Draft:Japan Writers' Association

Japan Writers' Association (公益社団法人日本文藝家協会, Kōeki Shadan Hōjin Nihon Bungeika Kyōkai) is a nonprofit professional organization and advocacy group for authors in Japan. It has been officially recognized as a public interest incorporated association since 2011 and is headquartered in the Bungeishunjū building in the Kioichō district of Tokyo. As of July 2025, the association's executive director is the writer Mariko Hayashi.

History

The association (Writers' Association, 文芸家協会) was established in 1926 through the merger of Japan's playwrights' and novelists' unions. It was the writer Kikuchi Kan who, concerned about the precarious lives of authors and the need for a mutual aid started the initiative. The eight founding committee members were Kikuchi Kan, Yamamoto Yūzō, Sasaki Mosaku, Kaneko Yōbun, Ogawa Mimei, Mizutani Chikushi, Kubota Mantaro, and Takada Tamotsu. Kikuchi Kan served as the association's first president. At the request of the Cabinet Information Bureau, President Kikuchi Kan of the Writers' Association selected 22 authors, including himself, to serve as official war correspondents starting from 1938. During World War II, the Writers' Association was dissolved in 1942 and absorbed into the "Patriotic Association of Japanese Literature" (日本文学報国会), but was reestablished in 1946 as a professional organization for those engaged in literary professions including novelists, playwrights, critics, essayists, translators, poets, tanka, and haiku poets. Kikuchi Kan was elected as first post-war president. In 1948, following the death of President Kikuchi Kan the association introduced the office of executive director. Funahashi Seiichi was appointed the first executive director. Executive board members included Ishikawa Tatsuzō, Inoue Tomoichirō, Sata Ineko, Niwa Fumio, and Funayama Kaoru. In the post-war era the Association has engaged in numerous social activities, such as defending the defendant in the Chatterley Trial, issuing appeals against nuclear weapons, opposing the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, and protesting reforms to the Japanese language and writing system. In 1964, it founded the Japan Literary Copyright Protection Alliance to establish and defend the copyright of authors. At the same time, it has worked toward fair taxation and the welfare of its members. In 1984, the position of president was abolished.

Structure and Activities

The association has approximately 2,200 members, divided into regular members (primarily authors) and associate members (e.g., literary rights holders). Its main purposes are to protect the rights and interests of authors, promote freedom of expression, and work for the overall growth of literary culture in Japan.

The association also manages the "Writers' Cemetery" (文学者の墓, Bungakusha no haka) at the Fuji Reien Cemetery in Shizuoka Prefecture where around 800 writers are commemorated. It operates a copyright resource center, is a founding member of the Federation of Copyright Organizations (著作権団体連合, Chosakuken dantai rengō), and co-administers the National Health Insurance Fund for Arts and Literature (文芸美術国民健康保険組合, Bungei bijutsu kokumin kenkōhoken kumiai).

Publications

The association publishes several annual anthologies and reference works, including:

• Bungaku Nenkan (文学年鑑, Literary Yearbook, published by Shinchōsha), since 1929
• Bungaku (文学, Literature, published by Kōdansha)
• Daihyō Saku Jidai Shōsetsu (代表作時代小説, Representative Historical Novels, Kōbunsha)
• Tanpen Besuto Korekushon (短編ベストコレクション, Best Short Stories Collection, Tokuma Shoten)
• Besuto Essei (ベスト・エッセイ, Best Essays, Mitsumura Tosho)

Controversies

In 1990, the association postponed (and effectively rejected) an application for membership by Norio Nagayama, who had been sentenced to death for the murder of four people during robberies at age 19. While imprisoned, Nagayama published numerous books, including two bestsellers. The association's decision led to the resignation of several members, including Kenji Nakagami, Karatani Kōjin, and Yasutaka Tsutsui. In his 2001 essay collection Me no Tansaku (眼の探索, The Search of the Eye), writer Yō Henmi criticized the decision as reflecting a conservative stance and a lack of understanding of social responsibility.

Leadership

Presidents (until 1984)

• 1926–1942: Kikuchi Kan
• 1946–1948: Kikuchi Kan
• 1949–1951: Hirotsu Kazuo
• 1951–1961: Aono Suekichi
• 1961–1972: Niwa Fumio
• 1972–1984: Yamamoto Kenkichi

Executive Directors (since 1948)

• 1948–1952: Funabashi Seiichi
• 1952–1956: Ishikawa Tatsuzō
• 1956–1969: Niwa Fumio
• 1969–1972: Inoue Yasushi
• 1972–1984: Yamamoto Kenkichi
• 1984–1988: Noguchi Fujio
• 1988–1994: Miura Shūmon
• 1994–1999: Etō Jun
• 1999–2000: Yoshimura Akira (acting)
• 2000–2002: Takai Yūichi
• 2002–2007: Kuroi Senji
• 2007–2010: Sakaue Hiroshi
• 2010–2016: Shino Hiroshi
• 2016–2020: Dekune Tatsurō
• 2020–present: Mariko Hayashi

External links

• Official website of the Japan Writers' Association (in Japanese)
• The Japan Writers' Association on YouTube

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• Freedom of expression organizations
• Writers' organizations
• Professional associations
• Japan