Nagai Tatsuo
Encyclopedia
was a writer of short stories
and haiku
poetry active in the Shōwa period
Japan
, known for his portrayals of city life. Nagai was also known as a haiku
poet under the pen-name of "Tomonkyo".
in impoverished circumstances. He was forced to quit school after graduation from elementary school
due to his father's illness. However, he had already begun to exhibit signs of literary talent, and his first novel Kappan-ya no Hanashi ("Tale of a Printer's Shop") was published when he was 16. This novel won a prize in a competition and was highly praised by the well-known author and editor, Kikuchi Kan.
, a monthly literary journal founded by Kikuchi Kan. In 1924, together with the literary critic Kobayashi Hideo
, he later launched his own monthly literary magazine called Yamamayu.
In 1927, while continuing to write, Nagai was hired as an editor for Bungeishunjū. During this time, he helped to lay the foundations for the Akutagawa
and Naoki Prize
s, created in 1935, and later became a member of the screening committee.
In 1942, he traveled to Manchukuo
to establish a branch office of the Bungeishunjū, returning to Tokyo in 1944 to assume the post of executive director to the magazine.
However, due to his wartime activity as a correspondent, Nagai was purged from public service by the American occupation authorities
after World War II
. He then decided to concentrate on writing short stories as a profession. Asagiri (Morning Mist, 1947) was well-received by critics. He wrote a number of short novels, among them, Mikan,("Orange"), Ikko ("One"), and Aki ("Autumn"), which were collected in 1965 into an anthology titled Ikko sono ta ("One and Others"), which was awarded the Noma Prize
and the Japan Art Academy Prize for that year.
Nagai became a member of the Japan Art Academy
in 1968, and was awarded the Order of Culture
by the Japanese government in 1981.
Nagai lived in Kamakura
, Kanagawa Prefecture
from 1934 until his death in 1990 at the age of 86. Nagai served as the first director of the Kamakura Bungakukan (Kamakura Museum of Literature) from 1985 to 1990. His grave is at the temple of Saikai-ji in Mita, Tokyo
.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
and haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
poetry active in 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...
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...
, known for his portrayals of city life. Nagai was also known as a haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
poet under the pen-name of "Tomonkyo".
Early life
Nagai Tatsuo was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in impoverished circumstances. He was forced to quit school after graduation from elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
due to his father's illness. However, he had already begun to exhibit signs of literary talent, and his first novel Kappan-ya no Hanashi ("Tale of a Printer's Shop") was published when he was 16. This novel won a prize in a competition and was highly praised by the well-known author and editor, Kikuchi Kan.
Literary career
Due to this encouragement, he devoted his energies to writing, publishing Kuroi Gohan ("Black Rice") in BungeishunjūBungeishunju
, established in 1923, is a Japanese publishing company known for its leading monthly magazine Bungeishunjū. It also grants the annual Akutagawa Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan, as well as the annual Naoki Prize for popular novelists. It also grants the annual...
, a monthly literary journal founded by Kikuchi Kan. In 1924, together with the literary critic Kobayashi Hideo
Kobayashi Hideo
was a Japanese author, who established literary criticism as an independent art form in Japan.-Early life:Kobayashi was born in the Kanda district of Tokyo. He studied French literature at Tokyo Imperial University and graduated in 1927...
, he later launched his own monthly literary magazine called Yamamayu.
In 1927, while continuing to write, Nagai was hired as an editor for Bungeishunjū. During this time, he helped to lay the foundations for the Akutagawa
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...
and Naoki Prize
Naoki Prize
The Naoki Prize is a Japanese literary award presented semiannually. The official name is Naoki Sanjugo Prize. It was created in 1935 by Kikuchi Kan, then editor of the Bungeishunjū magazine, and named in memory of novelist Naoki Sanjugo...
s, created in 1935, and later became a member of the screening committee.
In 1942, he traveled to Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
to establish a branch office of the Bungeishunjū, returning to Tokyo in 1944 to assume the post of executive director to the magazine.
However, due to his wartime activity as a correspondent, Nagai was purged from public service by the American occupation authorities
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
after 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...
. He then decided to concentrate on writing short stories as a profession. Asagiri (Morning Mist, 1947) was well-received by critics. He wrote a number of short novels, among them, Mikan,("Orange"), Ikko ("One"), and Aki ("Autumn"), which were collected in 1965 into an anthology titled Ikko sono ta ("One and Others"), which was awarded 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...
and the Japan Art Academy Prize for that year.
Nagai became a member of the Japan Art Academy
Japan Art Academy
is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of Education on art-related issues, and promotes art is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of...
in 1968, and was awarded the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
by the Japanese government in 1981.
Nagai lived 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...
, 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 1934 until his death in 1990 at the age of 86. Nagai served as the first director of the Kamakura Bungakukan (Kamakura Museum of Literature) from 1985 to 1990. His grave is at the temple of Saikai-ji in Mita, Tokyo
Mita, Tokyo
is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, located near Akabanebashi Station on the Toei Ōedo Line, Tamachi Station on the Yamanote Line, and Mita Station on the Toei Mita Line....
.