Yuji Nishiyama (1943–) is a Japanese linguist and philosopher of language. He studied French literature and philosophy at Keio University and completed a doctoral program in philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He later taught at Keio University’s Institute of Cultural and Linguistic Studies and in the Faculty of Languages and Cultures at Meikai University, and is professor emeritus at both institutions. His research focuses on semantics, pragmatics, and the philosophy of language, particularly the referential properties of Japanese noun phrases and the semantic structure of copular sentences. In “Chumon no Oi Ryoriten” wa Naze Aimai ka, Nishiyama identifies seven possible interpretations of the title of Kenji Miyazawa’s story and explains how grammatical knowledge and context construct multiple meanings from an apparently simple phrase. He received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in 2021 for his contributions to education and research.
