Masuji Ibuse
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
author
.
which is now part of Fukuyama, Hiroshima
.
At the age of 19 he started studying at Waseda University
in Tokyo
. He was at first interested in studying poetry and painting but was encouraged to study fiction and ended up specialising in French literature
.
He was harassed sexually by a gay professor named Noburu Katagami
, so he had to leave the university before graduation, but began publishing stories in the early 1920s.
He began to be recognised in the late 20's when his work was favorably mentioned by some of Japan's top critics. He appeared on the literary scene with the publication of Salamander in 1929, and thereafter continued to write in a style characterized by a unique blend of humour and bitterness.
He was awarded the Naoki Prize
for John Manjirou, the Cast-Away; his Life and Adventure and continued to publish works filled with warmth and kindliness, while at the same time showing his keen power of observation. The themes he employed were usually intellectual fantasies that used animal allegories, historical fiction, and the country life. During World War II
he worked for the government as a propaganda writer.
Ibuse was made fun of at this school; he even went as far as to avoid wearing glasses in an effort to not being ridiculed.
Although Ibuse enjoyed the Western influences of his education, his grandfather arranged for private tutorial of Chinese literature, however, this training came to a stop when Ibuse's tutor died.
At his school, Ibuse had to often deal with rules that forbade students to read fictional literature; this prevented Ibuse from reading popular works during this period. However Ibuse managed to read works from Shimazaki Toson and Mori Ogai. In 1916, Ibuse even wrote a letter to Ogai with the pseudonym Kuchiki Sansuke. Ogai believed Sansuke was a famous scholar and sent a reply to Sansuke expressing his gratitude.
While in middle school, Ibuse's brother Fumio submitted a poem to the Tokyo journal Shusai bundan using Ibuse's name. Ibuse was reprimanded by the principal of Fukuyama's school but he was also praised by receiving two fan letters. The reprimand Ibuse received influenced him to express an interest in the visual arts.
Ibuse studied the arts at Fukuyama Middle School; he enjoyed the classes but did not feel he wanted to commit his life to becoming an artist.
Ibuse graduated from middle school in 1917; he wanted to continue his artist endeavours under the tutorship of established painter Hashimoto Kansetsu but this opportunity was denied by Kansetsu.
In 1917 at nineteen years of age, Ibuse started preparing to enter Waseda University; he was greatly influenced by his brother Fumio and by a friend of his Yamane Masakazu.
Ibuse moved to Tokyo and experienced a sense of inspiration from leaving the country (Fukuyama) and moving to the big city, Ibuse described this experience in Thoughts One February Ninth: "sometimes I feel that half of me wants to return to the country while the other half would like to cling to Tokyo until the very end."
Tokyo appeared to be surreal for Ibuse, he felt lonely and missed his Fukuyama home. Nevertheless, Ibuse decided to stay in a boardinghouse near Waseda University; he often moved but always staying near Waseda, he visited Fukuyama only occasionally.
In Tokyo, Ibuse befriended eccentric young men and literary hopefuls. During his stay at Waseda University, Ibuse witnessed political unrest and the expressed radicalism of university students. Ibuse did not appeal to the political ideologies of the era. In fact, he was dissatisfied with the consistent strikes and revolts.
At Waseda University, Ibuse was greatly influenced by the works of Shakespeare and Basho; he was also an avid reader of French fiction and poetry. Ibuse went as far as to pawn a watch to try to understand the necessities of writers.
In 1918 Ibuse met naturalist writer Iwano Homei. Homei's literature was appealing to Ibuse and would later influence some of Ibuse's literary works.
Ibuse befriended student Aoki Nampachi in Waseda, Aoki was a mentor and a great influence in the writings of Ibuse, Aoki's influence can be found in "The Carp," where Ibuse ideolizes Aoki's friendship and represents his feelings towards this friendship in a carp.
Ibuse started writing his first essays in 1922, shortly after the death of Aoki. Ibuse often found inspiration in his loneliness and in his encounters with geishas, his first literary works where in the style of prose, he had severed ties with Waseda University and started writing for small magazines.
One of Ibuse's first contributions was for the magazine Seiki, it was originally written for Aoki in 1919 and titled "The Salamander," in 1923 it was renamed "Confinement."
Ibuse was known and appreciated for most of his career, although it wasn't until after the war that he became famous. In 1966 he published his most well known work, Black Rain
, which won him international acclaim and several awards including the Noma Prize
and the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Japanese author. The novel draws its material from the bombing of Hiroshima with the title referring to the nuclear fallout. Ibuse was not present at the time of the bombing, but uses the diaries of survivors to construct his narrative. His earlier story Kakitsubata (“The Crazy Iris”, first published in 1951) deals with similar themes.
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...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Life and work
Ibuse was born in 1898 to a landowning family in the village of KamoKamo
-Japan:*Kamo, Niigata*Kamo District, Gifu*Kamo District, Hiroshima*Kamo District, Shizuoka*Kamo, Kyoto*Kamo, Okayama*Kamo, Shimane*Kamo, Shizuoka*Kamō, Kagoshima*The Kamo River in Kyoto-Rest of the world:*Gavar, Armenia - formerly Kamo*Kamo, Armenia...
which is now part of Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Fukuyama, Hiroshima
is a city located on the Ashida River in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.As of January 31, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 465,238 and a population density of 898.02 persons per km². The total area is 461.23 km². After Hiroshima City, it is the largest city in Hiroshima Prefecture...
.
At the age of 19 he started studying 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...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. He was at first interested in studying poetry and painting but was encouraged to study fiction and ended up specialising in French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
.
He was harassed sexually by a gay professor named Noburu Katagami
Noburu Katagami
was a Japanese literary critic and a professor of Russian literature at Waseda University. He is also known as Tengen Katagami .-Biography:...
, so he had to leave the university before graduation, but began publishing stories in the early 1920s.
He began to be recognised in the late 20's when his work was favorably mentioned by some of Japan's top critics. He appeared on the literary scene with the publication of Salamander in 1929, and thereafter continued to write in a style characterized by a unique blend of humour and bitterness.
He was awarded the Naoki Prize
Naoki Prize
The Naoki Prize is a Japanese literary award presented semiannually. The official name is Naoki Sanjugo Prize. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the Bungeishunjū magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo...
for John Manjirou, the Cast-Away; his Life and Adventure and continued to publish works filled with warmth and kindliness, while at the same time showing his keen power of observation. The themes he employed were usually intellectual fantasies that used animal allegories, historical fiction, and the country life. 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...
he worked for the government as a propaganda writer.
Adolescence
Ibuse failed his entrance exam to Hiroshima middle school but in 1911 he gained admission to Fukuyama Middle School. Fukuyama Middle School was an elite academy and was linked to eminent scholars. Fukuyama's teachers boasted the school's pedigree but Ibuse did not care much for this. Ibuse speaks of this school as following Western ideals, according to The First Half of My Life he says the school emphasized Dutch learning and French military exercises.Ibuse was made fun of at this school; he even went as far as to avoid wearing glasses in an effort to not being ridiculed.
Although Ibuse enjoyed the Western influences of his education, his grandfather arranged for private tutorial of Chinese literature, however, this training came to a stop when Ibuse's tutor died.
At his school, Ibuse had to often deal with rules that forbade students to read fictional literature; this prevented Ibuse from reading popular works during this period. However Ibuse managed to read works from Shimazaki Toson and Mori Ogai. In 1916, Ibuse even wrote a letter to Ogai with the pseudonym Kuchiki Sansuke. Ogai believed Sansuke was a famous scholar and sent a reply to Sansuke expressing his gratitude.
While in middle school, Ibuse's brother Fumio submitted a poem to the Tokyo journal Shusai bundan using Ibuse's name. Ibuse was reprimanded by the principal of Fukuyama's school but he was also praised by receiving two fan letters. The reprimand Ibuse received influenced him to express an interest in the visual arts.
Ibuse studied the arts at Fukuyama Middle School; he enjoyed the classes but did not feel he wanted to commit his life to becoming an artist.
Ibuse graduated from middle school in 1917; he wanted to continue his artist endeavours under the tutorship of established painter Hashimoto Kansetsu but this opportunity was denied by Kansetsu.
In 1917 at nineteen years of age, Ibuse started preparing to enter Waseda University; he was greatly influenced by his brother Fumio and by a friend of his Yamane Masakazu.
Ibuse moved to Tokyo and experienced a sense of inspiration from leaving the country (Fukuyama) and moving to the big city, Ibuse described this experience in Thoughts One February Ninth: "sometimes I feel that half of me wants to return to the country while the other half would like to cling to Tokyo until the very end."
Tokyo appeared to be surreal for Ibuse, he felt lonely and missed his Fukuyama home. Nevertheless, Ibuse decided to stay in a boardinghouse near Waseda University; he often moved but always staying near Waseda, he visited Fukuyama only occasionally.
In Tokyo, Ibuse befriended eccentric young men and literary hopefuls. During his stay at Waseda University, Ibuse witnessed political unrest and the expressed radicalism of university students. Ibuse did not appeal to the political ideologies of the era. In fact, he was dissatisfied with the consistent strikes and revolts.
At Waseda University, Ibuse was greatly influenced by the works of Shakespeare and Basho; he was also an avid reader of French fiction and poetry. Ibuse went as far as to pawn a watch to try to understand the necessities of writers.
In 1918 Ibuse met naturalist writer Iwano Homei. Homei's literature was appealing to Ibuse and would later influence some of Ibuse's literary works.
Ibuse befriended student Aoki Nampachi in Waseda, Aoki was a mentor and a great influence in the writings of Ibuse, Aoki's influence can be found in "The Carp," where Ibuse ideolizes Aoki's friendship and represents his feelings towards this friendship in a carp.
Ibuse started writing his first essays in 1922, shortly after the death of Aoki. Ibuse often found inspiration in his loneliness and in his encounters with geishas, his first literary works where in the style of prose, he had severed ties with Waseda University and started writing for small magazines.
One of Ibuse's first contributions was for the magazine Seiki, it was originally written for Aoki in 1919 and titled "The Salamander," in 1923 it was renamed "Confinement."
Ibuse was known and appreciated for most of his career, although it wasn't until after the war that he became famous. In 1966 he published his most well known work, Black Rain
Black Rain (novel)
is a novel by Japanese author Masuji Ibuse. Ibuse began serializing Black Rain in the magazine Shincho in January 1965. The novel is based on historical records of the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. However, Ibuse does not refer to social or political considerations that led...
, which won him international acclaim and several awards including the Noma Prize
Noma Prize
The Noma Prizes were established by Shoichi Noma, or in his honor. More than one award is conventionally identified as the Noma Prize.Noma was the former head of Kodansha, the Japanese publishing and bookselling company...
and the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Japanese author. The novel draws its material from the bombing of Hiroshima with the title referring to the nuclear fallout. Ibuse was not present at the time of the bombing, but uses the diaries of survivors to construct his narrative. His earlier story Kakitsubata (“The Crazy Iris”, first published in 1951) deals with similar themes.
Selected works
- Yu Hei "Confinement" (1923)
- Sanshouo (1929) "Salamander and Other Stories" (trans. by John Bester)Kodansha International 1981.
- Sazanami Gunki (1930-38) "Waves: A War Diary"
- Shigotobeya, (1931)
- Kawa (1931-32) - "The River"
- ZuihitsuZuihitsuis a genre of Japanese literature consisting of loosely connected personal essays and fragmented ideas that typically respond to the author's surroundings...
, (1933) - Keirokushu )(1936) - "Miscellany"
- Jon Manjiro Hyoryuki, (1937) - "John Manjiro, the Cast-Away: His Life and Adventures"
- Shukin Ryoko, (1937)
- Sazanami Gunki, (1938) - "trans. in Waves: Two Short Novels"
- Tajinko Mura, 1939
- Shigureto Jokei, 1941
- Ibuse Masuji Zuihitsu Zenshu, 1941 (3 vols.)
- Hana No Machi, 1942 - "City of Flowers"
- Chushu Meigetsu, 1942
- Aru Shojo No Senji Nikki, 1943 - "A Young Girl's Wartime Diary"
- Gojinka, 1944
- Wabisuke, 1946 - "trans. in Waves: Two Short Novels"
- Magemono, 1946
- Oihagi No Hanashi, 1947
- Ibuse Masuji Senshu, 1948 (9 vols)
- Yohai Taicho, 1950 - "Lieutenant Lookeast and other stories"
- Kawatsuri, 1952
- Honjitsu Kyushin, 1952 - "No Consultations Today",
- Ibuse Masuji Sakuhinshu, 1953 (5 vols.)
- Hyomin Usaburo, 1954-55
- Nyomin Nanakamado, 1955
- Kanreki No Koi, 1957
- Ekimae Ryokan, 1957
- Nanatsu No Kaidō, 1957
- Chinpindo Shujin, 1959
- Bushu Hachigatajo, 1963
- Mushinjo, 1963
- Ibuse Masuji Zenshu, 1964 (2 vols.)
- Kuroi AmeBlack Rain (novel)is a novel by Japanese author Masuji Ibuse. Ibuse began serializing Black Rain in the magazine Shincho in January 1965. The novel is based on historical records of the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. However, Ibuse does not refer to social or political considerations that led...
, 1966 - Black RainBlack Rain (novel)is a novel by Japanese author Masuji Ibuse. Ibuse began serializing Black Rain in the magazine Shincho in January 1965. The novel is based on historical records of the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. However, Ibuse does not refer to social or political considerations that led...
(trans. by John Bester) - filmBlack Rain (Japanese film)is a 1989 Japanese film by director Shohei Imamura and based on the novel of the same name by Ibuse Masuji. The events are centered on the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.-Plot:...
1989, dir. by Shohei Imamura - Gendai Bungaku Taikei, 1966
- Hanseiki, 1970 - "The First Half of My Life"
- Shincho Nihonbungaku, 1970
- Tsuribito, 1970
- Ibuse Masuji Zenshu, 1975 ( 14 vols.)
- Choyochu No Koto, 1977-80 - "Under Arms"
- Ogikubo Fudoki, 1981 - "An Ogikybo Almanac"
External links
- http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ibuse.htm
- http://www.f.waseda.jp/mjewel/jlit/authors_works/modernlit/ibuse_masuji.html
- http://www.facm.net/eng/episode2.htm