Japanese Literary Awards

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Masatoshi Ueki

うえき まさとし

Ueki Masatoshi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1951-08-11 （Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Buddhism

Career

Occupations
Buddhist studies scholar, translator, author, lecturer
Active Years
1975-
Affiliations
Toho Gakuin, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Center for World Civilizations (part-time lecturer), Japan PEN Club, Japanese Association for Indian and Buddhist Studies, Comparative Thought Society
Memberships
Japan PEN Club, Japanese Association for Indian and Buddhist Studies, Comparative Thought Society
Influenced By
Moto Nakamura
Influenced
Ryūtarō Abe

Education

Shimabara High School
Country: Japan
Kyushu University
Faculty of Science / Department of Physics
Degree: 理学士
Country: Japan
Undergraduate studies in physics
Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University
Graduate School of Science / Physics
Degree: 理学修士
Country: Japan
Completed master's program in the Graduate School of Science
Graduate School of Letters, Toyo University
Graduate School of Letters
Country: Japan
Left doctoral program before completion
Graduate School, Ochanomizu University
Humanities
Degree: 博士（人文科学）
Year of Graduation: 2002
Country: Japan
Doctoral dissertation: 'Gender Equality in Buddhism: A Study from Indian Buddhism to the Lotus Sutra'

Awards

Cosmos New Writers Award
1992
Work: The Circus Girl
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award (62nd)
2008
Work: Sanskrit–Chinese–Japanese Comparative Modern Translation: Lotus Sutra
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Papyrus Prize (11th)
2013
Work: Sanskrit–Chinese–Japanese Comparative Modern Translation: Vimalakīrti Sutra
Organization: Fukuoka Prefectural Federation of Cultural Organizations
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sanskrit–Chinese–Japanese Comparative Modern Translation: Lotus Sutra

2008 Annotated modern-language translation (religious text)

An annotated modern Japanese translation of the Lotus Sutra that compares the Sanskrit original, Kumārajīva's Chinese translation, and a modern Japanese rendering, including detailed critical notes. It identifies and discusses problems in existing translations.

Lotus SutraSanskritscriptural translationtextual criticism
Adaptations
  • [TV program] NHK '100 Minutes Masterpieces' (Lotus Sutra episode) (2018)

Sanskrit–Chinese–Japanese Comparative Modern Translation: Vimalakīrti Sutra

2011 Annotated modern-language translation (religious text)

A modern Japanese translation of the Vimalakīrti Sutra based on the Sanskrit original discovered at the Potala Palace in 1999, presented alongside Chinese and Sanskrit texts with scholarly annotations.

Vimalakīrti SutraSanskritmodern translationBuddhist thought

The Lotus Sutra as Thought

2012 Thought / Interpretive Study

An interpretive study of the Lotus Sutra that analyzes its ideas, historical background, and reception across cultures, presented in an accessible form based on lectures.

Lotus Sutraintellectual historycomparative thought

Gender Views in Buddhism: From Early Buddhism to the Lotus Sutra (Gender Equality in Buddhism)

2004 Scholarly monograph

A scholarly study tracing the positions of men and women from early Buddhism to the Lotus Sutra, examining the development of ideas of gender equality in Buddhist thought.

gender equalityearly BuddhismLotus SutraBuddhist ethics

Modern Japanese Translation from the Sanskrit Original: Lotus Sutra

2015 Translation (religious)

A new modern Japanese translation of the Lotus Sutra based directly on the Sanskrit original, including explanatory commentary for general readers.

SanskritLotus Sutratranslation

The Circus Girl

1992 Novel

A novel published in 1992; winner of the Cosmos New Writers Award.

coming-of-agechildren's literature

Bibliography

  • 'On "Mie Hidensho": In Search of Humanistic Buddhism', Kōkoku Shoin, 1992
  • 'Visiting the Land of the Buddha: Seeking the Origins of Humanism', Media Renaissance, 1994
  • 'Masculine and Feminine Principles: Is Buddhism a Religion of Gender Discrimination?', Chugai Nippo, 1996
  • 'Learning the Spirit of Dialogue from Buddhism', Chugai Nippo, 1997
  • 'Mother Teresa and the Bodhisattva Spirit: In Search of Buddhist Ethics', Chugai Nippo, 1997
  • Gender Equality in Buddhism, Peter Lang Publ. Inc., New York, 2001
  • 'Gender Views in Buddhism: From Early Buddhism to the Lotus Sutra', Iwanami Shoten, 2004
  • 'The Buddha and Nichiren on Women', Ronso-sha, 2005
  • 'Buddhism, the True Teachings: Understanding and Misunderstandings in India, China, Japan', Chuko Shinsho, 2011
  • 'The Lotus Sutra as Thought', Iwanami Shoten, 2012
  • 'Buddhist Scholar Moto Nakamura: Words and Thought of the Seeker', Kadokawa Gakugei, 2014
  • 'A Humanist, Learning from the Buddha: Travels in India', Gakugei Mirai-sha, 2016
  • '100 Buddhist Stories for Living Now', Heibonsha Shinsho, 2019
  • 'What is the Lotus Sutra: Its Ideas and Background', Chuko Shinsho, 2020
  • 'Nichiren's Letters: Beginner's Guide to Japanese Thought', Kadokawa Sophia Bunko, 2021
  • 'Pali "Theri Gāthā" Translation Glossary', Hōzōkan, 2023
  • 'Nichiren's Thought: Reading "Ogyokuden"', Chikuma Sensho, 2024

Adaptations

  • NHK '100 Minutes Masterpieces' Lotus Sutra episode (2018) — featured text / guest appearance

Translations by Author

  • Sanskrit–Chinese–Japanese Comparative Modern Translation: Lotus Sutra (Iwanami, 2008)
  • Sanskrit–Chinese–Japanese Comparative Modern Translation: Vimalakīrti Sutra (Iwanami, 2011)
  • Modern Japanese Translation from the Sanskrit Original: Lotus Sutra (Iwanami, 2015)
  • Sanskrit Vimalakīrti Translation Glossary (Hōzōkan, 2019)

Translations of Works

  • 'Gender Views in Buddhism' → English edition: 'Gender Equality in Buddhism' (2001)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Precise annotation based on primary-text comparisonComparative and interdisciplinary argumentationAccessible explanations aimed at general readers
Recurring Motifs
Study of original sutras such as the Lotus and Vimalakīrti SutrasGender and religionSanskrit original-text comparisonIntersections of Japanese literature and Buddhist thought

Legacy

Through precise translations and annotations comparing Sanskrit originals with Chinese and modern Japanese texts, he has considerably advanced Lotus Sutra and Vimalakīrti studies in contemporary Japan. He has promoted interdisciplinary research on gender in Buddhist thought and presented Buddhist ideas to a broad readership through accessible commentaries.

Museums

  • Kyoto Butsuryu Museum Kyoto, Japan

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Association for Indian and Buddhist Studies
  • Comparative Thought Society
  • Japan PEN Club

In Popular Culture

  • Featured and served as guide on NHK '100 Minutes Masterpieces' (2018)
  • Radio appearances and public conversations (e.g., dialogue with actor Bunta Sugawara)

Quotes

  • The person who ought to be written about was written by the person who ought to write.
    Source: Hidesuke Wakamatsu (review) (2014)

Trivia

  • Originally trained in the sciences (Kyushu University, Department of Physics) and holding a master's in science, he later moved into Buddhist studies.
  • His annotated translation 'Lotus Sutra' pointed out numerous issues in existing translations (e.g., Iwanami editions) and was awarded the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award.
  • He won the Cosmos New Writers Award in 1992 for the novel 'The Circus Girl'.
  • His translation of the Lotus Sutra was used as a text on NHK's '100 Minutes Masterpieces', and he appeared on the program.
  • He produced modern translations based on Sanskrit originals discovered in places such as the Potala Palace (Vimalakīrti Sutra).