Japanese Literary Awards

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Takeshi Nakajima

なかじま たけし

Nakajima Takeshi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1975-02-16 （Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
political scientist, historian, university professor, author, television commentator
Active Years
1999-
Affiliations
Hokkaido University (assistant professor → associate professor), Tokyo Institute of Technology (professor)

Education

Osaka University of Foreign Studies
Faculty of Foreign Studies / Regional Culture (Hindi major)
Year of Graduation: 1999
Country: Japan
Undergraduate degree, major in Hindi
Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University
Doctoral Program / Regional Studies
Degree: 博士（地域研究）
Period: 1999-2004
Year of Graduation: 2004
Country: Japan
PhD (Regional Studies). Dissertation on modern Indian Hindu nationalism

Awards

Iue Memorial Asia-Pacific Research Prize (Asia-Pacific Forum Awaji Conference)
2004
Work: Hindu nationalism movement in contemporary India (doctoral dissertation)
Organization: Asia-Pacific Forum / Awaji Conference
Result: winner
Ōbutsu Jirō Forum Prize
2005
Work: Nakamuraya's Bose: Indian independence movement and modern Japan's Asianism
Organization: Ōbutsu Jirō Forum Prize Committee
Result: winner
Asia-Pacific Prize
2005
Work: Nakamuraya's Bose: Indian independence movement and modern Japan's Asianism
Organization: Asia Research Institute (established by Mainichi Shimbun)
Result: winner
Japan Association for South Asian Studies Prize (1st)
2006
Work: Nationalism and Religion
Organization: Japan Association for South Asian Studies
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Hindu Nationalism: Background to Indo-Pak Tensions

2002 non-fiction / area studies

A study analyzing the historical and political structures of Hindu nationalism underlying Indo-Pak tensions.

nationalismreligion and politicsSouth Asian studies

Nakamuraya's Bose: Indian Independence Movement and Modern Japan's Asianism

2005 historical study / biography

A historical study depicting the Indian independence movement and related figures in relation to Japan's Asianism.

Asianismmodern historycolonialism and independence

Judge Pearl: Critique of the Tokyo Trial and Absolute Pacifism

2007 postwar history / commentary

Reexamines the position of Indian judge Radhabinod Pal at the Tokyo Trial and discusses the judgment and pacifism; the book sparked extended controversy.

postwar settlementhistorical interpretationcritique

Bibliography

  • Hindu Nationalism: Background to Indo-Pak Tensions (2002)
  • Nakamuraya's Bose: Indian Independence Movement and Modern Japan's Asianism (2005)
  • Judge Pearl: Critique of the Tokyo Trial and Absolute Pacifism (2007)
  • Nationalism and Religion (2005)
  • The Age of India: The Dawn of Prosperity and Agony (2006)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
scholarly and clear prosepolemic and argumentative toneanalytical style linking history and politics
Recurring Motifs
formation of nationalismAsianism and modern Japanintersection of religion and politics

Legacy

Through writings on South Asian studies and modern Japanese intellectual history and public commentary, he has influence in both academia and mass media, stimulating active debate on political thought and nationalism.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Association for South Asian Studies

In Popular Culture

  • Regular appearances and commentator roles on TV programs such as Hodo Station

Trivia

  • Former regular commentator on the TV program Hodo Station.
  • Active as a public intellectual in newspapers, magazines and television in addition to academic research.
  • Holds a PhD (Regional Studies) from Kyoto University.