Hideo Osabe (長部日出雄, Osabe Hideo; 3 September 1934 – 18 October 2018) was a Japanese essayist and novelist. His work focused on movies and Osamu Dazai. He was born in Aomori Prefecture, where Dazai was also born. He also once directed a movie. He won the Naoki Prize in 1973 for Tsugaru jongara bushi and Tsugaru yosare bushi. He was awarded a Medal of Honor (with Purple Ribbon, for contributions to education and culture) from the Japanese government in 2002.
Source: “Hideo Osabe”, English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), excerpt