Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Kensuke Nishioka

にしおか けんすけ

Nishioka Kensuke

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1967-07-21 （Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Osaka Prefecture → Hyogo Prefecture (Himeji, Kobe) → Tokyo

Career

Occupations
journalist, writer, non-fiction author
Active Years
1991-

Education

Doshisha University
Faculty of Law / Department of Law
Degree: 学士
Period: 1986-1990
Year of Graduation: 1990
Country: Japan
Assisted at a laborer support facility in Kamagasaki during university

Awards

Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award
Organization: Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award
Result: winner
Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award
2007
Work: The Truth of JR East Taken Over by Terrorists (series)
Organization: Editors' Choice Magazine Journalism Award
Result: winner
Kodansha Nonfiction Prize
2008
Work: Mangrove: The Truth of JR East Taken Over by Terrorists
Organization: Kodansha
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Chasing Scandals: The 'Uwasa no Shinso' Insider Trade

2001 non-fiction (journalism)

A non-fiction account of reporting experiences and scandal chasing at the magazine 'Uwasa no Shinso'.

investigative reportingmedia criticism

Mangrove: The Truth of JR East Taken Over by Terrorists

2008 non-fiction (reportage)

A reportage compiling a serial published in 'Weekly Gendai' about JR East labor union issues, covering union activities, ties to public security, and related lawsuits.

labor union issuespower and public security (police/secret police)defamation litigation

Assault: The 1000-Day War of Nakata Kaus

2009 non-fiction

A non-fiction work based on reporting about Nakata Kaus.

entertainmentscandal

We Were Sued! Fighting SLAPP Litigation

2010 non-fiction (dialogue / legal issues)

A dialogue-style book on fighting SLAPP (strategic lawsuits against public participation), co-authored with Hironori Ugaya.

freedom of expressionlitigation

Two Disasters: From Kobe (1/17) to Tohoku (3/11)

2012 non-fiction (co-authored)

A co-authored book compiling reporting on the Hanshin-Awaji and Great East Japan earthquakes.

disaster reportingrecovery

The Truth of Naoki Hyakuta's 'Junai'

2015 non-fiction (investigative journalism)

One of the co-authored works investigating and examining issues around Naoki Hyakuta's 'Junai'.

non-fiction credibilityreporting ethics

Bibliography

  • Chasing Scandals: The 'Uwasa no Shinso' Insider Trade (Kodansha, 2001)
  • Mangrove: The Truth of JR East Taken Over by Terrorists (Kodansha, 2008)
  • Assault: The 1000-Day War of Nakata Kaus (Asahi Shimbun Publications, 2009)
  • We Were Sued! Fighting SLAPP Litigation (Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 2010)
  • Two Disasters: From Kobe (1/17) to Tohoku (3/11) (Kodansha, 2012)
  • The Truth of Naoki Hyakuta's 'Junai' (Takarajimasha, 2015)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
investigative non-fiction stylehard-hitting, direct prose
Recurring Motifs
critique of powerlabor union and organizational issuesinvestigation of yakuza and religious/social ties

Legacy

A controversial investigative journalist: recognized with journalism and nonfiction awards while also facing numerous defamation lawsuits and criticism over reporting on JR East labor unions. He has influence in non-fiction reporting but has been central to debates on reporting ethics and sources.

Trivia

  • Joined Kobe Shimbun in 1991 and began his career as a reporter
  • Worked as a staff member at the magazine 'Uwasa no Shinso'
  • Operates the X (formerly Twitter) account @biriksk