Ogawa Mimei
Encyclopedia
was an author of short stories, children's stories, and fairy tales.
, where he graduated in 1905. That same year, Ogawa published his first literary work. Waseda University was at that time the center of the Japanese Naturalism
movement. In 1910 Ogawa published his first fairy tale.
s he used romanticism
and true love. Ogawa is known in Japan as the founder of modern children's literature
. Ogawa has been called Japan's Hans Christian Andersen
.
His stories are poetic and often of considerable artistic value. His works helped to raise a new value for children's literature. Ogawa often chose everyday scenarios for his children's stories.
Two of his most famous stories are The Mermaid and the Red Candles and The Cow Woman.
The Cow Woman, published in 1919, described a mother whose soul could not rest after her death, because her son was left in wretched poverty. The mother appears to her son in different apparitions to help lead him down the right path.
The significance of Ogawa's stories often rest in religious and philosophical symbolism and the cycle of life. The death of creatures is not final, but is instead just the opportunity to appear in a different form, such as in The Cow Woman.
Life
Ogawa studied at the Faculty of English Literature at Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
, where he graduated in 1905. That same year, Ogawa published his first literary work. Waseda University was at that time the center of the Japanese Naturalism
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
movement. In 1910 Ogawa published his first fairy tale.
Work
In his fairy taleFairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
s he used romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
and true love. Ogawa is known in Japan as the founder of modern children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. Ogawa has been called Japan's Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
.
His stories are poetic and often of considerable artistic value. His works helped to raise a new value for children's literature. Ogawa often chose everyday scenarios for his children's stories.
Two of his most famous stories are The Mermaid and the Red Candles and The Cow Woman.
The Cow Woman, published in 1919, described a mother whose soul could not rest after her death, because her son was left in wretched poverty. The mother appears to her son in different apparitions to help lead him down the right path.
The significance of Ogawa's stories often rest in religious and philosophical symbolism and the cycle of life. The death of creatures is not final, but is instead just the opportunity to appear in a different form, such as in The Cow Woman.