Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 21 (1990) award
Fujio Nakano
なかの ふじお
Nakano Fujio
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1950-10-23 （Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Niigata, Japan → Sydney, Australia
Career
- Occupations
- Non-fiction writer, Journalist
- Active Years
- 1978-
- Affiliations
- National Museum of Ethnology (associate researcher), Soranokai (space policy think tank; representative secretary)
- Influenced By
- Tadasu Umesao
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niigata Meikun Junior & Senior High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Nihon University, College of Bioresource Sciences (left before graduation) | College of Bioresource Sciences | — | — | — | Japan |
| University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Engineering | Graduate School/Faculty of Engineering | Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | 博士（工学） | — | Japan |
Niigata Meikun Junior & Senior High School
Country:
Japan
Nihon University, College of Bioresource Sciences (left before graduation)
College of Bioresource Sciences
Country:
Japan
Did not complete degree
University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Engineering
Graduate School/Faculty of Engineering
/ Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Degree:
博士（工学）
Year of Graduation:
2006
Country:
Japan
Doctoral thesis: "Quantitative evaluation methods for satellite development technology"
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | National Press Club (Australia) / Journalist Prize | Japanese pearl divers in Broome | — | Australian National Press Club / Australia-Japan Foundation | winner |
| — | Japan Nonfiction Prize (11th) | The Bugle Charge at Cowra | — | Japan Nonfiction Prize Committee | winner |
| — | Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award (21st) | Laser Scalpel: The Finger of God | — | Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award Committee | winner |
National Press Club (Australia) / Journalist Prize
1980
Work:
Japanese pearl divers in Broome
Organization:
Australian National Press Club / Australia-Japan Foundation
Result:
winner
Japan Nonfiction Prize (11th)
Work:
The Bugle Charge at Cowra
Organization:
Japan Nonfiction Prize Committee
Result:
winner
Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award (21st)
Work:
Laser Scalpel: The Finger of God
Organization:
Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award Committee
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Japanese pearl divers in Broome
1980 Non-fictionA reportage-style nonfiction account of Japanese pearl divers in Broome, Australia.
immigrationJapan-Australia relationslabor history
The Bugle Charge at Cowra: Why the Zero Fighter Pilots Died
1984 Non-fiction (military history / investigative journalism)A detailed investigation of the Cowra incident, examining prisoners, aircraft wreckage, and the wider Japan-Australia wartime relationship and assimilation policies.
Pacific WarJapan-Australia relationshistorical investigation
The Country of the Aborigines
1985 Non-fiction (ethnography / fieldwork)An account of Aboriginal societies in Australia, assimilation policies, and land rights movements based on field research.
indigenous studiesassimilation policyland rights
Great Flight
1987 Non-fiction (aerospace)A mix of explanatory writing and field reportage on the aerospace sector.
aerospacehistory of technology
Malay Tiger: The Harimau Legend
1988 Non-fiction (history & culture)A researched study of legends and history related to the Malay Peninsula.
regional historylegend
Laser Scalpel: The Finger of God
1989 Non-fiction (science & technology)A reportage tracing the development and social significance of laser surgical instruments.
medical technologyscience and society
Invitation to Advanced Technology
1993 Non-fiction (science & technology overview)An accessible overview of contemporary advanced science and technology and their challenges.
advanced technologyscience communication
Bibliography
- Japanese pearl divers in Broome (1980)
- The Bugle Charge at Cowra (1984)
- The Country of the Aborigines (1985)
- Great Flight (1987)
- Malay Tiger: The Harimau Legend (1988)
- Laser Scalpel: The Finger of God (1989)
- Invitation to Advanced Technology (1993)
- Japan's Space Development (1999)
- Science Behind the News (2001)
- Desktop Techniques (2002)
- Why Science and Technology Fail (2004)
- Brain Vision: Dr. Tom's Challenge (2005)
- Easy Science in Daily Life (2006)
- Raising Children to Like Science (2007)
Translations by Author
- Black Illegitimate Child (translation of Charles Perkins, 1987)
- Zeiss: A Tumultuous 100 Years (translation of Armin Hellmann, 1995)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- journalistic reportageexplanatory prose about science and technology
- Recurring Motifs
- Japan-Australia relationsIndigenous (Aboriginal) studiesaerospace and technologysocial impact of science and technology
Legacy
Recognized for both ethnographic fieldwork on Aboriginal societies and reportage on aerospace and medical technologies, Nakano has contributed to nonfiction and science journalism. He also helped popularize information/knowledge-work techniques (e.g., Kyoto-style index cards).
Academic Societies
- Soranokai (space policy think tank)
Trivia
- He adopted Tadasu Umesao's Kyoto-style index card method and wrote about note-taking and knowledge work (e.g., "Memo Techniques").
- In 1978 he moved to Australia, conducting Aboriginal studies and engaging with land rights movements.