Ryuko Kawaji

Ryuko Kawaji (川路 柳虹, Kawaji Ryūkō, 1 October 1888 - 9 June 1959) was the pen-name of Kawaki Makoto, a Japanese poet and literary critic active during the Shōwa period of Japan.

His Dharma name was Onyōin Metsuyo Chitoku Ryūkō Daikoji (温容院滅与知徳柳虹大居士).

Biography

Kawaji was born in Tokyo, 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.[1][2]

He won the Japan Art Academy literary award in 1957 for his anthology Nami ("Waves").

He was co-author of "Histoire de la Littérature 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
• Hirato Renkichi

References

1. Kamei, Shunsuke (1976). "Japanese Reception of American Literature until World War II". Comparative Literature Studies. 13 (2): 143–159. JSTOR 40241811.
2. Mehl, Scott (2015). "The Beginnings of Japanese Free-Verse Poetry and the Dynamics of Cultural Change". Japan Review (28): 103–132. JSTOR 43684118.