Profile
1962 Born in Japan. Graduated from the Department of Political Science, School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University / Earn a Master's degree at the Graduate School of Political Science, Waseda University
1989-2009 Newspaper reporter for Asahi Shimbun, correspondent in Moscow, Russia / correspondent in Nairobi, Africa
2005 Made his non-fiction book debut with the reportage work "The Curse of Chechnya"
2010- Became an independent journalist / author
2011- Started the lecture "Interpreting the World from International Reporting" and "Interpreting the World from the Battlefield" at Waseda University Extension College
2021 Published his first work of fiction, the historical novel "Houge; Le it go"
Storytelling
Since 2010-
In my old hometown
Are stories just fiction or do they contain truth? What I have learned from walking through many modern conflict zones is that facts are not always true. Rather, as long as humans try to find the truth from facts alone, they will be forever bound by conflicts. In the age of AI, where infinite data is collected from all over the world, the contours of truth will become blurred. The key to unlocking the truth, whether it's good or evil, is the work of the mind and heart that only humans are allowed to do. That's the reason for telling the story.
Reporting
Since 1989-
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In Baghdad
What is journalism? I first became aware of this when I was sent to Russia by a newspaper company. The era of war and strong power that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union drastically changed society and life and deeply eroded people's hearts. As I walked through the lands affected by the war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, and the Palestine conflict, I witnessed the devastation that distrust of values has not only affected Russia but the world. In the face of death, in the midst of confusion, fear, and despair, people continue to live. Journalism that protects lives is the goal I should aim for.
Learning
Alma mater
Learning may be the longest task of a lifetime. Looking back, I was blessed with excellent teachers at my alma mater. In particular, the perspective of understanding politics, art, and humans taught by Professor Oturo Sakazaki, who taught unique art theory in the Department of Political Science, is one of my unwavering values. At the Russian university where I studied abroad, I was motivated to tackle these three difficult problems. The origin of both is respect and liberation of individuality, but in reality they exist in contradiction. What is living? The Zen term for "know the meaning of life and death" is the time when my learning ends.