Fumitake Koga author page

Fumitake Koga biography

Fumitake Koga is a Japanese writer and the co-author, with philosopher Ichiro Kishimi, of The Courage to Be Disliked. The book was first published in Japan in 2013 and presents ideas drawn from Adlerian psychology through a dialogue between a philosopher and a young man. Koga developed the dialogue format after making repeated visits to Kishimi to discuss Adlerian psychology. The pair subsequently wrote The Courage to Be Happy.

The Courage to Be Disliked became an international bestseller. Atlantic Books reported in October 2025 that its UK print and ebook editions had sold more than one million copies since their British publication in 2018. The British edition reached number one on the Sunday Times Paperback Nonfiction bestseller list in October 2025.

Koga adapted ideas from the series for younger readers in The Courage to Be Yourself, translated into English by Cat Anderson and illustrated by Narano. Set in an underwater world, the book follows Ockley, a young octopus who feels uncomfortable about being different, and a wise hermit crab whose conversations with him explore feelings, self-acceptance and the distinction between what can and cannot be controlled. The UK edition is published by Allen & Unwin on 3 September 2026.