Hayashi Fubo
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of a novelist in the early Shōwa period
Japan
. His real name was Hasegawa Kaitarō. He wrote under 3 different pen names, each with a unique personality, and caused a sensation with the sheer brilliance of his fiction, non-fiction and translations.
, Niigata prefecture
, Fubō was the brother of novelist Hasegawa Shiro. His older brother was a painter, and his younger brother was a translator of Russian literature
. His father was a newspaper journalist
, and relocated to Hakodate in Hokkaidō
, where Fubō was exposed at an early age to a cosmopolitan environment with many foreign influences. In August 1920, he decided to experience life in the United States
, and worked as a cook while studying at Oberlin College
in Ohio
. It is not certain whether or not he actually graduated, as he spent most of his time wandering all over the United States sightseeing and taking notes on his experiences. In 1924, he returned to Japan by way of Dalian
, in the Kwantung Leased Territory
and decided to try his luck as a writer.
As , he wrote true-life mystery novels, and stories about sophisticated city life in Tokyo, which drew in a large female fan base. In 1927, Chūō Kōron sponsored a round-the-world trip, together with his wife, lasting for one year, in exchange for essays and stories set in each port of call.
However, he is best known as , the pen name under which he created a number of semi-historical novel
s which were serialized in the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun
and Osaka Mainichi Shinbun. In Shimpan Ooka Seidan (1927–1928), his main protagonist was Tange Sazen
, a one-eyed, one-armed super-swordsman. The character was an immediate hit, and the first screen version of Fubo's stories appeared in 1928.
Fubo died in 1935 at his home in Kamakura
of acute bronchial asthma. His grave is at the temple of Myohon-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 Hasegawa Kaitarō. He wrote under 3 different pen names, each with a unique personality, and caused a sensation with the sheer brilliance of his fiction, non-fiction and translations.
Early life
Born on Sado islandSado, Niigata
is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...
, Niigata prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Fubō was the brother of novelist Hasegawa Shiro. His older brother was a painter, and his younger brother was a translator of Russian literature
Russian literature
Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia or its émigrés, and to the Russian-language literature of several independent nations once a part of what was historically Russia or the Soviet Union...
. His father was a newspaper journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and relocated to Hakodate in Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, where Fubō was exposed at an early age to a cosmopolitan environment with many foreign influences. In August 1920, he decided to experience life in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and worked as a cook while studying at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It is not certain whether or not he actually graduated, as he spent most of his time wandering all over the United States sightseeing and taking notes on his experiences. In 1924, he returned to Japan by way of Dalian
Dalian
Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
, in the Kwantung Leased Territory
Kwantung Leased Territory
The Kwantung Leased Territory was a territory in the southern part of the Liaodong Peninsula in Inner Manchuria that existed from 1898 to 1945. It was one of the numerous territorial concessions that the Empire of China was compelled to award to foreign countries at the end of the 19th century...
and decided to try his luck as a writer.
Literary career
Soon after his return to Japan in 1924, he used the pen-name of and submitted stories to the literary magazines Shin-Shonen (New Youth) and Chūō Kōron (Central Review). These stories with a humorous twist grew into a popular series describing cosmopolitan life based on his experiences in the United States, called Meriken Jappu. The first volume in this series, Jappu shobai orai (A Jap Businessman's Guide) was published in 1927.As , he wrote true-life mystery novels, and stories about sophisticated city life in Tokyo, which drew in a large female fan base. In 1927, Chūō Kōron sponsored a round-the-world trip, together with his wife, lasting for one year, in exchange for essays and stories set in each port of call.
However, he is best known as , the pen name under which he created a number of semi-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 which were serialized in the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun
Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun
The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was a newspaper printed in Tokyo, Japan from 1872 to 1943.In 1875, the company began the world's first newspaper delivery service....
and Osaka Mainichi Shinbun. In Shimpan Ooka Seidan (1927–1928), his main protagonist was Tange Sazen
Tange Sazen
is a fictional character of a swordsman from Japanese literature and from cinema of Japan. The character is the loyal Sōma clan samurai Tange Samanosuke who is attacked and mutilated as a result of betrayal, losing his right eye and right arm...
, a one-eyed, one-armed super-swordsman. The character was an immediate hit, and the first screen version of Fubo's stories appeared in 1928.
Fubo died in 1935 at his home in 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...
of acute bronchial asthma. His grave is at the temple of Myohon-ji in Kamakura.
External links
- e-texts of works as Tani Joji at Aozora BunkoAozora BunkoAozora Bunko is a Japanese digital library. This online collection encompasses several thousands of works of Japanese-language fiction and non-fiction. These include out-of-copyright books or works that the authors wish to make freely available....
- e-texts of works as Maki Ikuma at Aozora BunkoAozora BunkoAozora Bunko is a Japanese digital library. This online collection encompasses several thousands of works of Japanese-language fiction and non-fiction. These include out-of-copyright books or works that the authors wish to make freely available....
- e-texts of works as Hayashi Fubo at Aozora BunkoAozora BunkoAozora Bunko is a Japanese digital library. This online collection encompasses several thousands of works of Japanese-language fiction and non-fiction. These include out-of-copyright books or works that the authors wish to make freely available....
- literary figures from Kamakura