Yuri Kageyama

Yuri Kageyama is a prominent journalist and poet, currently serving as a correspondent for the Associated Press (AP) in Tokyo. With over 30 years of experience at the AP, she has established herself as a key figure in reporting on significant events in Japan, including the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, for which her team received multiple awards.123

Background and Education

• Birthplace: Born in Japan, Kageyama grew up in a bicultural environment, having spent considerable time in the United States.
• Education: She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Cornell University, majoring in Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Psychology. She also earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a diploma in high-definition filmmaking from the New York Film Academy.2

Career Highlights

• Associated Press: Kageyama joined the AP in October 1990. She chose this organization over others because it allowed her to report independently rather than serve merely as an assistant to foreign correspondents. Her reporting covers various topics, including cultural issues and significant news events in Japan.12
• Awards: In 2024, she won the Best of the AP award twice for her coverage of earthquakes and other significant stories.3 Her work has been recognized for its depth and sensitivity to Japanese culture and society.2

Literary Contributions

In addition to her journalism career, Kageyama is also an accomplished poet and filmmaker. Her literary works include:

• A diary chronicling her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, featured in "THE PLAGUE EDITION OF KONCH" (2024).
• The theater piece "NEWS FROM FUKUSHIMA," which reflects on under-reported catastrophes and has been staged internationally.2

Kageyama's diverse talents and extensive experience make her a notable figure in both journalism and literature, contributing significantly to the understanding of contemporary Japanese society through her unique bicultural perspective.