Hakushū Kitahara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hakushū Kitahara
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| Born | 25 January 1885 Yanagawa, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Died | 2 November 1942 (aged 57) Kamakura, Japan |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Genre | poetry |
| Literary movement | Pan no kai |
| Notable works | Jashumon (Heretics, 1909) |
Hakushū Kitahara (北原 白秋, Kitahara Hakushū, 25 January 1885 – 2 November 1942) was the pen name of Kitahara Ryūkichi (北原 隆吉). He was a Japanese tanka poet who wrote during the Taishō and Shōwa periods in Japan. Many people consider him one of the most important and well-liked poets in modern Japanese literature.
Contents
Early Life: The Start of a Poet's Journey
Kitahara was born in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, which is in Fukuoka Prefecture. His family made sake, a type of Japanese drink. He studied English literature at Waseda University. However, he left the university without finishing his degree. While he was a student, he became very interested in the poems of Tōson Shimazaki. He especially liked Shimazaki's book Wakanashu (Collection of Young Herbs, 1897), which used a new style of poetry called Shintaishi.
Literary Career: Finding His Voice
In 1904, Kitahara moved to Tokyo. He started sending his poems to different literary magazines. In 1906, Yosano Tekkan invited him to join the Shinshisha (New Poetry Association). Kitahara published poems in their magazine, Myōjō (Bright Star). These poems quickly made him famous as a talented young poet. This also helped him meet many other writers and poets.
From these connections, Kitahara started his own group called Pan no kai (The Society of Pan). This group was special because it included not only writers but also painters, musicians, and actors.
In 1909, he helped start the literary magazine Subaru (The Pleiades). In this magazine, he published his first collection of poems, Jashumon (Heretics). This book was a huge success in the poetry world. Critics say that Jashumon, along with Yosano Akiko's Midaregami, set a new standard for modern Japanese poetry. Kitahara's next successful book was Omoide (Memories, 1912). In this book, he wrote about memories from a child's point of view.
In 1907, he also published essays called 5 Pairs of Shoes. He wrote these with Yosano Tekkan, Mokutaro Kinoshita, Hirano Banri, and Yoshii Isamu.
His first tanka collection, Kiri no hana (Paulownia Blossoms, 1913), showed a new religious influence in his writing. This was even clearer in his second collection, Shinju Sho (Selection of Pearls, 1914), and his third, Hakkin no koma (Platinum Top, 1915). These books included short, one-line poems that were like Buddhist prayers. Kitahara aimed for what he called “oriental simplicity.” He got this idea from his understanding of Zen. This style can be seen in Suibokushu (Collection of Ink drawings, 1923) and Suzume no tamago (Sparrow's Eggs, 1921).
Children's Poems: Songs for Young Hearts
In 1918, Kitahara joined the Akai tori (Red Bird) literary magazine. The founder, Suzuki Miekichi, asked him to join. Kitahara's job was to write children's songs. He also had to check poems sent to the magazine and collect nursery rhymes from all over Japan. That same year, he moved from Tokyo to Odawara, Kanagawa.
In 1919, he published Tonbo no medama (Dragonfly's Eyes). This was a collection of lyrics for children that he had already published in Akai Tori. In 1921, Maza gusu (Mother Goose) came out. This book was a collection of his translations of the famous English classic. Also in 1921, Usagi no denpo (Rabbit Telegrams) was published. This book was a collection of his own nursery rhymes.
Starting in April 1922, the magazine Kodomo no kuni (Children's Land) asked readers to send in children's songs. Kitahara was in charge of reviewing these songs and giving comments. In 1929, he published a collection of essays about children's songs called Midori no shokkaku (The Feel of Green).
Later Life: Travel and New Ideas
Kitahara loved to travel. In 1923, he visited Misaki, Chiba, Nagano, and Shiobara, Tochigi. In 1924, he went to Shizuoka. In 1925, he traveled to Hokkaidō and Karafuto.
Kitahara moved back to Tokyo in 1926. He lived in Yanaka first, then moved to Setagaya in 1928. He kept trying new styles in his writing. He also found inspiration in old Japanese literature, like the Kojiki. You can see this in his book Kaihyo no kumo (Sea and Clouds, 1929). This later work was inspired by a trip he took by airplane from Oita to Osaka. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper sponsored this trip to get publicity. In 1930, Kitahara traveled to Manchuria. He rode on the South Manchurian Railroad. When he returned to Japan, he visited Nara.
In 1935, Kitahara started Tama, a tanka magazine. He became known as a leader in the fourth stage of the symbolist movement. Some of his students included Kimata Osamu and Miya Shuji. The Osaka Mainichi Shimbun newspaper also invited him to visit Korea (which was under Japanese rule at the time). In return, he wrote poems about his experiences there.
Kitahara stayed active even after he almost lost his eyesight in 1937. This was due to problems from diabetes. In 1940, he visited his hometown of Yanagawa after many years. He also visited Miyazaki and Nara. In the same year, he became a member of the Japan Art Academy. In 1942, his health got worse, and he passed away from complications related to his diabetes. His grave is in the Tama Reien, just outside Tokyo.
Legacy: A Lasting Impact
Kitahara published more than 200 books during his lifetime. Besides his own writings, he also edited the poetry magazine Chijo junrei (Earthly Pilgrimage). This magazine helped new writers, like Hagiwara Sakutaro, start their literary careers. He also wrote anthems (songs) for high schools across Japan, including Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin. Many of his poems are still popular today. The Nihon Densho Doyo Shusei (Collection of Traditional Japanese Nursery Rhymes), a six-volume book edited by Kitahara, was finally published in 1976.
Every November, an annual festival called Hakushusai is held in his hometown of Yanagawa. This festival celebrates Kitahara's life and works. Stages are set up along the city's canals. At night, by firelight, fans of Kitahara's poems read them aloud. There are also parades on the canals and musical performances.
See also
- Japanese literature
- List of Japanese authors
