Nobel Prize-Winning Author Kenzaburo Oe Passes Away at 94

Japanese author and Nobel Prize for literature laureate Kenzaburo Oe has passed away at the age of 94. His publisher, Kodansha Ltd., announced the news on Monday, without giving further details about his death.

Kenzaburo Oe was born in 1935 in a small village in Shikoku, Japan. His works of fiction were heavily influenced by his childhood memories of Japan’s postwar occupation and his experience of being the parent of a disabled son. In 1994, he became the second Japanese author to be awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, with the Swedish Academy citing his works for their “poetic force” and “disconcerting picture of the human predicament today.”

In addition to his literary works, Oe was also an outspoken anti-nuclear and peace activist. He was a vocal critic of Japan’s nuclear policy and was a strong advocate for nuclear disarmament. He was also a vocal supporter of the anti-war movement and was a frequent attendee of anti-war rallies.

Oe’s funeral was held by his family. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. His legacy will live on through his works of fiction and his activism. He will be remembered as a powerful voice for peace and justice in Japan and around the world.