Nagai Kafu
Encyclopedia
is the pen name of Japanese author, playwright, essayist, and diarist Nagai Sōkichi (永井 壮吉). His works are noted for their depictions of life in early 20th-century Tokyo
, especially among geisha
, prostitutes, cabaret dancers, and other denizens of the city's lively entertainment districts.
), the eldest son of Nagai Kyūichirō (永井 久一郎), his father, who was then 28 years old, and Nagai Tsune (永井 恆), then 19. Kyūichirō was a scholar, bureaucrat, and businessman who later became known for his Chinese poetry
. Kafū had three brothers and one sister. When the second son was born in 1883, Kafū was sent to live with his mother's family. In 1884, he attended the kindergarten affiliated with the Ochanomizu women's teachers' college
, and his father visited Europe on government business. Kafū returned to his parents' home in January 1886, when he entered elementary school.
In 1891, he attended a private English-language school in Kanda, Tokyo
. In 1894, he became ill, perhaps with scrofula
, and spent several months in 1895 in a hospital in Odawara. He began studying the shakuhachi
and Chinese poetry
in 1896 at the age of 17. In February of the following year, he made his first of many visits to the Yoshiwara
red-light district. The same year, he graduated from middle school and failed the entrance exam for university. With his mother and younger brothers, he visited Shanghai
, where his father was then working for the shipping company Nippon Yusen. He returned to Japan in the autumn and enrolled in the Chinese-language
department of the institutions for foreign-language educations affiliated with the Higher Commercial School
.
In 1898, he began writing short stories and studied with the novelist Hirotsu Ryūrō
(広津 柳浪), and in 1899 he became involved in writing and performing rakugo
and dropped out of the foreign-language school.
In 1900, he began publishing short stories. In 1901, he got a job briefly as a newspaper reporter and later began studying French
.
The following timeline is based on notes that he appended to the 11th handwritten volume of Danchōtei Nichijō:
During World War II, the number of Japanese literature published was limited due to extreme censorship from the government in order to encourage artists and writers to direct their focus towards the war effort. Though there were very few works published during wartime, Nagai Kafu became one of the rebels who opposed the government and continued to write. As a result, he was able to maintain his status as a popular novelist throughout the war. After the war, many Japanese authors were emotionally and psychologically affected and the aftereffects began to show in numerous Japanese literatures. Story plot, poem topics and essay ideas were all related to death, disease, despair and defeat. However, since Nagai Kafu did not contribute to the war effort, he was not influenced as heavily with defeat as other Japanese individuals. Thus, he continued to write about the things he loved in life which were mainly Geishas, prostitutes and dancers. Nagai Kafu continued writing both plays and novels until his death on April 30, 1959 from a gastric ulcer.
Kafū continued to write and keep his diary until his death in 1959. The edition of his collected works published by Iwanami Shoten in the 1990s runs to 30 volumes.
and his wide reading of premodern Japanese texts, his diaries and some of his essays are written in the highly literary bungo (文語) style. Most of his plays and novels, in contrast, are written in a modern style typical of the era in which he wrote, and the dialogue spoken by his characters seems particularly natural and unaffected.
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...
, especially among geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
, prostitutes, cabaret dancers, and other denizens of the city's lively entertainment districts.
Biography
Kafū was born at Kanetomi-chō 45, Koishikawa-ku (now Kasuga-chō, Bunkyō, TokyoBunkyo, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Situated in the middle of the ward area, Bunkyō is a residential and educational center. Beginning in the Meiji period, literati like Natsume Sōseki, as well as scholars and politicians have lived there...
), the eldest son of Nagai Kyūichirō (永井 久一郎), his father, who was then 28 years old, and Nagai Tsune (永井 恆), then 19. Kyūichirō was a scholar, bureaucrat, and businessman who later became known for his Chinese poetry
Chinese poetry
Chinese poetry is poetry written, spoken, or chanted in the Chinese language, which includes various versions of Chinese language, including Classical Chinese, Standard Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Yue Chinese, as well as many other historical and vernacular varieties of the Chinese language...
. Kafū had three brothers and one sister. When the second son was born in 1883, Kafū was sent to live with his mother's family. In 1884, he attended the kindergarten affiliated with the Ochanomizu women's teachers' college
Ochanomizu University
is one of only two national women's universities in Japan. The other one is the Nara Women's University.-History:Ochanomizu University was founded in 1875 as a teacher training institute for women located in Tokyo's Ochanomizu neighborhood. On September 1, 1923, the campus was destroyed in the...
, and his father visited Europe on government business. Kafū returned to his parents' home in January 1886, when he entered elementary school.
In 1891, he attended a private English-language school in Kanda, Tokyo
Kanda, Tokyo
See also Kanda, Fukuoka and the disambiguation page for Kanda. is a district in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It encompasses about thirty neighborhoods...
. In 1894, he became ill, perhaps with scrofula
Scrofula
Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis refers to a lymphadenitis of the cervical lymph nodes associated with tuberculosis. It was previously known as "scrofula".-The disease:...
, and spent several months in 1895 in a hospital in Odawara. He began studying the shakuhachi
Shakuhachi
The is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
and Chinese poetry
Chinese poetry
Chinese poetry is poetry written, spoken, or chanted in the Chinese language, which includes various versions of Chinese language, including Classical Chinese, Standard Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Yue Chinese, as well as many other historical and vernacular varieties of the Chinese language...
in 1896 at the age of 17. In February of the following year, he made his first of many visits to the Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara was a famous Akasen district in Edo, present-day Tōkyō, Japan.In the early 17th century, there was widespread male and female prostitution throughout the cities of Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka. To counter this, an order of Tokugawa Hidetada of the Tokugawa shogunate restricted prostitution to...
red-light district. The same year, he graduated from middle school and failed the entrance exam for university. With his mother and younger brothers, he visited Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, where his father was then working for the shipping company Nippon Yusen. He returned to Japan in the autumn and enrolled in the Chinese-language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
department of the institutions for foreign-language educations affiliated with the Higher Commercial School
Hitotsubashi University
is a national university specialised in the social sciences in Tokyo, Japan. The University has campuses in Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Kanda.Hitotsubashi is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is ranked 25th in the world in 2011 by École des Mines de Paris.Hitotsubashi...
.
In 1898, he began writing short stories and studied with the novelist Hirotsu Ryūrō
Hirotsu Ryuro
was the pen-name of a novelist in Meiji period Japan. He is credited with the creation of the genre in Japanese literature of . His real name was Hirotsu Naoto.-Early life:...
(広津 柳浪), and in 1899 he became involved in writing and performing rakugo
Rakugo
is a Japanese verbal entertainment. The lone sits on the stage, called the . Using only a paper fan and a small cloth as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story...
and dropped out of the foreign-language school.
In 1900, he began publishing short stories. In 1901, he got a job briefly as a newspaper reporter and later began studying French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
The following timeline is based on notes that he appended to the 11th handwritten volume of Danchōtei Nichijō:
- 1903: Travels to the United States. Stays in Tacoma, Washington.
- 1904: Visits the St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Exposition. Enrolls in Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
in MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. - 1905: Moves to New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and begins working for a Japanese bank. - 1906: Travels to LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and then returns to Japan. Publishes American Stories. - 1907: Publishes Furansu Monogatari (French Stories), which is immediately suppressed.
- 1908 - 1911: Has many stories published and some plays performed. Studies at Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
, in MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. - 1912: Marries.
- 1913: Father dies. Publishes collection of translated poems. Gets divorced. Takes on a mistress.
- 1914: Marries again.
- 1915: Anthology of works published. Divorces again. Lives for several months in a geisha house.
- 1916: Launches a literary magazine.
- 1918: First volume of collected works published.
- 1919: Second and third volumes of collected works published. Takes on a mistress.
- 1920: Play performed at Imperial Theater. Lets mistress go.
- 1921 - 1922: Several plays performed in Tokyo.
- 1923 - 1944: Continues to write, though publications become less frequent.
- 1945: Tokyo home destroyed in air raidsBombing of Tokyo in World War IIThe bombing of Tokyo, often referred to as a "firebombing", was conducted by the United States Army Air Forces during the Pacific campaigns of World War II. The U.S. mounted a small-scale raid on Tokyo in April 1942, with large morale effects...
. Moves to apartment, which is also destroyed.
During World War II, the number of Japanese literature published was limited due to extreme censorship from the government in order to encourage artists and writers to direct their focus towards the war effort. Though there were very few works published during wartime, Nagai Kafu became one of the rebels who opposed the government and continued to write. As a result, he was able to maintain his status as a popular novelist throughout the war. After the war, many Japanese authors were emotionally and psychologically affected and the aftereffects began to show in numerous Japanese literatures. Story plot, poem topics and essay ideas were all related to death, disease, despair and defeat. However, since Nagai Kafu did not contribute to the war effort, he was not influenced as heavily with defeat as other Japanese individuals. Thus, he continued to write about the things he loved in life which were mainly Geishas, prostitutes and dancers. Nagai Kafu continued writing both plays and novels until his death on April 30, 1959 from a gastric ulcer.
Kafū continued to write and keep his diary until his death in 1959. The edition of his collected works published by Iwanami Shoten in the 1990s runs to 30 volumes.
Writing style
Nagai's writing style varied depending on his genre and audience. Reflecting his study of classical ChineseClassical Chinese
Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese...
and his wide reading of premodern Japanese texts, his diaries and some of his essays are written in the highly literary bungo (文語) style. Most of his plays and novels, in contrast, are written in a modern style typical of the era in which he wrote, and the dialogue spoken by his characters seems particularly natural and unaffected.
Major works
Among Nagai's major works are:- American Stories (あめりか物語, Amerika Monogatari, 1908)
- Geisha in RivalryGeisha in Rivalry, also translated under the title of Rivalry, is a novel. Rivalry: A Geisha’s Tale was first published in Japanese in 1918 and was first translated into English in 1963. The author, Nagai Kafu, a Japanese novelist, was born in 1879 and died in 1959. Kafu was an editor of literary magazines prior...
(腕くらべ, Ude Kurabe, 1916-1917) - A Strange Tale from East of the River (濹東綺譚, Bokutō Kidan, 1937)
- His diaries, especially Danchōtei Nichijō (断腸亭日乗, written 1917-1959)
- During the Rains & Flowers in the Shade
- Sumida River (すみだ川, Sumidagawa, 1911)
See also
- Japanese literatureJapanese literatureEarly works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan...
- List of Japanese authors
- Kafū Nagai's grave