Japanese Literary Awards

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Keiichiro Tsuchiya

つちや けいいちろう

Tsuchiya Keiichirō

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1946-12-23 （Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan → Meiji University (Tokyo, Japan)

Career

Occupations
legal scholar, theatre critic, university professor, university president, author
Active Years
1969-
Affiliations
Meiji University, Kanze Bunko (board member), Peking University, Institute for Japanese Culture (advisor)
Memberships
Selection committee member, Art Encouragement Prize
Influenced By
Yujirō Nakamura, Hans Kelsen, Jeremy Bentham

Education

Meiji University
Faculty of Law / Department of Law
Degree: 学士（法学）
Period: 1965-1969
Year of Graduation: 1969
Country: Japan
Meiji University
Graduate School of Law / Law
Degree: 博士（法学）
Period: 2022
Year of Graduation: 2022
Country: Japan
Submitted the expanded edition of 'History of the Thought of the Unmarried' as a doctoral thesis (PhD in Law)

Awards

Art Encouragement Prize (Newcomer)
1990
Work: Noh: For Contemporary Art
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Art Encouragement Prize)
Result: 受賞
Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (Zuiho Jukosho)
2024
Organization: Cabinet Office (Japan)
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Rhetoric of Society: The Dramaturgy of Law

1985 legal philosophy / criticism

A critical examination of representations of law in society and discourse.

law and societyrhetoric

Noh: For Contemporary Art

1989 theatre studies / art criticism

An essay collection arguing the intersections between Noh and contemporary art.

Nohdanceart theory

The Intellectual History of the Unmarried: Reading Britain (expanded edition)

2022 intellectual history / legal thought

Expanded study of the intellectual history of the unmarried, focusing on Locke, Hume, and Bentham.

thought on singlenesspolitical thoughtlegal thought

On Justice / On Liberty: Justice in an Alienated Japanese Society

1996 social thought / legal philosophy

A legal-philosophical consideration of isolation and justice in Japanese society.

justicelibertysociety

Bibliography

  • The Rhetoric of Society: The Dramaturgy of Law
  • Noh: For Contemporary Art
  • Biographies of Genroku Actors
  • The Allure of Dance
  • The Intellectual History of the Unmarried: Reading Britain
  • Bentham: The Man — Law and the Shape of Desire
  • On Justice / On Liberty: Justice in an Alienated Japanese Society
  • Politics and Religion in the Postmodern
  • Learn Practical Arts from Zeami!
  • Noh: When Drama Emerges
  • Zeami — Fushi Kaden (NHK '100-Minute Masterpieces' Book)
  • The Intellectual History of the Unmarried: Locke, Hume, Bentham (expanded edition)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
academic, critical stylesometimes uses metaphorical and conceptual expressions
Recurring Motifs
Noh and traditional performing artslaw and justicedance and body theorythought on singleness and individuality

Legacy

From a distinctive position bridging legal philosophy and theatre studies, he has published numerous essays and studies and influenced university governance as president of Meiji University. He is respected in studies of Noh and dance and recognized in both scholarly and artistic circles.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (Japan)

Trivia

  • Served as president of Meiji University (2016–2020).
  • Received the Art Encouragement Prize (Newcomer) in 1990 for 'Noh: For Contemporary Art'.
  • Awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Zuiho Jukosho) in 2024.
  • Has long worked at the intersection of Noh/dance studies and legal philosophy.