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何處へ
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First published January 1, 1908
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About the author
Hakuchō Masamune
19 books1 followerHakuchō Masamune (正宗 白鳥 Masamune Hakuchō?), a pseudonym of Tadao Masamune (March 3, 1879 – October 28, 1962) was a noted Japanese critic, novelist, and dramatist, and a leading member of the Japanese Naturalist school of literature.
Masamune was born in Bizen, Okayama as the eldest son, where his birthplace is now a museum. In 1896 he joined the English department of the Tokyo Senmon Gakko (now Waseda University). He was baptized as a Christian by priest Uemura Masahisa in 1897. After graduation, he worked in the university's Publishing Department, then in 1903 began writing literary, art, and cultural criticism for the Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper. In 1904 he published his first novel, Sekibaku (Solitude), in the Shinshosetsu literary magazine, "Jin'ai" ("Dust") in 1907, and gained attention with a naturalist novel, Doko-e (Whither?), published in serial form in Waseda bungaku through 1908. He left the newspaper in 1910 to become a full-time author, and in 1911 his novel Doro ningyō (The Mud Doll) gained further acclaim.
Although Masamune is perhaps most remembered for his criticism, he wrote a variety of works throughout his career, including short stories, dramas, and literary criticism. Major novels include Ushibeya no nioi (The Stench of the Stable, 1916) and Shisha seisha (The Dead and the Living, 1916); his best known plays are perhaps Jinsei no kōfuku (The Happiness of Human Life, 1924) and Tenshi hokaku (Captive Angels, 1947); and outstanding examples of his criticism include Bundan jimbutsu hyōron (Critical Essays on Literary Figures), Shisō mushisō (Thought and Non-Thought, 1938), Bundanteki jijoden (A Literary Autobiography, 1938), Sakka ron (A Study of Writers, 1941-2), Shizenshugi seisuishi (The Rise and Fall of Naturalism, 1948), and Uchimura Kanzō (1949).
Masamune received the 1959 Yomiuri Prize in literature for Kotoshi no aki. [Wikipedia]
Masamune was born in Bizen, Okayama as the eldest son, where his birthplace is now a museum. In 1896 he joined the English department of the Tokyo Senmon Gakko (now Waseda University). He was baptized as a Christian by priest Uemura Masahisa in 1897. After graduation, he worked in the university's Publishing Department, then in 1903 began writing literary, art, and cultural criticism for the Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper. In 1904 he published his first novel, Sekibaku (Solitude), in the Shinshosetsu literary magazine, "Jin'ai" ("Dust") in 1907, and gained attention with a naturalist novel, Doko-e (Whither?), published in serial form in Waseda bungaku through 1908. He left the newspaper in 1910 to become a full-time author, and in 1911 his novel Doro ningyō (The Mud Doll) gained further acclaim.
Although Masamune is perhaps most remembered for his criticism, he wrote a variety of works throughout his career, including short stories, dramas, and literary criticism. Major novels include Ushibeya no nioi (The Stench of the Stable, 1916) and Shisha seisha (The Dead and the Living, 1916); his best known plays are perhaps Jinsei no kōfuku (The Happiness of Human Life, 1924) and Tenshi hokaku (Captive Angels, 1947); and outstanding examples of his criticism include Bundan jimbutsu hyōron (Critical Essays on Literary Figures), Shisō mushisō (Thought and Non-Thought, 1938), Bundanteki jijoden (A Literary Autobiography, 1938), Sakka ron (A Study of Writers, 1941-2), Shizenshugi seisuishi (The Rise and Fall of Naturalism, 1948), and Uchimura Kanzō (1949).
Masamune received the 1959 Yomiuri Prize in literature for Kotoshi no aki. [Wikipedia]
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March 24, 2021
This is the first time I've read a novel by Japanese author Masamune Hakucho. The book was published in 1907 in a form of series in a newspaper. This French edition contains also an essay on Japanese naturalism literature at beginning of 20th century and comments made on both works.
The book is easy to read and understand by all unlike the essay and comments after the end of the stories. The first story is about a leading character, Kenji, who is talented in literature and can hold any career he wishes, but settles for journalist, which is not well regarded at the time and pays less. Kenji is very well regarded by his family, fellow friends and relatives, but he seems confused about himself and his future. He's easily bored personally and professionnally, wants to do everything and nothing. He knows what he doesn't want to do, but doesn't know what he wants to do. He knows he has duties to observe toward society, but he's not interested in.
The author describes, through the leading character, the entire young generation at the beginning of the 20th century during the Meiji era, which is in a transition period opening to the West, rejecting society's traditions, but still lost about its own future.
I liked this theme and it is presented. Although the story is set in a specific time in Japan, youth generation in any country always feels confused with itself and especially when the country faces a transition period.
The essay and comments after the stories are more difficult to read because the target audience is literature professors and not average readers.
The book is easy to read and understand by all unlike the essay and comments after the end of the stories. The first story is about a leading character, Kenji, who is talented in literature and can hold any career he wishes, but settles for journalist, which is not well regarded at the time and pays less. Kenji is very well regarded by his family, fellow friends and relatives, but he seems confused about himself and his future. He's easily bored personally and professionnally, wants to do everything and nothing. He knows what he doesn't want to do, but doesn't know what he wants to do. He knows he has duties to observe toward society, but he's not interested in.
The author describes, through the leading character, the entire young generation at the beginning of the 20th century during the Meiji era, which is in a transition period opening to the West, rejecting society's traditions, but still lost about its own future.
I liked this theme and it is presented. Although the story is set in a specific time in Japan, youth generation in any country always feels confused with itself and especially when the country faces a transition period.
The essay and comments after the stories are more difficult to read because the target audience is literature professors and not average readers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review