Nakayama Gishu
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of a Japanese writer active in Showa period
Japan
. His real name was Takama Yoshihide.
city, Fukushima Prefecture
, and was a graduate of Waseda University
. During and after his time in the university, he taught English language
in local middle schools.
, To ("Tower") together with Yokomitsu Riichi and others, to which he contributed his first story, Ana ("The Hole").
In 1938, he published his first short story collection, Denko ("Electric Light"), and two years later, won the 7th Akutagawa Prize
for his novelette Atsumonozaki (厚物咲). These works were followed by the short stories, Ishibumi ("Monument"), Seifu Sassa ("Swift Breeze") and Fuso ("Wind and Frost"), which secured his reputation in the literary world.
Gishū moved to Kamakura
, Kanagawa prefecture
, from 1943 to the end of his life and took an active interest in the lending library, Kamakura Bunko, and the publishing house of the same name.
His experiences as a war correspondent
in World War II
led to the short story Teniyan no matsujitsu in 1948, about two young intellectuals who died on Tinian
in the Mariana Islands
towards the end of the war. This marked a new start for Gishu, who later concentrated on historical novel
s, with the main subject being historical figures fighting for lost causes. These works include Shoan, about the 16th century warrior Akechi Mitsuhide
, which won the Noma Prize
in 1964, and the Japan Art Academy Prize in 1967.
Gishū died of acute anemia
in 1969. Shortly before his death, he converted to Christianity
; however, his grave is at Shorei-in sub-temple of the Zen
-sect temple of Engaku-ji
in Kamakura.
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 Takama Yoshihide.
Early life
Gishū was born in what is now ShirakawaShirakawa, Fukushima
is a city in Fukushima, Japan. It is located in the southern portion of the prefecture.The 2003 estimated population was 48,297 and the density in that year was 410.44 persons per km². The total area was 117.67 km²...
city, Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, and was a graduate of 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...
. During and after his time in the university, he taught English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in local middle schools.
Literary career
While a student at Waseda, Gishū founded a literary magazineLiterary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
, To ("Tower") together with Yokomitsu Riichi and others, to which he contributed his first story, Ana ("The Hole").
In 1938, he published his first short story collection, Denko ("Electric Light"), and two years later, won the 7th Akutagawa Prize
Akutagawa Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
for his novelette Atsumonozaki (厚物咲). These works were followed by the short stories, Ishibumi ("Monument"), Seifu Sassa ("Swift Breeze") and Fuso ("Wind and Frost"), which secured his reputation in the literary world.
Gishū moved to 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 1943 to the end of his life and took an active interest in the lending library, Kamakura Bunko, and the publishing house of the same name.
His experiences as a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
in 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...
led to the short story Teniyan no matsujitsu in 1948, about two young intellectuals who died on Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
in the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
towards the end of the war. This marked a new start for Gishu, who later concentrated on historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
s, with the main subject being historical figures fighting for lost causes. These works include Shoan, about the 16th century warrior Akechi Mitsuhide
Akechi Mitsuhide
, nicknamed Jūbei or called from his clan name and title, was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.Mitsuhide was a general under daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he became infamous for his betrayal in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji...
, which won 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...
in 1964, and the Japan Art Academy Prize in 1967.
Gishū died of acute anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
in 1969. Shortly before his death, he converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
; however, his grave is at Shorei-in sub-temple of the Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
-sect temple of Engaku-ji
Engaku-ji
right|thumb|A stone carvingNot to be confused with Enryaku-ji in Kyoto., or Engaku-ji , is one of the most important Zen Buddhist temple complexes in Japan and is ranked second among Kamakura's Five Mountains. It is situated in the city of Kamakura, in Kanagawa prefecture to the south of Tokyo...
in Kamakura.
Prizes
- 1938 Akutagawa PrizeAkutagawa PrizeThe is a Japanese literary award presented semi-annually. It was established in 1935 by Kan Kikuchi, then-editor of Bungeishunjū magazine, in memory of author Ryūnosuke Akutagawa...
---Atsumonozaki,『厚物咲』 - 1964 Noma Literary Award---Sakuan,『咲庵』
- 1966 Award of the Japan Art Academy---Sakuan,『咲庵』