965 Social Psychology / Sociology

Analyzes the values and consciousness structure of modern Japanese people from a social-psychological perspective.

social psychologymodernizationvalue systems
Translations
  • Social Psychology of Modern Japan, trans. Stephen Suloway (Kegan Paul International, 1992)

Introduction to Sociology: People and the Future of Society

2006 Introductory Sociology

An introductory book that outlines key themes of sociology and challenges in contemporary society.

educationintroductory sociologycontemporary society

Bibliography

  • Social Psychology of Modern Japan (1965)
  • Theory of Value Consciousness (1966)
  • The Emotional History of Modern Japan (1967)
  • The Structural Existence of Contemporary Society (1977)
  • The Sound of Air Currents (1977)
  • Comparative Sociology of Time (1981)
  • Origins of the Self (1993)
  • Theory of Contemporary Society (1996)
  • Introduction to Sociology (2006)
  • Definitive Collected Works of Sōsuke Mita (10 vols., 2011-2012)

Translations of Works

  • Social Psychology of Modern Japan (English translation, 1992)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
analytical and comparative stylecombines theoretical argument with essayistic passages
Recurring Motifs
timeselfsocial relationscommunesnihilism and egoism

Health

  • Vision deterioration
    2017以降
    Paused private seminar 'Kino no Juku' due to worsening eyesight
  • Sepsis
    2022-04-01
    Cause of death (died in hospital)

Legacy

Sōsuke Mita was a prominent Japanese sociologist known for comparative sociology, cultural sociology, studies of time and the self. Through long teaching and research at the University of Tokyo he mentored many scholars; his works have had significant academic influence and were recognized with collected editions and awards.

Quotes

  • I strongly felt we must free ourselves from the Cold War framework of thinking such as 'capitalism or communism'.
    Source: Asahi Shimbun (memoir/reflection) (2016)
  • You must not look at things from only one side; you should always view them also from the opposite perspective and then integrate both views to see the whole. Hegel's methodology seemed to open up the world to me.
    Source: Asahi Shimbun interview ('Gifts of Life' series) (2016)

Trivia

  • Used the pen name Yusuke Maki.
  • Lost his mother at age six.
  • His father was a scholar who experienced imprisonment during the war and unemployment after the war.
  • Eldest son Ryusuke Mita is a manga artist; second son Kosuke Mita is a manga artist/illustrator/translator.
  • After retirement he ran a private seminar 'Kino no Juku' which was suspended in 2017 due to declining eyesight.