Satomi Ton
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| Satomi Ton | |
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 Satomi Ton |
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| Born | 14 July 1888 Yokohama, Japan |
| Died | 21 January 1983 (aged 94) Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genres | Novels, short stories |
| Literary movement | Shirakaba |
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Influences
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- In this Japanese name, the family name is Satomi.
Satomi Ton (里見弴 Satomi Ton?, 14 July 1888 - 21 January 1983) is the pen-name for a Japanese author known for the craftsmanship of his dialogue and command of the Japanese language. His two elder brothers, Arishima Ikuma (有島生馬) and Arishima Takeo (有島 武郎), were also authors. His real name was Yamanouchi Hideo.
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[edit] Early life
Satomi Ton was born in Yokohama into the wealthy Arishima family, but was later legally adopted by his mother's family, thus inheriting their surname of Yamanouchi. He was educated at the Gakushuin Peers' School, where he became interested in literature, and briefly attended Tokyo Imperial University, but left in 1910 without graduating.
[edit] Literary career
Through his brother Arishima Ikuma, he became acquainted with other alumni authors from Gakushuin, including Shiga Naoya and Mushanokoji Saneatsu. They formed a group named after their literary magazine Shirakaba ("White Birch"), which was first published in 1911. Satomi became a disciple of Izumi Kyoka after his works came to the attention of the older novelist.
Satomi strove to remain aloof from any particular literary clique or political school throughout his career. He was a prolific author known for his autobiographical works and promotion of purely literary values. In the West he is largely known for Tsubaki ("Camellia"), a disturbing short story written after the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923, which came a few months after the suicide of his brother Arishima Takeo.
In 1959, Satomi received the Order of Culture from the Japanese government.
He lived in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture from 1924 until his death, and often socialized with the other literati residing in that city. With the establishment of the Shochiku movie studios in Ofuna, north of Kamakura, he also collaborated with film director Ozu Yasujiro on numerous movie scripts.
His grave is located at the Kamakura Reien Public Cemetery.
[edit] Trivia
Satomi claimed that he decided on his pen-name by picking out names at random from a telephone directory.
[edit] Major Works
- Zen Shin Aku Shin ("Good Heart Evil Heart")
- Tajo Busshin ("The Compassion of Buddha", 1922-1923)
- Anjo Ke no Kyodai ("The Anjo Brothers")
- Gokuraku Tombo ("A Carefree Fellow", 1961)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Flowler, Edward. The Rhetoric of Confession: Shishosetsu in Early Twentieth-Century Japanese Fiction. University of California Press (1992). ISBN 0520078837
- Keene, Donald. Dawn to the West. Columbia University Press; 2nd Rev Ed edition (1998). ISBN 0231114354
- Morris,Ivan. Modern Japanese Stories: An Anthology. Tuttle Publishing (2005). ISBN 0804833362
