Yonejirō Noguchi (野口 米次郎, Noguchi Yonejirō; December 8, 1875 – July 13, 1947), also known as Yone Noguchi, was a…Yonejirō Noguchi (野口 米次郎, Noguchi Yonejirō; December 8, 1875 – July 13, 1947), also known as Yone Noguchi, was a Japanese writer, poet, essayist and literary critic in both English and Japanese. He was the father of sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
Kambara Hayao (蒲原 隼雄, 15 March 1876 – 3 February 1952), known by his pen name Kambara Ariake (蒲原 有明), was a Japanese…Kambara Hayao (蒲原 隼雄, 15 March 1876 – 3 February 1952), known by his pen name Kambara Ariake (蒲原 有明), was a Japanese poet and novelist active during the Taishō and Shōwa eras of Japan. He is also known as Kambara Yūmei.
Bin Ueda (上田 敏, Ueda Bin; October 30, 1874 – July 9, 1916) was a Japanese writer. Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo, he graduated…Bin Ueda (上田 敏, Ueda Bin; October 30, 1874 – July 9, 1916) was a Japanese writer. Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo, he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University. His major work is Kaichoon 海潮音 (The Sound of the Tide, 1905), a collection of translations from Western poets by Ueda himself.
Tōson Shimazaki (島崎 藤村, Shimazaki Tōson; Japanese pronunciation: [toꜜː.soɴ], 25 March 1872 – 22 August 1943) was the…Tōson Shimazaki (島崎 藤村, Shimazaki Tōson; Japanese pronunciation: [toꜜː.soɴ], 25 March 1872 – 22 August 1943) was the pen-name of Haruki Shimazaki, a Japanese writer active in the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa periods of Japan. He began his career as a Romantic poet, but went on to establish himself as a major proponent of Japanese Naturalism. The historical novel Before the Dawn (1929–1935), about the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, is his most popular work.
Doppo Kunikida (国木田 独歩, Kunikida Doppo; 30 August 1871 – 23 June 1908) was a Japanese author of novels and romantic…Doppo Kunikida (国木田 独歩, Kunikida Doppo; 30 August 1871 – 23 June 1908) was a Japanese author of novels and romantic poetry during the Meiji period, noted as one of the inventors of Japanese naturalism.
Hōgetsu Shimamura (島村 抱月, Shimamura Hōgetsu; February 28, 1871 - November 5, 1918)) was a Japanese critic, novelist and…Hōgetsu Shimamura (島村 抱月, Shimamura Hōgetsu; February 28, 1871 - November 5, 1918)) was a Japanese critic, novelist and leader of Shingeki. His real name is Takitaro (滝太郎). He was born in Shimane Prefecture. He graduated from Tōkyō Senmon Gakkō. In 1902 he studied abroad in the United Kingdom and Germany. In 1906, he founded the Bungei Kyōkai (文芸協会) with Tsubouchi Shoyo. He presided over Waseda Bungaku (早稲田文学) and was active in the naturalistic literary movement. In 1913, he established the Geijutsu-za theatre troupe with Sumako Matsui. His main works are Shinbijigaku (新美辞学), Kindai Bungei no Kenkyu (近代文芸之研究) and so on. Shimamura was also a key figure in Henrik Ibsen becoming a key influence in Japanese drama and the Shingeki movement; following a three and a half year stay in Europe and having attended many performances of Ibsen plays, Shimamura returned to Japan in 1905 and declared an "Age of Ibsen" to coincide with increased interest in Ibsen plays within Japan, including Shimamura's own translation of A Doll's House.
Kitamura Tōkoku (北村 透谷; 29 December 1868 – 16 May 1894) was the pen name of Kitamura Montarō (北村門太郎), a Japanese poet…Kitamura Tōkoku (北村 透谷; 29 December 1868 – 16 May 1894) was the pen name of Kitamura Montarō (北村門太郎), a Japanese poet and essayist. He was one of the founders of the modern Japanese romantic literary movement. Before dawn on 16 May 1894, Tokoku hanged himself in his garden at his home near Shiba Park in Tokyo. His grave is at the temple of Zuisho-ji in Shirokane, Tokyo.
Yamada Bimyō (山田 美妙), born Yamada Taketarō (山田 武太郎; 1868–1910), was a Japanese novelist. Jim Reichert, author of Yamada…Yamada Bimyō (山田 美妙), born Yamada Taketarō (山田 武太郎; 1868–1910), was a Japanese novelist. Jim Reichert, author of Yamada Bimyō: Historical Fiction and Modern Love, wrote that Bimyō was "one of the most influential literary reformers of the 1880s" who had "an instrumental role" in producing rekishi shōsetsu, the modern form of a Japanese historical novel. According to Reichert, during the 1880s the public perceived Bimyō "to be at the forefront of the literary reform movement, offering a fresh and exciting strategy for reforming Japanese literature." Louis Frédéric, author of the Japan Encyclopedia, wrote that Bimyō was, along with Kōda Rohan, "the most representative authors" of the first modern school of literature to appear in Meiji Japan.
Inoue Tetsujirō (井上 哲次郎; February 1, 1855 – December 7, 1944) was a Japanese philosopher, poet and educator. He is…Inoue Tetsujirō (井上 哲次郎; February 1, 1855 – December 7, 1944) was a Japanese philosopher, poet and educator. He is known for introducing Western philosophy in Japan and for being a pioneer in Eastern philosophy. He became the first Japanese professor of philosophy at Tokyo Imperial University, and also served as the 2nd President of Daito Bunka Academy. He condemned Christianity as fundamentally incompatible with the theocratic, polytheistic Japanese polity and thus considered its followers "inherently disloyal" to Japan. He compiled A Dictionary of Philosophy (哲学字彙, Tetsugaku jii), which was first published in 1881, again in 1884, and finally in 1912.
Rai San'yō (Japanese: 頼 山陽; 21 January 1780, Aki Province – 16 October 1832, Kyoto) was a Japanese Confucianist…Rai San'yō (Japanese: 頼 山陽; 21 January 1780, Aki Province – 16 October 1832, Kyoto) was a Japanese Confucianist philosopher, historian, artist and poet of the later Edo period. His true name was Rai Noboru.
Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, Miyazawa Kenji; Japanese: [mʲi.ja.(d)za.wa keꜜɲ.dʑi]; 27 August 1896 – 21 September 1933) was a…Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, Miyazawa Kenji; Japanese: [mʲi.ja.(d)za.wa keꜜɲ.dʑi]; 27 August 1896 – 21 September 1933) was a Japanese novelist, poet, and children's literature writer from Hanamaki, Iwate, in the late Taishō and early Shōwa periods. He was also known as an agricultural science teacher, vegetarian, cellist, devout Buddhist, and utopian social activist. Some of his major works include Night on the Galactic Railroad, Kaze no Matasaburō, Gauche the Cellist, and The Night of Taneyamagahara. Miyazawa converted to Nichiren Buddhism after reading the Lotus Sutra, and joined the Kokuchūkai, a Nichiren Buddhist organization. His religious and social beliefs created a rift between him and his wealthy family, especially his father, though after his death his family eventually followed him in converting to Nichiren Buddhism. Miyazawa founded the Rasu Farmers Association to improve the lives of peasants in Iwate Prefecture. He was also interested in Esperanto and translated some of his poems into it. He died of pneumonia in 1933. Almost totally unknown as a poet in his lifetime, Miyazawa's work gained its reputation posthumously, and enjoyed a boom by the mid-1990s on his centenary. A museum dedicated to his life and works was opened in 1982 in his hometown. Many of his children's stories have been adapted into anime, most notably Night on the Galactic Railroad. Many of his tanka and free verse poetry, translated into many languages, are still popular today.
