Masao Kawai

Masao Kawai (河合 雅雄) was a Japanese primatologist, who introduced the concept of kyōkan as a means of studying primates in his book Life of Japanese Monkeys (1969).

Early days and education
Masao Kawai was born Tamba-Sasayama, Hyōgo prefecture in 1924. He was the third son of seven brothers. He was taken tuberculosis at 9 years of age, and had been absent from Middle School by pleuritis. Due to his health condition, he was out of conscription at the time of Pacific War. He was educated in Niigata High School by his graduation in 1949. After graduation, he entered Kyoto Imperial University. He majored in ethology and behavioural sciences at Faculty of Science under Kinji Imanishi. He graduated from university in 1952.

As a scientist
Masao became a research assistant of Hyogo Prefectural University of Agriculture in 1952. He continues the study of primatology, especially Japanese macaque, and wrote a dissertation titled "Experimental research to groups of Japanese macaque" (ニホンザルの群れ社会に関する実験的研究). He received Doctor of Science from Kyoto University in 1962.

He moved to Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University as an assistant professor in 1967, and was promoted professor in 1970. He continued work there and retired in 1987.

He died in his home at Tamba-Sasayama in 2021.

Honnor

 * Asahi Prize (1969)
 * Seiji Noma's memorial Juvenile literature award (1976)
 * NHK Culture Award (1990)
 * Medals of Honor, Purple (1990)
 * Sankei Children's Book Award　(1992)
 * Mainichi Publishing Culture Award (1992)
 * Order of the Rising Sun, Third grade (1995)
 * Duke of Edinburgh Prize, Japan Academy (2004)

Relatives

 * First brother: Hitoshi Kawai was a surgeon. He studied at Niigata Medical Colledge, and took care Masao when Masao studied in Niigata.
 * Fifth brother: Hayao Kawai was a Jungian psychologist. He served the chief of the Agency for Cultural Affairs (2002 - 2007).