Ryuko Kawaji
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of Kawaki Makoto, a Japanese
poet
and literary critic active during the Shōwa period
of Japan
.
, and was a graduate of the Japanese Painting School of the Tokyo School of the Arts (present day Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
). However, rather than to pursue a career as an artist, he chose to become a writer of free verse
poetry instead. His poetry was influential, as it was among the first to be written in the modern Japanese language.
He won the Japan Art Academy
literary award
in 1957 for his anthology Nami ("Waves").
He was co-author of "Histoire de la Litterature Japonaise", written in collaboration with K. Matsuo and Alfred Smoular (Paris, 1935).
His grave is at the Tama Reien outside of Tokyo.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
poet
Japanese poetry
Japanese poets first encountered Chinese poetry during the Tang Dynasty. It took them several hundred years to digest the foreign impact, make it a part of their culture and merge it with their literary tradition in their mother tongue, and begin to develop the diversity of their native poetry. For...
and literary critic active during 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...
of 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...
.
Biography
Kawaji 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...
, and was a graduate of the Japanese Painting School of the Tokyo School of the Arts (present day Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
or is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju, Adachi, Tokyo...
). However, rather than to pursue a career as an artist, he chose to become a writer of free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
poetry instead. His poetry was influential, as it was among the first to be written in the modern Japanese language.
He won 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...
literary award
Literary award
A literary award is an award presented to an author who has written a particularly lauded piece or body of work. There are awards for forms of writing ranging from poetry to novels. Many awards are also dedicated to a certain genre of fiction or non-fiction writing . There are also awards...
in 1957 for his anthology Nami ("Waves").
He was co-author of "Histoire de la Litterature Japonaise", written in collaboration with K. Matsuo and Alfred Smoular (Paris, 1935).
His grave is at the Tama Reien outside of Tokyo.
See also
- List of Japanese authors