Sōichi Ōya

Who was Sōichi Ōya?

Sōichi Ōya was a Japanese journalist noted for his research and commentaries on popular culture. Born in Osaka, Japan, he showed an early interest in social issues, and after dropping out of the University of Tokyo, he became involved in the Japan Fabian Society. He was also active as a literary essayist and founded the Mass Communication Juku. His legacy includes the Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award, which recognizes the contributions of young journalists, and the Ōya Sōichi Library, a library that is the major archive in Japan collecting popular publications that most institutions ignore. Most of his literary works are included in the Ōya Sōichi Zenshū published by Sōyōsha. He was praised "as an iconoclast and hailed for the 'heckling spirit' he had cultivated throughout his career," but he has also been criticized for his critical attitude towards new religions.