Michael Zielenziger
Encyclopedia
Michael Zielenziger, born on June 28, 1955 in New York City
, is an American journalist
and author, and a visiting scholar at the Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley
. Previously, he was attached to the Institute of East Asian Studies. He was the Tokyo-based bureau chief for Knight Ridder Newspapers
for seven years, until May 2003. He has written extensively about social, economic, and political trends in Japan
, Korea
, China
, and Southeast Asia
. After September 11, 2001, Zielenziger also spent time in Pakistan
, Afghanistan
, India
, and Israel
, covering the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
His 2006 book, Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation is a study of Japan's social mores and woes, with emphasis on troubled adolescents as well as other problems of contemporary Japanese society, such as hikikomori
and parasite singles
. The book also contrasts Japan with South Korea. Foreign editions have been released in Japanese and Italian.
Before moving to Tokyo
, Zielenziger served as the first Pacific Rim correspondent for The San Jose Mercury News, and was a finalist for a 1995 Pulitzer Prize
in International Reporting for a series on China. He was also a contributor to two other Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the Mercury News. Previously, he was National Correspondent of the Kansas City Times
as well as a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times
. He was chairman of the Daily Princetonian during its 100th anniversary year, 1976-77.
Zielenziger was a John S. Knight Fellow
at Stanford University
in 1991, where he studied in the Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Stanford Graduate School of Business
. He is a graduate of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
at Princeton University
, and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is a 2003 recipient of an Abe Fellowship from the Social Science Research Council
of New York.
He grew up in Freeport, New York
, where he attended Freeport High School and was editor of FlasHingS, the school newspaper, where one of his stories exposed a teacher's use of funds for booking student trips. The story won an award and led to summertime work at Newsday
, the Long Island
daily newspaper.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, is an American journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author, and a visiting scholar at the Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Previously, he was attached to the Institute of East Asian Studies. He was the Tokyo-based bureau chief for Knight Ridder Newspapers
Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006, it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers sold.- History :The corporate ancestors of...
for seven years, until May 2003. He has written extensively about social, economic, and political trends in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. After September 11, 2001, Zielenziger also spent time in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, covering the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
His 2006 book, Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation is a study of Japan's social mores and woes, with emphasis on troubled adolescents as well as other problems of contemporary Japanese society, such as hikikomori
Hikikomori
is a Japanese term to refer to the phenomenon of reclusive people who have chosen to withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement because of various personal and social factors in their lives...
and parasite singles
Parasite singles
Parasite single is a Japanese term for a single person who lives with their parents until their late twenties or early thirties in order to enjoy a carefree and comfortable life...
. The book also contrasts Japan with South Korea. Foreign editions have been released in Japanese and Italian.
Before moving to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Zielenziger served as the first Pacific Rim correspondent for The San Jose Mercury News, and was a finalist for a 1995 Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in International Reporting for a series on China. He was also a contributor to two other Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the Mercury News. Previously, he was National Correspondent of the Kansas City Times
Kansas City Times
The Kansas City Times was a morning newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri, that was published from 1867 to 1990.The morning Kansas City Times, under ownership of afternoon The Kansas City Star, won two Pulitzer Prizes and was actually bigger than its parent when its name was changed to the...
as well as a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
. He was chairman of the Daily Princetonian during its 100th anniversary year, 1976-77.
Zielenziger was a John S. Knight Fellow
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American private, non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts....
at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1991, where he studied in the Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the professional schools of Stanford University, in Stanford, California and is broadly regarded as one of the best business schools in the world.The Stanford GSB offers a general management Master of Business Administration degree, the Sloan...
. He is a graduate of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs is a professional public policy school at Princeton University. The school has granted undergraduate A.B. degrees since 1930 and graduate degrees since 1948...
at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is a 2003 recipient of an Abe Fellowship from the Social Science Research Council
Social Science Research Council
The Social Science Research Council is a U.S.-based independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines...
of New York.
He grew up in Freeport, New York
Freeport, New York
Freeport is a village in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, USA, on the South Shore of Long Island. The population was 42,860 at the 2010 census. A settlement since the 1640s, it was once an oystering community and later a resort popular with the New York City theater community...
, where he attended Freeport High School and was editor of FlasHingS, the school newspaper, where one of his stories exposed a teacher's use of funds for booking student trips. The story won an award and led to summertime work at Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, the Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
daily newspaper.
Works
- Shutting Out the Sun : How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation, Nan A. Talese - Random House, published September 2006; paperback - Vintage Departures, published September 2007; Japanese edition - Kodansha, June 2007.