Japanese Literary Awards

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Takashi Tachibana

たちばな たかし

Tachibana Takashi

Pen Names: Takashi Tachibana（Pen name used in literary activities）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1940-05-28 （Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2021-04-30 （Japan） age 80
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Christianity

Career

Occupations
Journalist, Non-fiction writer, Critic
Active Years
1968-2021
Influenced
Soichi Noguchi

Education

University of Tokyo
Faculty of Letters / Department of French Literature
Year of Graduation: 1964
Country: Japan

Awards

Bungei Shunju Readers' Award
1974
Work: Study of Kakuei Tanaka: His Financial and Personal Connections
Organization: Bungei Shunju
Result: 受賞
JCJ Award
1975
Organization: Japan Congress of Journalists
Result: 受賞
Kodansha Nonfiction Award
1979
Work: Study of the Japanese Communist Party
Organization: Kodansha
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
1983
Work: Return from Space
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1987
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
2014
Work: Reading Brain: My Deep Reading of 300 Books
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Shincho Literary Award
1991
Work: Spirit and Matter
Organization: Shinchosha
Result: 受賞
Okawa Publishing Prize
1993
Work: Theory of Cybernetic Evolution
Organization: Okawa Foundation
Result: 受賞
Japan Culture Design Grand Prize
1997
Organization: Japan Culture Design Grand Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Ryotaro Shiba Award
1998
Work: All About Takashi Tachibana
Organization: Ryotaro Shiba Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Omega Prize
1998
Result: 受賞
NHK Broadcasting Culture Award
1998
Organization: NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation
Result: 受賞
Yoshida Hidekazu Award
2016
Work: Toru Takemitsu: Journey to Musical Creation
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Chukaku vs Kakumaru

1975 Non-fiction

A reportage series on the factional struggles within Japan's New Left parties, serialized during 1974-1975.

PoliticsSocial Movements

Study of Kakuei Tanaka: Complete Records

1976 Political Criticism

An investigative study exposing the financial scandals of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, leading to his resignation.

PoliticsCorruption

Study of the Japanese Communist Party

1978 Non-fiction

A detailed study of the organization and activities of the Japanese Communist Party, sparking great controversy.

PoliticsCommunism

Report on the American Sexual Revolution

1979 Non-fiction

A non-fiction work reporting on the American sexual revolution.

CultureSociety

Agricultural Cooperatives

1980 Non-fiction

A work covering the actual conditions of agricultural cooperatives.

AgricultureEconomy

Return from Space

1983 Science

A report on cutting-edge research in space development and its impacts.

SpaceScience

Brain Death

1986 Non-fiction

A scientific inquiry into the issue of brain death.

MedicalEthics

Reexamination of Brain Death

1988 Non-fiction

A reconsideration of the debates concerning brain death.

MedicalEthics

Spirit and Matter

1990 Interview Collection

A work including interviews with Susumu Tonegawa, covering science and philosophy.

SciencePhilosophy

The Current State of Primatology

1991 Science

An introduction to the latest research in primatology.

BiologyScience

Theory of Cybernetic Evolution

1993 Science

Reflections on information technology and humanity.

TechnologyInformation

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Non-fiction style covering diverse themesCritical style blending scientific and philosophical thought
Recurring Motifs
Life and deathIntellectual pursuitScience and society

Health

  • Bladder cancer
    2004年頃から
    Developed deep interest in the limits of cancer treatment and issues of death through cancer battle.

Legacy

Takashi Tachibana is regarded as a giant of knowledge across various fields, receiving numerous awards and greatly influencing Japanese intellectual culture through education and writing.

Museums

  • Neko Building Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Academic Societies

  • Japan Congress of Journalists

Archives

  • Deposited interview materials at The Hirosawa City (Chikusei, Ibaraki)
  • Books donated to various used bookstores and Karuizawa Kogen Library

In Popular Culture

  • Nickname as 'Giant of Knowledge'

Quotes

  • Life is always full of unexpected events. Even if you make plans, it is impossible to live exactly according to them.
    Source: Statement by Takashi Tachibana
  • People have the strength to die and the strength to live until the end. Isn't that what overcoming cancer truly means?
    Source: NHK Special 'Takashi Tachibana's Documentary on Cancer and the Mystery of Life and Death' (2009)

Trivia

  • Had no interest in professional baseball and left Bungeishunju after being forced to cover it.
  • Hit it off with manga artist Fujio Akatsuka due to shared experience as repatriates from Manchuria.
  • Was a cat lover and owned an office called 'Neko Building' in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.