Jun Ishikawa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jun Ishikawa
石川 淳 |
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Ishikawa Jun
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| Born | 7 March 1899 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 29 December 1987 (aged 88) Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Writer, translator and literary critic |
| Genre | novels, short stories, poetry, essays |
| Literary movement | Buraiha |
| Notable works | Song of Mars |
Jun Ishikawa (born Ishikawa Kiyoshi, March 7, 1899 – December 29, 1987) was a famous Japanese writer, translator, and literary critic. He used "Jun Ishikawa" as his pen name. He was known for his unique writing style during the Shōwa period in Japan.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Jun Ishikawa was born in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. His father was a banker. He studied French literature at the Tokyo School of Foreign Languages. This school is now known as the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
After finishing his studies, he joined the Imperial Japanese Navy for a short time. This was from 1922 to 1923. Later, he became a professor of French literature at Fukuoka University. During this time, he translated many French books into Japanese. These included works by famous authors like Anatole France and André Gide.
Ishikawa left his teaching job after getting involved in student protests. He then moved back to Tokyo. He lived a simple life, often staying in cheap guesthouses. He continued to translate more French books, including plays by Molière.
A Career in Writing
Ishikawa started his writing career in 1935. He wrote several short stories, such as Kajin (meaning "Lady"). Another story was Hinkyu mondo (meaning "Dialog on Poverty"). These stories showed the challenges a writer faced trying to create art.
In 1936, he won the important Akutagawa Prize for his story Fugen (meaning "The Bodhisattva"). This award helped him become well-known.
Wartime and Post-War Works
In 1938, during Japan's war against China, Ishikawa wrote Marusu no uta (meaning "Mars' Song"). This story was against the war. Because of its anti-war message, the government soon banned it. His first novel, Hakubyo (meaning "Plain Sketch," 1940), criticized certain political ideas.
During the war, he focused on writing non-fiction. He wrote biographies about historical figures like Mori Ōgai. Ishikawa also became very skilled at writing funny poems called Kyoka from the Edo period. He used the pen-name Isai for his poetry.
Ishikawa was part of a group of writers called the Buraiha. This group included famous authors like Osamu Dazai. These writers were known for going against traditional rules in literature. After the war, he wrote Ogon Densetsu (meaning "Legend of Gold," 1946). He also wrote Yakeato no Iesu (meaning "Jesus in the Ashes," 1946). The well-known author Abe Kobo later became his student.
Essays and History
Ishikawa also wrote many essays. In Isai hitsudan (meaning "Isai's Discourses," 1950–1951), he wrote about art, literature, and current events. He often used a bold and sometimes sharp style.
Another essay series was Shokoku Kijinden (meaning "Eccentrics and Gallants from around the country," 1955–1957). This series featured short biographies of unusual people from Japanese history. He also explored ancient Japanese history. He wrote about the origins of the Japanese nation. He looked at the differences between the Jōmon and Yayoi peoples.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1964, Jun Ishikawa traveled to the Soviet Union and Western Europe. This was his first trip outside Japan. He wrote about his experiences in Seiyu Nichiroku (meaning "A Record of a Journey West," 1965).
In 1967, he joined other famous writers like Kawabata Yasunari and Mishima Yukio. They spoke out against the destruction of Chinese art during China's Cultural Revolution. Ishikawa was very popular after the war. He won many awards for his writing. His book Edo Bungaku Shoki (meaning "A Brief Survey of Edo Literature," 1980) won the Yomiuri Literary Award.
Jun Ishikawa passed away in 1987 from lung cancer. He was working on his last novel, Hebi no Uta (meaning "A Song of Snakes"), when he died.
In English
- Ishikawa, Jun. The Legend of Gold and Other Stories. Trans. William J. Tyler. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1988. ISBN: 0824820703
- Ishikawa, Jun. The Bodhisattva. Columbia University Press (1990). Trans. William J. Tyler. ISBN: 0231069626
See also
- Japanese literature
- List of Japanese writers
