Zainichi Korean Writer Yumiri Receives 'Berkeley Japan Award'

The Fifth Award Recipient

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Yuri (54, female), a Zainichi Korean writer, has become the fifth recipient of the "Berkeley Japan Prize," Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 13th. The Berkeley Japan Prize is awarded by the Japan Studies Center at the University of California, Berkeley, to individuals who have widely promoted Japanese culture.

According to the report, the Japan Studies Center selected Yuri, the author of the novel "JR Ueno Station Park Exit," as the winner of the 5th Berkeley Japan Prize. The center cited Yuri's work, including this novel, for highlighting contradictions in Japanese society from the perspective of socially vulnerable groups as the reason for the award.

This work depicts the harsh realities of the city through the spirit of a man who lived as a homeless person near Tokyo's Ueno Station and continued to wander nearby even after his death. The center stated, "Although there are many depictions of bleak realities and people in extreme situations, at its core there is hope," adding, "It sends a powerful message for building a society that respects individual freedom."

Meanwhile, the Berkeley Japan Prize was established in 2008. Past recipients include writer Haruki Murakami, animation director Hayao Miyazaki, and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.

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