Kikuko Kawakami
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
woman writer active during the Showa period
of Japan
. Her maiden name was Shinoda Kikuko.
. She graduated from Heijo Higher Girls' School and from the vocational course at Yamawaki Higher Girls’ School. In 1924 she accompanied her husband to Korea
, then under Japanese rule
, and lived there until 1931.
In 1927, the Osaka
Asahi Shimbun
awarded her a prize for her novel, Aru Minikui Biganjutsu-shi (An Ugly Beautician), which it then ran as a serialized novel in the newspaper.
After her return to Japan in 1931, she and her retired husband moved to Kamakura
, Kanagawa prefecture
, so that she could receive medical treatment for an illness contracted in Korea. She continued to live in Kamakura until her death in 1985.
While living in Kamakura, she had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of some of the Kamakura literati, including Hayashi Fusao
, Kawabata Yasunari and Yosano Akiko
(who taught her tanka
). Some of her poems were accepted by Myōjō
.
In 1936, Hayashi and Kawabata encouraged Kawakami to publish Fuyubi no Kage ("Shadow of a Winter's Day"), Saigetsu (Time and tide), and Metsubo no Mon ("Gate of Ruin") in Bungakukai
, a major monthly literary magazine
. All three stories were acclaimed by literary critics, and Metsubo no Mon was awarded the eleventh Bungakukai Prize, and was nominated for the 4th Akutagawa Prize
.
Following this recognition, Kawakami wrote a number of novels in quick succession, including Hikari Honokanari (Faint Light), Biko ("Dim Light"), and Hanazono no Shosoku, published in Bungakukai. Her style was objective and unemotional, and she depicted the ever-increasing oppression under Japan's growing militarism
.
After World War II
, Kawakami withdrew from literary activity, but in her later years published Kagero no Banka ("Elegy on Mirage").
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
woman writer active during the Showa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Her maiden name was Shinoda Kikuko.
Biography
Kawakami Kikuko was born in Shizuoka PrefectureShizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
. She graduated from Heijo Higher Girls' School and from the vocational course at Yamawaki Higher Girls’ School. In 1924 she accompanied her husband to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, then under Japanese rule
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
, and lived there until 1931.
In 1927, the Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
Asahi Shimbun
Asahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
awarded her a prize for her novel, Aru Minikui Biganjutsu-shi (An Ugly Beautician), which it then ran as a serialized novel in the newspaper.
After her return to Japan in 1931, she and her retired husband moved to Kamakura
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
, Kanagawa prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, so that she could receive medical treatment for an illness contracted in Korea. She continued to live in Kamakura until her death in 1985.
While living in Kamakura, she had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of some of the Kamakura literati, including Hayashi Fusao
Hayashi Fusao
was the Pen name of 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 a strong ultranationalist...
, Kawabata Yasunari and Yosano Akiko
Yosano Akiko
was the pen-name of a Japanese author, poet, pioneering feminist, pacifist, and social reformer, active in the late Meiji period as well as the Taishō and early Showa periods of Japan. Her name at birth was Otori Shô. She is one of the most famous, and most controversial, post-classical woman poets...
(who taught her tanka
Waka (poetry)
Waka or Yamato uta is a genre of classical Japanese verse and one of the major genres of Japanese literature...
). Some of her poems were accepted by Myōjō
Myojo
' was the title of a monthly literary magazine first published in Japan between February 1900 and November 1908.The name Myōjō can be translates as either Bright Star or Morning Star. It was the organ of a poetry circle called Shinshisha which had been founded by Yosano Tekkan in 1899...
.
In 1936, Hayashi and Kawabata encouraged Kawakami to publish Fuyubi no Kage ("Shadow of a Winter's Day"), Saigetsu (Time and tide), and Metsubo no Mon ("Gate of Ruin") in Bungakukai
Bungakukai
is a Japanese monthly literary magazine published by Bungeishunjū as oriented publication. The first version of Bungakukai was launched in 1890s. Along with Shinchō, Gunzo, Bungei and Subaru, it is one of the five leading literary journals in Japan. It runs a contest for newcomer writers...
, a major monthly literary magazine
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
. All three stories were acclaimed by literary critics, and Metsubo no Mon was awarded the eleventh Bungakukai Prize, and was nominated for the 4th Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
.
Following this recognition, Kawakami wrote a number of novels in quick succession, including Hikari Honokanari (Faint Light), Biko ("Dim Light"), and Hanazono no Shosoku, published in Bungakukai. Her style was objective and unemotional, and she depicted the ever-increasing oppression under Japan's growing militarism
Japanese militarism
refers to the ideology in the Empire of Japan that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation.-Rise of militarism :...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kawakami withdrew from literary activity, but in her later years published Kagero no Banka ("Elegy on Mirage").