| Hideji Hōjō | |
|---|---|
Hōjō Hideji |
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| Born | November 7, 1902 Osaka, Japan |
| Died | May 19, 1996 (aged 93) Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genres | stage plays |
| Literary movement | Shimpa |
Hideji Hōjō (北条 秀司 Hōjō Hideji, November 7, 1902 - May 19, 1996), was a Japanese author, novelist, and playwright in Shōwa period Japan.
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Born in Osaka and a graduate of Kansai University, Hōjō moved to Tokyo in 1926, and found employment with the Hakone Tozan Railway. In 1933, he quit his job to devote his attention to drama, becoming a student with Okamoto Kido and Hasegawa Shin. He became a leading member of the Shimpa modern drama movement in the 1930s. He was author of more than 200 plays and the leader of commercial theatre in Japan after World War II, working in a wide range of genre, from kabuki, to Takarazuka Revues. His psychological dramas about average citizens appealed to mainstream audiences. He is especially known for his screenplay adaptations of “Miyamoto Musashi”, “Genji Monogatari”, and many other historical dramas.
He was awarded numerous literary awards in his career, including the Shinchosha Prize, the Yomiuri Literary Award and the Kikuchi Kan Prize.
His grave is at the temple Ryuho-ji in Ofuna, Kamakura, where he lived for many years.