Kurata Hyakuzō
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kurata Hyakuzō | |
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 Kurata Hyakuzō |
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| Born | 23 February 1891 Kyoto Japan |
| Died | 12 February 1943 (aged 51) Kamakura, Kanagawa Japan |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genres | essays, stage plays |
- In this Japanese name, the family name is Kurata.
Kurata Hyakuzō (倉田百三 Kurata Hyakuzō?, 23 February 1891 - 12 February 1943) was an essayist and playwright on religious subjects in Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan.
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[edit] Biography
Kurata was born in what is now rural Shōbara city, Hiroshima Prefecture. He graduated from the No.1 High School in Tokyo and made his home in a cottage on the banks of Ueno Pond. Sickly all of his life, he traveled extensively around the Inland Sea region of Japan.
Influenced by the writings of Nishida Kitarō, he became interested in religion and philosophy. In 1917, he wrote Shukke to sono deshi ("The Priest and his Apprentice") a stage play about the 13th century Buddhist priest Shinran, which quickly became a best-seller. He also wrote Ai to ninshiki to no shuppatsu ("The Beginning of Love and Understanding", 1921), a collection of essays on diverse subjects ranging from love and sex to religion that became a classic with young people in pre-war Japan.
His grave is in Tama Cemetery, outside Tokyo.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Kurata, Hyakuzo. The priest and his disciples: A play. Hokuseido Press (1955). ASIN: B000N2BPJU
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) e-texts of works at Aozora Bunko
- (Japanese) Kurata Hyakuzo Memorial Museum, Hiroshima prefecture
