is a Japanese

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

and

literary critic Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...

, as well as a professor at Rikkyo University. After graduation from the University of Tokyo, he worked for the

Asahi Newspaper is one of the four largest newspapers in Japan. Founded in 1879, it is also one of the oldest newspapers in Japan and Asia, and is considered a newspaper of record for Japan. Its circulation, which was 4.57 million for its morning edition and ...

company before leaving in 1972 to become a critic. He was one critic who helped to discover the talents of Haruki Murakami. He won the Suntory Prize for his book ''Taishū Genei'' in 1991, the Yomiuri Literature Award for ''Kafū and Tokyo'' in 1997, and the Itō Sei Literature Award for ''Hakushu Bōkei'' in 2012. Around 1970 he became close to a

student radical Student activism or campus activism is work by students to cause political, environmental, economic, or social change. Although often focused on schools, curriculum, and educational funding, student groups have influenced greater political e ...

when covering him as a journalist. When that student attacked an officer of the Japanese Self-Defence Force in Asaka, Saitama, killing him, Kawamoto was arrested for

spoliation of evidence Tampering with evidence, or evidence tampering, is an act in which a person alters, conceals, falsifies, or destroys evidence with the intent to interfere with an investigation (usually) by a law-enforcement, governmental, or regulatory authority. ...

. He was convicted and given a sentence of probation. He was fired from the

company. Thereafter, he became a freelance writer. Nobuhiro Yamashita's film, ''

My Back Page is a 2011 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita, director of '' Linda Linda Linda''. It is based on Saburo Kawamoto's true life account. The film was featured at the 2011 (30th) Vancouver International Film Festival, the 2011 (16th) Busan ...

'', is based on Kawamoto's essay about this affair.

Works

*''Taisho illusions'' 大正幻影 *''My Back Page: a 60's story''　マイ・バック・ページある60年代の物語

References

Living people Japanese film critics Japanese literary critics 1944 births University of Tokyo alumni Rikkyo University faculty {{Japan-academic-bio-stub