Kurushima Takehiko
Encyclopedia
was an author of children's literature
, and one of the three great Japanese authors of children's stories for public performance. He is also the writer of the nursery rhyme
"Yūyake Koyake", and was praised as "the Japanese Hans Christian Andersen
". He was born in Mori Town, Kusu District (currently Kusu
Town) in Ōita Prefecture
.
He was a direct descendent of , and the grandson of the last head of the Mori Domain
, .
In 1887, he entered Ōita Middle School (currently Ōita Uenogaoka High School 大分県立大分上野丘高等学校). There he met an American priest
, Wainwright, who was working as an English teacher. Partly due to the influence of Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright, he came to enjoy telling stories to children in Sunday School. He changed schools together with Wainwright, to Kansai College (関西学院), from which he graduated.
He then entered the army, and served in the First Sino-Japanese War
.
Works he wrote and submitted under the pen name were accepted by , the head writer at the magazine , "'World' for Boys", and he began to write military stories. He also met Ozaki Kōyō
. After returning to Japan, he got a job working for the Kobe Shimbun
newspaper.
In 1906, he began an organised tour of Japan to give readings of children's stories. He visited over 6000 kindergarten
s and elementary school
s.
In 1910, he founded Sawarabi Kindergarten.
In 1924, the was established, and he and Iwaya Sazanami joined as consultants.
In 1945, both his Tokyo home and Sawarabi Kindergarten were burnt down in the air raids.
In 1949, he moved to , a house built inside the precinct of temple.
He also played a part in laying the foundations of the Scouting
movement in Japan
, together with a group including and Kurushima Takehiko's son-in-law, , and participated in the Second World Scout Jamboree
held in Denmark
in 1924, as the deputy leader of the Japanese group.
At that time, when he visited Odense
, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen
, he was distressed to find that the house in which Andersen was born was being used as little more than a storehouse, and that Andersen's grave was unattended to and had gone to seed. He appealed to the local newspaper, and to wherever else he visited, to return Andersen to his rightful prominence. Moved by this, the Danish people came to call him "the Japanese Hans Christian Andersen".
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, and one of the three great Japanese authors of children's stories for public performance. He is also the writer of the nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
"Yūyake Koyake", and was praised as "the Japanese Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
". He was born in Mori Town, Kusu District (currently Kusu
Kusu, Oita
is a town located in Kusu District, Ōita, Japan.As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 17,945. The total area is 286.44 km².-External links:* *...
Town) in Ōita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
.
He was a direct descendent of , and the grandson of the last head of the Mori Domain
Mori Domain (Bungo)
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Kyūshū. It was ruled for the entirety of its history by the Kurushima clan.-History:The Kurushima family, which ruled Mori during the Edo period, were the descendants of the Kurushima who formed part of the Murakami pirates of the Inland...
, .
In 1887, he entered Ōita Middle School (currently Ōita Uenogaoka High School 大分県立大分上野丘高等学校). There he met an American priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, Wainwright, who was working as an English teacher. Partly due to the influence of Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright, he came to enjoy telling stories to children in Sunday School. He changed schools together with Wainwright, to Kansai College (関西学院), from which he graduated.
He then entered the army, and served in the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
.
Works he wrote and submitted under the pen name were accepted by , the head writer at the magazine , "'World' for Boys", and he began to write military stories. He also met Ozaki Kōyō
Ozaki Koyo
was a Japanese author. His real name was Ozaki Tokutarō .-Biography:Ozaki was the only son of Kokusai , a well-known netsuke carver in the Meiji period. He was educated at Tokyo Prefecture Middle School, and later Tokyo Imperial University...
. After returning to Japan, he got a job working for the Kobe Shimbun
Kobe Shimbun
is a daily newspaper based in Kobe, Japan, and the company publishing that newspapers is also called .-External links:...
newspaper.
In 1906, he began an organised tour of Japan to give readings of children's stories. He visited over 6000 kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
s and elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s.
In 1910, he founded Sawarabi Kindergarten.
In 1924, the was established, and he and Iwaya Sazanami joined as consultants.
In 1945, both his Tokyo home and Sawarabi Kindergarten were burnt down in the air raids.
In 1949, he moved to , a house built inside the precinct of temple.
He also played a part in laying the foundations of the Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement in Japan
Scout Association of Japan
The is the major Scouting organization of Japan. Starting as boys only, the organization was known as the Boy Scouts of Japan from 1922 until 1971, and as Boy Scouts of Nippon from 1971 to 1995, when it became coeducational in all sections, leading to neutral naming...
, together with a group including and Kurushima Takehiko's son-in-law, , and participated in the Second World Scout Jamboree
World Scout Jamboree
The World Scout Jamboree is a Scouting jamboree of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, typically attended by several tens of thousands of Scouts from around the world, aged 14 to 17....
held in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1924, as the deputy leader of the Japanese group.
At that time, when he visited Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, he was distressed to find that the house in which Andersen was born was being used as little more than a storehouse, and that Andersen's grave was unattended to and had gone to seed. He appealed to the local newspaper, and to wherever else he visited, to return Andersen to his rightful prominence. Moved by this, the Danish people came to call him "the Japanese Hans Christian Andersen".
Related items
- The Kurushima Takehiko Culture Prize: a prize given to an individual or group for contributions to children's literature by the Japanese Culture Center for Youths and Children
- The Children's Story Plaque: in Mishima Park, Kusu, Oita Prefecture. Erected in 1950 to commemorate 50 years of Kurushima Takehiko's life in children's stories. A Japanese Children's Story Festival is held every year on May 5.
- Kurushima Memorial Building: in Mori District, Oita Prefecture.
- Plaque marking the site of the home of Kurushima Takehiko: in the grounds of Denkō-ji, NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, Nara PrefectureNara Prefectureis a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....