Shuntaro Torigoe
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Shuntaro Torigoe 鳥越 俊太郎 | |
|---|---|
 Torigoe in 2006, speaking at Waseda University | |
| Born | 13 March 1940 |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Shuntaro Torigoe (鳥越 俊太郎, Torigoe Shuntarō) (born 13 March 1940) is a Japanese journalist and political activist.
Born in 1940 in Yoshi-cho, Ukiha-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture (now Ukiha City). His father's name was Toshio, and he was given the name Shuntaro, taking on Toshio's first character. His father graduated from university and went to work for a company, and after being bullied in the workplace, he developed neurosis, and when Shuntaro was born, he was admitted to the psychiatric ward of Kyushu University.
In 1946, he entered primary school and became the first student to receive post-war education. After attending Kurume University High School, he graduated from Kyoto University's Department of Literature (majoring in Japanese History) in 1965, studying for two years as he became absorbed in the student movement.
In 1965, he joined the Mainichi Shimbun. His first position was at the Niigata branch.
Journalism career
Torigoe was born in present-day Ukiha, Fukuoka[1] and graduated from Kyoto University.[2] He began his reporting career with the Mainichi Shimbun in 1965.[3] He served at one point as the Mainichi correspondent in Tehran, and traveled to the front lines of the Iran–Iraq War in 1984, becoming the only Japanese journalist to do so.[4] He left Mainichi in 1989 and thereafter was known for his role as a commentator on TV Asahi news programs.[2] He was named editor-in-chief of OhMyNews Japan in 2006.[3]
Torigoe was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer in 2005 and underwent several years of treatment, including four operations. He published a book on the experience entitled Cancer Patient.[4]
Political career
Torigoe became active in the opposition to collective security legislation in 2015 and took part in demonstrations at the National Diet Building.[2]
