Riichi Akamatsu (1956–2026) was a Japanese novelist known for his vivid portrayals of people living on the margins of society. Before making his literary debut at the age of 62, he worked in a wide range of occupations, including at a produce market, as a security guard, in construction, industrial waste disposal, and as a decontamination worker following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. His best-known novel, "Mokuzugani," depicts lives shaped by poverty, violence, and hardship, exploring human dignity and the instinct to survive.
