Japanese Literary Awards

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Masaru Sato

さとう まさる

Sato Masaru

Pen Names: Masaru Sato（Real name and commonly used pen name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-01-18 （Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, English, Russian, Czech, German, Latin, Greek, Korean
Religion
United Church of Christ in Japan (Calvinism) Baptized in 1979 （Baptismal Name: Christian）
Residence History
Shibuya, Tokyo → Omiya, Saitama (now Saitama City)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Diplomat, Visiting Professor
Active Years
1990-
Affiliations
Visiting Professor, Faculty of Theology, Doshisha University, Invited Visiting Professor, Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, Honorary Doctorate, Meio University
Memberships
Japan PEN Club
Nominations
Shincho Documentary Prize (2005) finalist, Kodansha Non-fiction Prize (2006) nominee

Education

Doshisha University
Faculty of Theology / Department of Theology
Degree: 修士
Period: 1980年代初頭から1985年
Year of Graduation: 1985
Country: Japan
Master's degree in theology. Specialized in the study of Josef Lukl Hromadka.

Awards

Mainichi Publishing Culture Award Special Prize
2005
Work: The State Trap
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Shincho Documentary Prize Finalist
2005
Work: The State Trap
Organization: Shinchosha
Result: 最終候補
Oya Soichi Non-Fiction Prize Finalist
2006
Work: The Self-Destructing Empire
Organization: Oya Soichi Non-Fiction Prize Committee
Result: 最終候補
Bungeishunju Reader's Prize
2008
Work: Negotiation Skills
Organization: Bungeishunju
Result: 受賞
Shinsho (New Book) Award 6th Place
2010
Work: How We Train Our Brain
Organization: Chuko Publishing
Result: 受賞
Shinsho Award 9th Place
2014
Work: The Secrets to Being Stronger
Organization: Chuko Publishing
Result: 受賞
Shinsho Award 6th Place
2015
Work: Soka Gakkai and Pacifism
Organization: Chuko Publishing
Result: 受賞
Bungeishunju Reader's Prize
2015
Work: New War Theory with ISIS
Organization: Bungeishunju
Result: 受賞
Kinokuniya Jinbun Award 20th Place
2018
Work: How to Send Students to the Battlefield: Reading Hajime Tanabe's 'Demon's Kyoto University Lectures'
Organization: Kinokuniya Bookstore
Result: 受賞
Tadao Umesao Mountain and Exploration Literature Award
2019
Work: Fifteen Summers
Organization: Tadao Umesao Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
2020
Work: Fifteen Summers
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Award Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The State Trap

2005 Non-fiction 350 pages

A military and diplomatic non-fiction work describing the experiences of a former diplomat.

DiplomacySpyingJapanese Politics

Style & Themes

Literary Style
LogicalDescriptiveAnalytical
Recurring Motifs
Diplomat's perspectiveSpy activitiesPolitical criticism

Health

  • Chronic kidney disease
    2020年代初頭から
    Severe condition requiring dialysis.
  • Prostate cancer
    2021年診断
    Underwent complete prostate removal surgery.
  • Coronary artery stent insertion
    不明
    Surgery to improve cardiac blood flow.
  • Bacteremia
    不明
    Hospitalized temporarily.

Legacy

Masaru Sato is highly regarded for his unique perspective drawing on his experience as a diplomat, authoring numerous acclaimed works on international politics and religion. His books have won multiple awards, and he contributes as an educator nurturing future generations.

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

Quotes

  • Conscious of the remaining time in life, he prioritizes his work as a writer.
    Source: Books and interviews

Trivia

  • Proficient in English and Russian for diplomatic negotiations.
  • He was nicknamed "Rasputin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
  • He was once confined in a cell next to death row inmate Hiroshi Sakaguchi in Tokyo Detention House.