Juran Hisao

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Juran Hisao (久生十蘭 Hisao Jūran), real name Masao Abe (阿部 正雄 Abe Masao, April 6, 1902 - October 6, 1957), was a Japanese author.

While working for the Hakodate branch of the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, he wrote poetry and drama his spare time. In 1926, he moved to Tokyo, where he convinced the playwright, Kunio Kishida, to accept him as a student.　In 1929, he went to Paris to study physics and at the same time, he was able to learn about the French theater from the actor-director, Charles Dullin. On returning to Japan, he obtained a post as an assistant stage director with the New Tsukiji Theater. He also contributed mystery stories to the magazine Shin Seinen (New Youth). His fiction included the dark detective story Kinro (Golden Wolf). His short story, "Suzuki Mondo," won the Naoki Prize in 1951, and his novelette "Boshizo", earlier serialized in the Mainichi Shimbun, gained him first place in the New York Herald Tribune short story contest in 1955.

Hisao Juran was a pioneer in the use of black humor in Japanese literature. His works reflect his extensive knowledge of a wide range of subjects, and displayed extraordinary skills, and range from mystery tales to humor, and both historical and contemporary settings.

Juran lived in Zaimokuza in Kamakura from 1947 until his death on October 6, 1957, at the age of 55. His grave is at the Zaimokuza Reien Cemetery.