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Yasuaki Onuma

おおぬま やすあき

onuma yasuaki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1946-03-08 （Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2018-10-16 （Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan） age 72
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Yamagata City → Bunkyo, Tokyo (University of Tokyo affiliation) → Shinjuku, Tokyo (later years)

Career

Occupations
international law scholar, university professor, researcher
Active Years
1968-2016
Affiliations
University of Tokyo, Meiji University

Education

University of Tokyo
Faculty of Law / Political Course (Public Law)
Year of Graduation: 1970
Country: Japan
University of Tokyo
Graduate School of Law and Politics / Law
Degree: 博士（法学）
Year of Graduation: 1999
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: "Human Rights, State, Civilization: From Universalist Conceptions to Transcivilizational Perspectives"

Awards

Ishibashi Tanzan Prize
1987
Work: "Economic Frictions in History and Civilization" (essays)
Organization: Ishibashi Tanzan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Peace Studies Association Peace Prize
2017
Organization: Japan Peace Studies Association
Result: 受賞（共同受賞）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Introductory Study on War Responsibility: Ideology and Binding Nature in the Formation of "crimes against peace"

1975 scholarly work

A scholarly examination of the formation of war responsibility and its legal and ideological aspects.

war responsibilityinternational lawpostwar accountability

Between Wa and the Far East: "Internationalization" in History and Civilization

1988 scholarly work

An essay considering East Asian internationalization and Japan's position from historical and civilizational perspectives.

East Asiacivilizational studiesinternationalization

Human Rights, State, Civilization: From Universalist to Transcivilizational Perspectives

1998 scholarly work (doctoral thesis)

A doctoral thesis addressing the shift from universalist conceptions of human rights to transcivilizational perspectives.

human rightsinternational lawcomparative civilizational analysis

Bibliography

  • Introductory Study on War Responsibility
  • Country of Durian, Shadows of Rohmsha: Reflections from Travels in Southeast Asia
  • From the Tokyo Trials to Postwar Responsibility Thought
  • Beyond the Myth of a Homogeneous Nation: Korean and Chosen Residents in Japan and the Immigration Control System
  • Between Wa and the Far East
  • Sakhalin Abandonment: Vignettes of Postwar Responsibility
  • Human Rights, State, Civilization
  • Nationality and Human Rights of Koreans and Chosŏn Residents in Japan
  • International Law: For Beginners
  • What Was the "Comfort Women" Issue?: The Merits and Faults of Media, NGOs, and Government

Style & Themes

Literary Style
academic and critical expositioncomparative/transcivilizational perspective
Recurring Motifs
war responsibilityhuman rightsinternational lawEast Asian civilization and history

Health

  • renal pelvic cancer (transitional cell carcinoma)
    罹患期間は公表情報に基づらないため不明
    Died in 2018 after illness

Legacy

A Japanese international law scholar who focused on war responsibility and human rights. He made notable contributions to university education and international research, receiving honors such as the Ishibashi Tanzan Prize and the Japan Peace Studies Association Peace Prize. Known for critical studies on East Asian history and civilization.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Peace Studies Association

Archives

  • University of Tokyo Library / research archives
  • Meiji University Library

Quotes

  • It is the postwar journey of reflecting on war and building a peaceful, secure, and prosperous society that we should be proud of.
    Source: 47NEWS (interview article) (2014)

Trivia

  • Born into a sake-brewing family in Yamagata (the Jukoya/Yonagoya brewery lineage).
  • His daughter, Mizuho Onuma, is a former member of Japan's House of Councillors.