The author Seigo Matsuoka, who proposed “editorial engineering” and discussed Japanese culture across a wide range of fields including information, religion, and art, passed away on the 12th due to pneumonia. He was 80 years old and originally from Kyoto. The funeral was held with close relatives, and a farewell gathering is planned for a later date.
After dropping out of Waseda University, he founded the magazine “Yū” in 1971. The magazine drew attention for its coverage that crossed traditional academic boundaries and its avant-garde design.
He proposed the concept of “editorial engineering,” applying the thinking method of “editing” that connects different fields beyond the realm of publishing, and established the Editorial Engineering Institute in 1987.
In 2000, he launched the reading guide “Senya Sensatsu,” introducing one book each day on the internet, which became a lifelong work with over 1,800 volumes.
He operated an experimental bookstore within the large bookstore “Maruzen Marunouchi” in Tokyo for about three years, and was involved in the book section of Muji, continually exploring the possibilities of reading and bookstores amid changing publishing environments. He also served as a professor at Tezukayama Gakuin University and was the director of the cultural complex “Kadokawa Musashino Museum” (Saitama Prefecture), which opened in 2020.
In addition to developing his unique theory of Japanese culture, he was known for his friendships with researchers and artists across a wide range of fields, leaving behind many dialogue books and co-authored works. Notable works he edited or supervised include the art encyclopedia “Art Japonaisque” and “The History of Information,” along with his books “The Dream of Kukai,” “The Art of Knowledge Editing,” and “A Method Called Japan.”