Mitsuo Nakamura
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of a writer of biographies and stage-plays, and a literary critic active in Shōwa period
Japan
. His real name was Koba Ichiro.
, in the plebian district of Shitaya, (present-day Akihabara
).
, published as Futabatei Shimei ron in 1936, received high acclaim, which encouraged him to devote his energies into similar critiques of contemporary Japanese and Western writers, focusing on cultural comparisons.
In 1938 he went to study in France
on the invitation of the French Government, but was forced to return to Japan at the outbreak of the World War II
.
After the war, in 1950, he published Fuzoku Shosetsu Ron, in which he analyzed modern Japanese realism and made a scathing attack against the I Novel
which he criticized as being little more than thinly disguised autobiographies, lacking in any meaningful social commentary and removed from modern urban life and realities.
He continued to write critical studies of various contemporary Japanese authors, including Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Shiga Naoya
and on contemporary Japanese fiction in general.
However, Nakamura also wrote a number of stage plays, including Pari Hanjoki ("Prospering in Paris") and Kiteki Issei ("Starting Whistle"), and novels, including Waga Sei no Hakusho ("Confessions of My Sexuality") Nise no Guzo ("False Idols"), and Aru Ai ("A Certain Love").
Nakamura began living in Kamakura
, Kanagawa Prefecture
from the spring of 1933 until his death in 1988 at the age of 77. His grave is at the Arai Cemetery in Sugamo
, Tokyo.
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...
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...
. His real name was Koba Ichiro.
Early life
Nakamura Mitsuo was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; 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...
, in the plebian district of Shitaya, (present-day Akihabara
Akihabara
, also known as , is an area of Tokyo, Japan. It is located less than five minutes by rail from Tokyo Station. Its name is frequently shortened to in Japan...
).
Literary career
Nakamura exhibited a talent for literature at an early age, and while still a student at Tokyo Imperial University was submitting literary criticism essays to the journal Bungakukai ("The Literary World"). His critical study of the novelist Futabatei ShimeiFutabatei Shimei
was a Japanese author, translator, and literary critic. Born Hasegawa Tatsunosuke in Edo , Futabatei's works are in the realist style popular in the mid- to late-19th century...
, published as Futabatei Shimei ron in 1936, received high acclaim, which encouraged him to devote his energies into similar critiques of contemporary Japanese and Western writers, focusing on cultural comparisons.
In 1938 he went to study in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on the invitation of the French Government, but was forced to return to Japan at the outbreak of the 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...
.
After the war, in 1950, he published Fuzoku Shosetsu Ron, in which he analyzed modern Japanese realism and made a scathing attack against the 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...
which he criticized as being little more than thinly disguised autobiographies, lacking in any meaningful social commentary and removed from modern urban life and realities.
He continued to write critical studies of various contemporary Japanese authors, including Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Shiga Naoya
Shiga Naoya
was a Japanese novelist and short story writer active during the Taishō and Showa periods of Japan.-Early life:Shiga was born in Ishinomaki city, Miyagi prefecture. His father, the son of a samurai, was a banker. The family moved to Tokyo when Shiga was three, to live with his grandparents, who...
and on contemporary Japanese fiction in general.
However, Nakamura also wrote a number of stage plays, including Pari Hanjoki ("Prospering in Paris") and Kiteki Issei ("Starting Whistle"), and novels, including Waga Sei no Hakusho ("Confessions of My Sexuality") Nise no Guzo ("False Idols"), and Aru Ai ("A Certain Love").
Nakamura began living in 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...
from the spring of 1933 until his death in 1988 at the age of 77. His grave is at the Arai Cemetery in Sugamo
Sugamo
is a neighborhood in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. It is well known for , a popular shopping street for the older generation . It lies at the crossing point of the JR Yamanote railway line, and national road route Route 17.-See also:* Sugamo Prison* Sugamo Station...
, Tokyo.