Japanese Literary Awards

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Minetoshi Yasuda

やすだ みねとし

Yasuda Minetoshi

Pen Names: Meirobito（Handle name used on a blog translating Chinese internet bulletin boards into Japanese）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1982-01-18 （Notogawa (now Higashiōmi), Shiga Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
reporter, non-fiction writer, author
Active Years
2010-
Affiliations
Ritsumeikan University, Institute of Humanities (Visiting Collaborative Researcher), Tama University (part-time lecturer, 2012–2018)

Education

Ritsumeikan University
Faculty of Letters / Department of East Asian History
Country: Japan
Studied East Asian history; exchange study at Shenzhen University in Guangdong during enrollment
Hiroshima University
Graduate School of Letters / Department of History (Master's course)
Degree: 修士
Country: Japan
Master's research on clan conflicts in South China during the Ming and Qing periods
Shenzhen University (exchange)
Country: People's Republic of China
Exchange study during undergraduate years at Ritsumeikan

Awards

Shiroyama Saburo Prize
2018
Work: 8964: Will the "Tiananmen Incident" Happen Again?
Organization: Shiroyama Saburo Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Ōya Sōichi Nonfiction Prize
2018
Work: 8964: Will the "Tiananmen Incident" Happen Again?
Organization: Ōya Sōichi Nonfiction Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Oikawa Nemuko Prize (private nonfiction award)
2021
Work: "Low-grade" Foreign Human Resources: Japan, an Immigration "Slash-and-burn" State
Organization: Nemuko Oikawa (private)
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The True Feelings of Chinese People: Reading Chinese Internet Forums

2010 reportage / non-fiction

An early work analyzing posts from Chinese internet forums to report on contemporary Chinese mores and attitudes.

Chinese societyonline public opinioncultural observation

8964: Will the "Tiananmen Incident" Happen Again?

2018 non-fiction / political contemporary history

A report examining the Tiananmen incident, its aftermath and movements such as the Hong Kong protests, assessing whether a similar event could recur.

Tiananmen IncidentChinese politicsprotest movements

"Low-grade" Foreign Human Resources: Japan, an Immigration "Slash-and-burn" State

2021 non-fiction / social issues

A reportage-style investigation into Japan's foreign labor policy and immigration realities, highlighting problematic practices.

immigration policylabor issuesforeign workers

Dinosaur Continent: China

2024 non-fiction / science reportage

A reportage that covers dinosaur research and excavations in China, portraying the relationship between science and society.

dinosaursChinese scientific researchfieldwork

A History of China for People Who Dislike China

2024 non-fiction / historical commentary

A reassessment of China from a historical perspective, framed by contemporary skepticism and criticism.

Chinese historyhistorical perceptioncontemporary politics

Bibliography

  • The True Feelings of Chinese People: Reading Chinese Internet Forums
  • The Reality of Chinese People: Loosely Discussing a Troubled Great Power from Love Affairs
  • Education of Dictators
  • Lies of China the Cyber Superpower: Don't Be Fooled by "Online Public Opinion"
  • Wakyo: Japanese Living in the Twilight of China — Farmers, Yakuza, Sex Workers
  • On Understanding China: Seven Irrational Logics of an Unreasonable Country
  • Marginal Men: Refugees, Remaining People, Resisters — People Standing on Borders Between Nations
  • Ambition: The Biography of Terry Gou
  • 8964: Will the "Tiananmen Incident" Happen Again?
  • The Remote Ends of China
  • Sex and Desire in China
  • More of the Remote Ends of China
  • Secret Societies of Modern China: The Rise and Fall of Mafias, Parties, and Cults
  • "Low-grade" Foreign Human Resources: Japan, an Immigration "Slash-and-burn" State
  • China vs. the World: A Country That Is Swallowed, A Country That Resists
  • Universal Writing Techniques for Everyone: The World's Strongest Practical Japanese Writing
  • Northern Kanto "Immigrant" Underground: The Youth and Crimes of Vietnamese Undocumented Residents
  • Wolf Warrior China's Operations Targeting Japan
  • Dinosaur Continent: China
  • A History of China for People Who Dislike China
  • Understand China Through Its Peoples: The Image of an Imperializing Great Power

Translations by Author

  • Translation of Yan Bojun's "Escape from 'Dark China': Flight, Arrest, Torture, Escape" (Bunshun Shinsho, 2016)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
reportage-driven, field-reporting stylejournalistic prose with accessible explanationsacademic insights rendered for a general audience
Recurring Motifs
Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan)borders, migrants, people on national marginstension between state and individualonline public opinion and information warfare

Legacy

Regarded as a non-fiction reporter covering Greater China and immigration issues across a wide range of topics; recipient of multiple journalism and nonfiction awards.

Trivia

  • Originally operated a blog translating Chinese bulletin-board posts under the handle "Meirobito".
  • Has cited Romancing SaGa 3 as the game he played the longest in his life and has contributed to related magazine features.
  • Is a fan of dinosaurs and has interviewed paleontologists and written on dinosaur-related topics.
  • Was discovered by editor Junji Hotta and debuted in 2010 with "The True Feelings of Chinese People".