Kōsaku Takii
Encyclopedia
was a noted Japan
ese haiku
poet, short story writer, and author of the celebrated I novel
Mugen Hōyō.
Takii was born in Takayama, Gifu
where his father was a cabinetmaker. At age 13, he lost his mother and two brothers, and was forced to go work in the city's fish markets. In 1909, at age 15, he met haiku poet Kawahigashi Hekigotō and decided to devote his life to poetry. He moved to Tokyo in 1914, where he worked as editor of the haiku magazine Kaikō (Sea Crimson), and was an occasional student at Waseda University
. Under the influence of Naoya Shiga, he began publishing fiction in 1919. That same year, he married a prostitute with whom he lived until her death in 1922. His celebrated novel, Mugen Hōyō (The Infinite Embrace), written as four stories in the years 1921-1924, recounts their relationship.
Following Shiga, Takii moved to Abiko, Chiba
, in 1922, then Kyoto
in 1923 and Nara
in 1925. In 1930 he struck off with his second wife for Hachiōji
, her home town, and during World War II
worked for the army. All the while he continued to publish essays and stories. In 1959 he became a member of the Japan Art Academy
. He received the 1968 Yomiuri Prize
for Yashu, a collection of short stories, and the Nihon Bungaku Taisho (Grand Prize of Japanese Literature) in 1974 for Haijin Nakama (Companions of haiku, published in five parts 1969-1973). Takii died of renal failure and is buried in the Daiyu-ji Temple Cemetery in Takayama, Gifu
.
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...
ese haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
poet, short story writer, and author of the celebrated I novel
I Novel
is a literary genre in Japanese literature used to describe a type of confessional literature where the events in the story correspond to events in the author's life. This genre was founded based on the Japanese reception of Naturalism during the Meiji period. Many authors believed form reflected...
Mugen Hōyō.
Takii was born in Takayama, Gifu
Takayama, Gifu
is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of July, 2011 the city has an estimated population of 92,369. The total area is .Takayama was settled as far back as the Jōmon period. Takayama is best known for its inhabitants' expertise in carpentry. It is believed carpenters from Takayama worked on the...
where his father was a cabinetmaker. At age 13, he lost his mother and two brothers, and was forced to go work in the city's fish markets. In 1909, at age 15, he met haiku poet Kawahigashi Hekigotō and decided to devote his life to poetry. He moved to Tokyo in 1914, where he worked as editor of the haiku magazine Kaikō (Sea Crimson), and was an occasional student at Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
. Under the influence of Naoya Shiga, he began publishing fiction in 1919. That same year, he married a prostitute with whom he lived until her death in 1922. His celebrated novel, Mugen Hōyō (The Infinite Embrace), written as four stories in the years 1921-1924, recounts their relationship.
Following Shiga, Takii moved to Abiko, Chiba
Abiko, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 134,154 and a population density of 3110 persons per km²...
, in 1922, then Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
in 1923 and Nara
Nara, Nara
is 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...
in 1925. In 1930 he struck off with his second wife for Hachiōji
Hachioji, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the...
, her home town, and during 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...
worked for the army. All the while he continued to publish essays and stories. In 1959 he became a member of the Japan Art Academy
Japan Art Academy
is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of Education on art-related issues, and promotes art is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of...
. He received the 1968 Yomiuri Prize
Yomiuri Prize
The is a prestigious literary award in Japan. The prize was founded in 1948 by the Yomiuri Shinbun Company to help form a "cultural nation". The winner is awarded one million Japanese yen and an inkstone.-Award categories:...
for Yashu, a collection of short stories, and the Nihon Bungaku Taisho (Grand Prize of Japanese Literature) in 1974 for Haijin Nakama (Companions of haiku, published in five parts 1969-1973). Takii died of renal failure and is buried in the Daiyu-ji Temple Cemetery in Takayama, Gifu
Takayama, Gifu
is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of July, 2011 the city has an estimated population of 92,369. The total area is .Takayama was settled as far back as the Jōmon period. Takayama is best known for its inhabitants' expertise in carpentry. It is believed carpenters from Takayama worked on the...
.