Fumiko Ueda (上田 富美, Ueda Fumiko; 2 October 1905 – 12 November 1986), known by her pen name Fumiko Enchi (円地 文子, Enchi…Fumiko Ueda (上田 富美, Ueda Fumiko; 2 October 1905 – 12 November 1986), known by her pen name Fumiko Enchi (円地 文子, Enchi Fumiko), was a Japanese writer and playwright known for her explorations into the ideas of sexuality, gender, human identity, and spirituality. She is considered one of the most prominent women writers of Shōwa period Japan.
Tatsuzō Ishikawa (Japanese: 石川 達三, Ishikawa Tatsuzō; July 2, 1905 – January 31, 1985) was a Japanese writer. He was the…Tatsuzō Ishikawa (Japanese: 石川 達三, Ishikawa Tatsuzō; July 2, 1905 – January 31, 1985) was a Japanese writer. He was the first winner of the Akutagawa Prize.
Yoshimi Usui (臼井 吉見, Usui Yoshimi; June 17, 1905 – July 12, 1987) was a Japanese writer and critic from Azumino, Nagano…Yoshimi Usui (臼井 吉見, Usui Yoshimi; June 17, 1905 – July 12, 1987) was a Japanese writer and critic from Azumino, Nagano prefecture. Usui won the 1974 10th Tanizaki Prize for Azumino (安曇野). In 1977 he published a novelised account of Kawabata's death that led to a lawsuit against him by the Nobel Prize-winner's family.
Sei Itō (伊藤 整, Itō Sei; 16 January 1905 – 15 November 1969), born Hitoshi Itō (伊藤 整, Itō Hitoshi), was a Japanese…Sei Itō (伊藤 整, Itō Sei; 16 January 1905 – 15 November 1969), born Hitoshi Itō (伊藤 整, Itō Hitoshi), was a Japanese Modernist writer of poetry, prose and essays, and a translator.
Tatsuo Hori (堀辰雄, Hori Tatsuo; 28 December 1904 – 28 May 1953) was a Japanese translator and writer of poetry, short…Tatsuo Hori (堀辰雄, Hori Tatsuo; 28 December 1904 – 28 May 1953) was a Japanese translator and writer of poetry, short stories and novels.
Seiichi Funahashi (舟橋聖一, Funahashi Seiichi; 25 December 1904 – 13 January 1976) was a Japanese writer of short stories…Seiichi Funahashi (舟橋聖一, Funahashi Seiichi; 25 December 1904 – 13 January 1976) was a Japanese writer of short stories, novellas, novels and stage plays, active in the Shōwa period.
Kikuko Kawakami (川上 喜久子, Kawakami Kikuko; 9 February 1904 – 26 October 1985) was a Japanese writer active during the…Kikuko Kawakami (川上 喜久子, Kawakami Kikuko; 9 February 1904 – 26 October 1985) was a Japanese writer active during the Shōwa period of Japan. Her maiden name was Shinoda Kikuko.
Fumio Niwa (丹羽 文雄, Niwa Fumio; November 22, 1904 Japan, died April 20, 2005 in Musashino, Tokyo) was a Japanese…Fumio Niwa (丹羽 文雄, Niwa Fumio; November 22, 1904 Japan, died April 20, 2005 in Musashino, Tokyo) was a Japanese novelist with a long list of works, the most famous in the West being his novel The Buddha Tree (Japanese Bodaiju, "The Linden", or "The Bodhi Tree", 1956). He was ordained as a Shin Buddhist priest in his youth, but abandoned the priesthood two years after his ordination.
Aya Kōda (幸田文, Kōda Aya; 1 September 1904 – 31 October 1990) was a Japanese writer of novels, short stories and essays.…Aya Kōda (幸田文, Kōda Aya; 1 September 1904 – 31 October 1990) was a Japanese writer of novels, short stories and essays. She was the daughter of writer Rohan Kōda. Among her most noted works is the 1955 novel Nagareru.
Fumiko Hayashi (林芙美子, Hayashi Fumiko; December 31, 1903 – June 28, 1951) was a Japanese writer of novels, short stories…Fumiko Hayashi (林芙美子, Hayashi Fumiko; December 31, 1903 – June 28, 1951) was a Japanese writer of novels, short stories and poetry, who has repeatedly been included in the feminist literature canon. Among her best-known works are Diary of a Vagabond, Late Chrysanthemum and Floating Clouds.
Takiji Kobayashi (小林 多喜二, Kobayashi Takiji; October 13, 1903 – February 20, 1933) was a Japanese writer of proletarian…Takiji Kobayashi (小林 多喜二, Kobayashi Takiji; October 13, 1903 – February 20, 1933) was a Japanese writer of proletarian literature. He is best known for his short novel Kani Kōsen, or Crab Cannery Ship, published in 1929. It tells the story of the hard life of cannery workers, fishermen and seamen on board a cannery ship and the beginning of their revolt against the company and its managers. Kobayashi died due to violent torture after being arrested by the Special Higher Police two years later, at the age of 29.
Yōko Ōta (大田 洋子, Ōta Yōko; 20 February 1903 or 18 November 1906 – 10 December 1963) was a Japanese writer. Many of her…Yōko Ōta (大田 洋子, Ōta Yōko; 20 February 1903 or 18 November 1906 – 10 December 1963) was a Japanese writer. Many of her works are associated with the Atomic bomb literature genre.
Kiyoshi Jinzai (神西 清, Jinzai Kiyoshi; 15 November 1903 – 11 March 1957) was a Japanese novelist, Russian translator and…Kiyoshi Jinzai (神西 清, Jinzai Kiyoshi; 15 November 1903 – 11 March 1957) was a Japanese novelist, Russian translator and literary critic active during the Shōwa period of Japan.
Sensui Shoji (Japanese: 庄司 浅水, Hepburn: Shōji Sensui; 10 November 1903 – 7 September 1991) was a Japanese bibliophile…Sensui Shoji (Japanese: 庄司 浅水, Hepburn: Shōji Sensui; 10 November 1903 – 7 September 1991) was a Japanese bibliophile and author. He wrote and translated over 100 books and articles, mainly on the history of Japanese and Western literature, but also in the area of the supernatural.
Hidemi Kon (今 日出海, Kon Hidemi; 6 November 1903 – 30 July 1984) was a literary critic and essayist active in Japan…Hidemi Kon (今 日出海, Kon Hidemi; 6 November 1903 – 30 July 1984) was a literary critic and essayist active in Japan during the Shōwa period.
Yao Kitabatake (北畠 八穂, Kitabatake Yao; 5 October 1903 – 18 March 1982) was a poet and children's literature writer in…Yao Kitabatake (北畠 八穂, Kitabatake Yao; 5 October 1903 – 18 March 1982) was a poet and children's literature writer in Shōwa period Japan.
Kensaku Shimaki (島木 健作, Shimaki Kensaku; 7 September 1903 – 17 August 1945) was the pen name of Asakura Kikuo (朝倉 菊雄)…Kensaku Shimaki (島木 健作, Shimaki Kensaku; 7 September 1903 – 17 August 1945) was the pen name of Asakura Kikuo (朝倉 菊雄), a Japanese author active during the Shōwa period in Japan. He had an interest in leftist ideology and was arrested in 1928 due to his ties to the Japanese Communist Party. Throughout his literary career, Shimaki wrote multiple novels and stories with a common theme being proletariat life. Some of his works were published by magazines and journals. He associated with Nobel laureate Kawabata Yasunari.
Michio Takeyama (竹山 道雄, Takeyama Michio; 17 July 1903 – 15 June 1984) was a Japanese writer, literary critic and…Michio Takeyama (竹山 道雄, Takeyama Michio; 17 July 1903 – 15 June 1984) was a Japanese writer, literary critic and scholar of German literature, active in Shōwa period Japan.
Tomoji Abe (阿部 知二, Abe Tomoji; 26 June 1903 – 23 April 1973) was a Japanese novelist, social critic, humanist, and…Tomoji Abe (阿部 知二, Abe Tomoji; 26 June 1903 – 23 April 1973) was a Japanese novelist, social critic, humanist, and translator of English and American literature. Although he began writing as a modernist, in his later works he represented the intellectual movement in Japanese literature. This movement departed from Japanese traditional thinking and from established forms of narration, which focused on aesthetic values and emotional states of mind (such as appear in the works of Junichiro Tanizaki and Ryunosuke Akutagawa); it also departed from modernist views, which continued to be popular in world literature and in Japan (Japanese modernist writers included Haruo Satō, Sei Ito, Tatsuo Hori, Riichi Yokomitsu and Yasunari Kawabata). Abe's intellectual approach was incompatible with the socio-political atmosphere of Japan in the early Shōwa period (1926–1945), with rising fascism and militarism, and the crusade to preserve Japanese feudal traditions.
Satomu Shimizu (清水 三十六, Shimizu Satomu; June 22, 1903 – February 14, 1967), better known by the pen name of Shūgorō…Satomu Shimizu (清水 三十六, Shimizu Satomu; June 22, 1903 – February 14, 1967), better known by the pen name of Shūgorō Yamamoto (山本 周五郎, Yamamoto Shūgorō), was a Japanese novelist and short-story writer active during the Shōwa period of Japan. He was noted for his popular literature, and is known to have published works under at least fourteen different pen names.
Gotō Toshio (後藤寿夫; 30 May 1903 – 9 October 1975), known by his pen name Hayashi Fusao (林 房雄), was a Japanese novelist…Gotō Toshio (後藤寿夫; 30 May 1903 – 9 October 1975), known by his pen name Hayashi Fusao (林 房雄), was a Japanese novelist and literary critic in Shōwa period Japan. He is known for his early works in the proletarian literature movement, although he later became an ultranationalist. He also used the alias Shirai Akira.
Wataru Kaji (鹿地 亘, Kaji Wataru; 1 May 1903 – 26/27 July 1982) was the nom de guerre for Mitsugi Seguchi (瀬口 貢, Seguchi…Wataru Kaji (鹿地 亘, Kaji Wataru; 1 May 1903 – 26/27 July 1982) was the nom de guerre for Mitsugi Seguchi (瀬口 貢, Seguchi Mitsugi), a Japanese writer, literary critic, and political activist. During his lifetime, he worked as an anti-militarist activist in pre-war Japan, and, after the outbreak of World War II, joined the Chinese resistance to Imperial Japan. After the war, he would be kidnapped and tortured by US intelligence under suspicion of being a Soviet spy.
Kyūya Fukada (深田 久弥, Fukada Kyūya; 11 March 1903 – 21 March 1971) was a Japanese writer and mountaineer active during…Kyūya Fukada (深田 久弥, Fukada Kyūya; 11 March 1903 – 21 March 1971) was a Japanese writer and mountaineer active during the Shōwa period in Japan.
Mari Mori (森 茉莉, Mori Mari; 7 January 1903 – 6 June 1987) was a Japanese author, best known for writing male homosexual…Mari Mori (森 茉莉, Mori Mari; 7 January 1903 – 6 June 1987) was a Japanese author, best known for writing male homosexual romances.
Shigeru Tonomura (外村 繁, Tonomura Shigeru; December 23, 1902 – July 28, 1961) was a Japanese author of I novels. Kanji…Shigeru Tonomura (外村 繁, Tonomura Shigeru; December 23, 1902 – July 28, 1961) was a Japanese author of I novels. Kanji of his real name was 外村 茂, but it was the same reading as the pen name. Tonomura was born into a conservative merchant's family in Shiga Prefecture and raised by devout parents who believed in Pure Land Buddhism. After graduation from the University of Tokyo with a degree in economics, he took over the family business as a wholesale cotton merchant. His house in Gokashōkondō-chō, Higashiōmi, is now a museum that reflects Ōmi Province merchant life. In 1933, Tonomura handed over control of the business to his brother and began to write seriously. He received the 1956 Noma Literary Prize for Ikada (筏) and the 1960 Yomiuri Prize for Miotsukushi (澪標). Tonomura was good friends with Motojirō Kajii.
Akatsuki Kambayashi (上林 暁, Kambayashi Akatsuki; October 6, 1902 - August 28, 1980), pseudonym of Tokohiro Iwaki, was a…Akatsuki Kambayashi (上林 暁, Kambayashi Akatsuki; October 6, 1902 - August 28, 1980), pseudonym of Tokohiro Iwaki, was a noted Japanese author in the I Novel genre. Kambayashi was born in a village now part of Kuroshio in Kōchi Prefecture. In 1927 he received a graduate degree in English literate from the University of Tokyo and took a job with the Kaizo publishing company. That same year he began to write and continued until 1973, despite two debilitating strokes. All told, Kambayashi published more than two hundred stories, most of which are based on personal experiences. According to Donald Keene, these stories fall into three broad clusters: those set in the village of Shikoku where he grew up; those relating to the illness and madness of his wife; and those describing his younger sister. Perhaps the best known is Sei Yohane byōin nite (In the Hospital of St. John, 1946), in which describes the slow death of his wife in the middle of a war-torn country. Kambayashi received the 1964 Yomiuri Prize for Shiroi yakatabune, and in 1969 became a member of the Japan Art Academy.
On Watanabe (渡辺 温, Watanabe On; 26 August 1902 – 10 February 1930) was a Japanese mystery writer and fantasy novelist.…On Watanabe (渡辺 温, Watanabe On; 26 August 1902 – 10 February 1930) was a Japanese mystery writer and fantasy novelist. Despite his early death aged 27, he was an inspiration for later Japanese authors.
Seishi Yokomizo (Japanese: 横溝 正史, Hepburn: Yokomizo Seishi; 24 May 1902 – 28 December 1981) was a Japanese mystery…Seishi Yokomizo (Japanese: 横溝 正史, Hepburn: Yokomizo Seishi; 24 May 1902 – 28 December 1981) was a Japanese mystery novelist, known for creating the fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi.
Ken Kuronuma (Japanese: 黒沼健, Hepburn: Kuronuma Ken; 1 May 1902 – 5 July 1985) was the pen-name of novelist, science…Ken Kuronuma (Japanese: 黒沼健, Hepburn: Kuronuma Ken; 1 May 1902 – 5 July 1985) was the pen-name of novelist, science fiction, and mystery writer in Shōwa period Japan. His real name was Michio Soda (左右田道雄, Sōda Michio). His father, Sōda Kiichirō (左右田喜一郎), was an economist and a banker. Kuronuma was the writer of the Kaiju classic Giant Monster of the Sky: Rodan (known in Japan as Sora no Daikaijū: Radon (空の大怪獣 ラドン, Sora no Daikaijū Radon)), a 1956 tokusatsu film produced by Tōhō Studios. The film followed in the footsteps of Godzilla and was also popular in the United States. He followed on the success of Rodan with Varan the Unbelievable in 1958. It proved to be one of the least popular of the Tōhō movies of all time, and nearly destroyed his career. Kuronuma turned his attention to television drama, writing scripts for one of Japan's first science fiction series, Undersea Man 8823 (海底人8823, Kaiteijin 8823), which ran for 26 episodes: from 3 January 1960 to 28 June 1960. In addition to writing for the series, he also helped to compose the music.
Hideo Kobayashi (小林 秀雄, Kobayashi Hideo; April 11, 1902 – March 1, 1983) was a Japanese author, who established…Hideo Kobayashi (小林 秀雄, Kobayashi Hideo; April 11, 1902 – March 1, 1983) was a Japanese author, who established literary criticism as an independent art form in Japan.
Hideo Kobayashi (小林 秀雄, Kobayashi Hideo; April 11, 1902 – March 1, 1983) was a Japanese author, who established…Hideo Kobayashi (小林 秀雄, Kobayashi Hideo; April 11, 1902 – March 1, 1983) was a Japanese author, who established literary criticism as an independent art form in Japan.
Jūran Hisao (久生 十蘭, Hisao Jūran; 6 April 1902 – 6 October 1957) was the pen-name of a Japanese author of popular…Jūran Hisao (久生 十蘭, Hisao Jūran; 6 April 1902 – 6 October 1957) was the pen-name of a Japanese author of popular fiction in Shōwa period Japan. Hisao Jūran was a pioneer in the use of black humor in Japanese literature. His works reflect his extensive knowledge of a wide range of subjects, and displayed extraordinary skills, and range from mystery tales to humor, and both historical and contemporary settings. His real name was Masao Abe (阿部 正雄, Abe Masao).
Shigeharu Nakano (中野 重治, Nakano Shigeharu; 25 January 1902 – 24 August 1979) was a Japanese writer and Japanese…Shigeharu Nakano (中野 重治, Nakano Shigeharu; 25 January 1902 – 24 August 1979) was a Japanese writer and Japanese Communist Party (JCP) politician. Nakano was born in Maruoka, now part of Sakai, Fukui. In 1914, he enrolled in middle school in Fukui, Fukui, and attended high school in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa and Kanazawa, Ishikawa. In 1924, he entered the German literature department of the University of Tokyo. In 1931, he joined the Japanese Communist Party, for which he was arrested in 1934. Immediately after World War II, he rejoined the party and played a leading role in founding the JCP-affiliated literary society New Japanese Literature Association (Shin Nihon Bungakkai). In 1947, Nakano began a three-year term as elected representative to the government. In 1958, he was elected to the party's Central Committee, but in 1964 was expelled due to political conflicts. Nakano was one of the most prominent figures in the proletarian literary movement that dominated the Japanese literary field from mid 1920's to early 1930's. His autobiographical novels include Nami no aima (Between the Waves, 1930), Muragimo (In the Depths of the Heart, 1954), and Kō otsu hei tei (ABCD, 1965-1969). Nakano received the 1959 Yomiuri Prize for Nashi no hana. Following his arrest, he published a novella titled Shōsetsuka no kakenu shōsetsuka (The Novelist Who Can't Write a Novel, 1977) in which he offers glimpses of the authoritarian concerns surrounding deletion marks in writing. Three more of his other works, translated by Brett de Bary, include Mura no ie (The House in the Village, 1979), Goshaku no sake (Five Cups of Sake), and Hagi no monkakiya (The Crest-painter of Hagi).
Tōsaku Suetomi (末富 東作, Suetomi Tōsaku), known by his pen name Chōgorō Kaionji (海音寺 潮五郎, Kaionji Chōgorō), was a…Tōsaku Suetomi (末富 東作, Suetomi Tōsaku), known by his pen name Chōgorō Kaionji (海音寺 潮五郎, Kaionji Chōgorō), was a Japanese author. Noted for his historical novels, he was active during the Shōwa era of Japan.
Hideo Oguma (小熊秀雄, Oguma Hideo; 9 September 1901 – 20 November 1940) was a Japanese poet for the Proletarian literature…Hideo Oguma (小熊秀雄, Oguma Hideo; 9 September 1901 – 20 November 1940) was a Japanese poet for the Proletarian literature movement and was noted for writing children's stories, comic books and literary criticism. A Hideo Oguma poetry prize is awarded for new poetry writers.
Itoko Koyama (小山 いと子) (born Ito Ikemoto; July 13, 1901 – July 25, 1989) was a Japanese writer. She is best known for…Itoko Koyama (小山 いと子) (born Ito Ikemoto; July 13, 1901 – July 25, 1989) was a Japanese writer. She is best known for her 1956 biography of Empress Kōjun. She was a recipient of both the Fujin Kōron Prize and the Naoki Prize.
Mushitarō Oguri (小栗 虫太郎, Oguri Mushitarō; March 14, 1901 – February 10, 1946), born Eijirō Oguri, was a Japanese author…Mushitarō Oguri (小栗 虫太郎, Oguri Mushitarō; March 14, 1901 – February 10, 1946), born Eijirō Oguri, was a Japanese author and an important mystery novelist in pre-war Japan.
Tomoyoshi Murayama (村山 知義, Murayama Tomoyoshi; 18 January 1901 – 22 March 1977) was a Japanese artist, play writer…Tomoyoshi Murayama (村山 知義, Murayama Tomoyoshi; 18 January 1901 – 22 March 1977) was a Japanese artist, play writer, novelist and drama producer active during the Shōwa period in Japan.
Sakae Kubo (久保 栄, Kubo Sakae; December 28, 1900 – March 15, 1958) was a Japanese playwright and director. Kubo studied…Sakae Kubo (久保 栄, Kubo Sakae; December 28, 1900 – March 15, 1958) was a Japanese playwright and director. Kubo studied and translated German literature at Tokyo Imperial University and then soon he became the disciple of another famous playwright and theatre director, Kaoru Osanai. From his mentor, Kubo had adopted Shingeki theater, a new type of drama that developed in Japan in the early 20th century under the influence of Western-style theater. To honor the death of his teacher, Kubo began to write one of his most famous works, which was The Land of Volcanic Ash: A Play in Two Parts, translated by David Goodman. This play was most recognized for its focus on socialism that was depicted in pre-war Japan. It is seen as realist drama, for it describes the struggles of a reform-minded intellectual in the Hokkaido countryside which took place during the Soviet famine of 1932–33.
Shigeko Yuki (由起 しげ子, Yuki Shigeko; 2 December 1900 – 30 December 1969) was a Japanese writer and laureate of the…Shigeko Yuki (由起 しげ子, Yuki Shigeko; 2 December 1900 – 30 December 1969) was a Japanese writer and laureate of the Akutagawa Prize.
Gishū Nakayama (中山 義秀, Nakayama Gishū; 5 October 1900 – 19 August 1969) was the pen-name of a Japanese writer active in…Gishū Nakayama (中山 義秀, Nakayama Gishū; 5 October 1900 – 19 August 1969) was the pen-name of a Japanese writer active in Shōwa period Japan. His real name was Yoshihide Takama.
Sōichi Ōya (大宅 壮一, Ōya Sōichi; 13 September 1900 – 22 November 1970) was a Japanese journalist noted for his research…Sōichi Ōya (大宅 壮一, Ōya Sōichi; 13 September 1900 – 22 November 1970) was a Japanese journalist noted for his research and commentaries on popular culture.
Toshiro Sasaki (佐左木 俊郎, Sasaki Toshirō) (April 14, 1900 – March 13, 1933) was a Japanese author in the early 20th…Toshiro Sasaki (佐左木 俊郎, Sasaki Toshirō) (April 14, 1900 – March 13, 1933) was a Japanese author in the early 20th century. Most of his works have been published through the Aozora Bunko project. He was born in Miyagi Prefecture.
Kaitarō Hasegawa (長谷川海太郎, Hasegawa Kaitarō; 17 January 1900 – 29 June 1935) was a Japanese novelist and translator…Kaitarō Hasegawa (長谷川海太郎, Hasegawa Kaitarō; 17 January 1900 – 29 June 1935) was a Japanese novelist and translator during the early Shōwa period. Hasegawa wrote works in various genres under numerous pen names, each with a unique personality, and caused a sensation with the sheer brilliance of his fiction, non-fiction and translations.
Kiku Amino (網野 菊, Amino Kiku; January 16, 1900 - May 15, 1978) was a Japanese writer and translator of English and…Kiku Amino (網野 菊, Amino Kiku; January 16, 1900 - May 15, 1978) was a Japanese writer and translator of English and Russian literature. She was a recipient of the Women's Literature Prize, the Yomiuri Prize, and Japan Academy of the Arts prize.
Yōjirō Ishizaka (石坂 洋次郎, Ishizaka Yōjirō; 15 [or 25] January 1900 – 7 October 1986) was a Japanese writer of short…Yōjirō Ishizaka (石坂 洋次郎, Ishizaka Yōjirō; 15 [or 25] January 1900 – 7 October 1986) was a Japanese writer of short stories and novels.
Bang Jeong-hwan (Korean: 방정환; November 9, 1899 – July 23, 1931) was a pioneer of Korean juvenile literature and a…Bang Jeong-hwan (Korean: 방정환; November 9, 1899 – July 23, 1931) was a pioneer of Korean juvenile literature and a children's rights activist, who led the establishment of Children's Day (Korean: 어린이날) in Korea.
