The 2022 Berggruen Prize for Culture and Philosophy was awarded to Kojin Karatani, a writer and university teacher who has interrogated the intersection of language, number, and money. Born in 1941 in Amagasaki, Japan, he emerged from the radical 1960 Anpo protests to become a prominent intellectual figure, bridging global philosophical discourses with Japanese literary and political critique.
Academic Formation and Early Recognition
Karatani enrolled at the University of Tokyo in 1960, earning a B.A. in economics by 1965 and an M.A. in English literature by 1967. During this period, he joined The Bund, a Marxist Communist League. His early work as a literary critic gained significant notice at age 27 when he received the Gunzō Literary Prize for an essay concerning Natsume Sōseki.
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Throughout the late 20th century, Karatani held visiting professorships at Yale University and Columbia University. In 1975 at Yale, he interacted with Fredric Jameson and Paul de Man, refining his interest in formalism. Later, he participated in the ANY international architectural conferences and contributed to the resulting Rizzoli publication series, exploring philosophical themes within architectural structures.
Political Activism and Conceptual Frameworks
In 2000, he established the New Associationist Movement in Japan, an organization inspired by Local Exchange Trading Systems to propose counter-capitalist alternatives. His theoretical output includes the concept of the will to architecture and the transcritique, a method that gained international reach after Slavoj Žižek discussed his work in the New Left Review.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, Amagasaki, Japan
- Education: University of Tokyo (B.A. Economics, M.A. English Literature)
- Key Recognition: Berggruen Prize (2022)
- Past Employers: Yale University, Columbia University, Nippon Medical School
- Notable Association: New Associationist Movement (founded 2000)
- Earlier Awards: Kamei Katsuichirō Prize (1978), Sei Itō Award (1996)
Questions readers ask
What is the New Associationist Movement?
Founded by Karatani in 2000, it was an initiative aimed at establishing a counter-capitalist and nation-state association, drawing inspiration from non-marketed currency experiments.
Where has Karatani held academic positions?
He has been a faculty member or visiting professor at the Nippon Medical School, Hosei University, Yale University, Columbia University, and Kinki University.
Achievements
- Kamei Katsuichirō Prize — 1978
- Berggruen Prize — 2022
- Held posts at Yale University, Columbia University and Nippon Medical School
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