Tatsuhiko Shibusawa
Encyclopedia
was the pen name
of Shibusawa Tatsuo, a novelist, art critic, and translator of French literature
active during the Shōwa period
of Japan
. Shibusawa wrote many short stories and novels based on French literature and Japanese classics. His essays about black magic
, demonology
, and eroticism
are also popular in Japan.
. However, the possibilities for a career in that field disappeared with Japan's defeat in the war, and Shibusawa received notably poor scores in the German language
, which was widely used in engineering at the time. He turned his attention to study of the French language
instead.
In 1950, after working as an editor at the Modern Nihon magazine under Junnosuke Yoshiyuki for 2 years (one of the authors he edited was Hisao Juran), he entered the University of Tokyo
's school of French literature
, where he enthusiastically embraced the avant-garde
movement of surrealism
, which started in France after World War I. He was especially attracted to André Breton
, and this led him to learn of the works of the Marquis de Sade
.
Although he did graduate from a master's course at the University of Tokyo, he had to abandon plans to become a professor because of tuberculosis
, and started his career as a freelance writer instead. He relocated from Tokyo to the resort town of Kamakura
, Kanagawa prefecture
in 1946, due to its reputation for having a healthful climate for lung disorders, and continued to live there to his death.
After publishing his first book, a translation of Jean Cocteau
's Le Grand Ecart (大跨びらき) in 1954, he began to introduce French literature to Japanese readers through his translations.
. During the trial, which is called Sade Trial (サド裁判) in Japan, Kenzaburō Ōe
, Shūsaku Endō
, Shōhei Ōoka and many other authors testified for the defense. However, in 1969, in an important decision, the Japanese Supreme Court ruled that Shibusawa and Ishii were guilty. He was fined 70,000 yen
(slightly less than US$
200 at the time); the triviality of the sum greatly outraged him, given the nine years that the trial had taken from his life.
Shibusawa, although discouraged, was not deterred, and continued to write works on eroticism
and to translate the works of de Sade, as well as other French authors; he also produced essays and art criticism
, and became a specialist in the study of medieval demonology
.
He also continued to work in fiction. In 1981 he published a fantasy novel titled Karakusa Monogatari ("Karakusa Story"). Other fantasy novels include Utsuro Bune ("Hollow ship") and Takaoka Shinno Kokai-ki ("The Voyages of Prince Takaoka").
Shibusawa was one of the closest friends of Yukio Mishima
. Madame de Sade by Mishima (1965) is entirely based on Shibusawa's The Life of Marquis de Sade (サド侯爵の生涯, 1964); but on the other hand, today it is known that Shibusawa himself plagiarized his own work largely from Vie du Marquis de Sade by Gilbert Lely (1961). In The Temple of Dawn
(1969), Mishima created based on Shibusawa's personality.
Shibusawa died of larynx cancer in 1987. His grave is at the temple of Jochi-ji in Kamakura.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Shibusawa Tatsuo, a novelist, art critic, and translator of 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...
active during the Shōwa period
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...
of 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...
. Shibusawa wrote many short stories and novels based on French literature and Japanese classics. His essays about black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
, demonology
Demonology
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons. It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods. It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent...
, and eroticism
Eroticism
Eroticism is generally understood to refer to a state of sexual arousal or anticipation of such – an insistent sexual impulse, desire, or pattern of thoughts, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality and romantic love...
are also popular in Japan.
Early life
Shibusawa was born in the upper-class district of Takanawa in Tokyo. His father was a banker, and his mother was the daughter of an industrialist and politician. He was distantly related to the famous Shibusawa Eiichi. While going through high school during World War II, he had the ambition to be an aeronautical engineerAerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
. However, the possibilities for a career in that field disappeared with Japan's defeat in the war, and Shibusawa received notably poor scores in the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, which was widely used in engineering at the time. He turned his attention to study of the French language
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...
instead.
In 1950, after working as an editor at the Modern Nihon magazine under Junnosuke Yoshiyuki for 2 years (one of the authors he edited was Hisao Juran), he entered the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
's school of 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...
, where he enthusiastically embraced the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
movement of surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, which started in France after World War I. He was especially attracted to André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
, and this led him to learn of the works of the Marquis de Sade
Marquis de Sade
Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle...
.
Although he did graduate from a master's course at the University of Tokyo, he had to abandon plans to become a professor because of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and started his career as a freelance writer instead. He relocated from Tokyo to the resort town of 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...
in 1946, due to its reputation for having a healthful climate for lung disorders, and continued to live there to his death.
After publishing his first book, a translation of Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
's Le Grand Ecart (大跨びらき) in 1954, he began to introduce French literature to Japanese readers through his translations.
Literary career
In 1959, Tatsuhiko published Akutoku no sakae (悪徳の栄え), a translation of de Sade's L’Histoire de Juliette; ou, Les Prosperites du vice. The work was immediately controversial, and in 1960, he and , the publisher, were prosecuted for public obscenityObscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
. During the trial, which is called Sade Trial (サド裁判) in Japan, Kenzaburō Ōe
Kenzaburo Oe
is a Japanese author and a major figure in contemporary Japanese literature. His works, strongly influenced by French and American literature and literary theory, deal with political, social and philosophical issues including nuclear weapons, social non-conformism and existentialism.Ōe was awarded...
, Shūsaku Endō
Shusaku Endo
Shūsaku Endō was a 20th-century Japanese author who wrote from the unusual perspective of being both Japanese and Catholic...
, Shōhei Ōoka and many other authors testified for the defense. However, in 1969, in an important decision, the Japanese Supreme Court ruled that Shibusawa and Ishii were guilty. He was fined 70,000 yen
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
(slightly less than US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
200 at the time); the triviality of the sum greatly outraged him, given the nine years that the trial had taken from his life.
Shibusawa, although discouraged, was not deterred, and continued to write works on eroticism
Eroticism
Eroticism is generally understood to refer to a state of sexual arousal or anticipation of such – an insistent sexual impulse, desire, or pattern of thoughts, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality and romantic love...
and to translate the works of de Sade, as well as other French authors; he also produced essays and art criticism
Art criticism
Art criticism is the discussion or evaluation of visual art.Art critics usually criticize art in the context of aesthetics or the theory of beauty...
, and became a specialist in the study of medieval demonology
Demonology
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons. It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods. It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent...
.
He also continued to work in fiction. In 1981 he published a fantasy novel titled Karakusa Monogatari ("Karakusa Story"). Other fantasy novels include Utsuro Bune ("Hollow ship") and Takaoka Shinno Kokai-ki ("The Voyages of Prince Takaoka").
Shibusawa was one of the closest friends of Yukio Mishima
Yukio Mishima
was the pen name of , a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor and film director, also remembered for his ritual suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d'état...
. Madame de Sade by Mishima (1965) is entirely based on Shibusawa's The Life of Marquis de Sade (サド侯爵の生涯, 1964); but on the other hand, today it is known that Shibusawa himself plagiarized his own work largely from Vie du Marquis de Sade by Gilbert Lely (1961). In The Temple of Dawn
The Temple of Dawn
is the third novel in the Sea of Fertility tetralogy by the Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. Like for the other novels in the series, Mishima traveled to various places to conduct research, including Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand.-Plot:...
(1969), Mishima created based on Shibusawa's personality.
Shibusawa died of larynx cancer in 1987. His grave is at the temple of Jochi-ji in Kamakura.
Major works
- The song of the eradication (撲滅の賦)
- The rib of Epicurus (エピクロスの肋骨)
- Cynopolis (犬狼都市)
- Arabesque stories (唐草物語)
- The logbook of Prince Takaoka (高丘親王航海記)