Writer, Translator. Born Matsukawa Kashi in Aizuwakamatsu, Japan, the eldest daughter of Matsukawa Katsujirō who was away during the Japanese Revolution leaving his family in impoverished conditions. Her mother died in 1870, her father was missing and thought dead. A merchant, Ōkawa Jinbei, adopted her a year later and enrolled her in the Ferris Seminary, from which she was graduated in 1881. She then began work as a teacher of Japanese literature at the school. Ōkawa died in 1883, and in 1885 her biological father returned and restored her to his family register. She took a post teaching English at Meiji Girls' School that same year. She was first published the following year, 'In Memoriam, Condolence Poem' and a travelogue, 'The Product of the Old City.' She left the school and married her publisher, Iwamoto Yoshiharu, in 1889. Her translation of 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' was issued as a serial between 1890 and 1892. In 1894 she worked as an editor for the journal 'The Japan Evangelist,' writing a column for foreign missionaries in Japan in order to aid in their understanding of Japanese culture. She became regarded as the most prominent female translator of her time, her work is said to have directly influenced the development of a modern written language for Japanese fiction. A long time sufferer of tuberculosis, her health was precarious and she succumbed to heart failure at 22. 'Lost Leaves: Women Writers of Meiji Japan' by Rebecca L. Copeland published in 2000 discussed her impact. She was also known as Ōkawa Kashi, Shimada Kashi and Matsukawa Kashiko.
Writer, Translator. Born Matsukawa Kashi in Aizuwakamatsu, Japan, the eldest daughter of Matsukawa Katsujirō who was away during the Japanese Revolution leaving his family in impoverished conditions. Her mother died in 1870, her father was missing and thought dead. A merchant, Ōkawa Jinbei, adopted her a year later and enrolled her in the Ferris Seminary, from which she was graduated in 1881. She then began work as a teacher of Japanese literature at the school. Ōkawa died in 1883, and in 1885 her biological father returned and restored her to his family register. She took a post teaching English at Meiji Girls' School that same year. She was first published the following year, 'In Memoriam, Condolence Poem' and a travelogue, 'The Product of the Old City.' She left the school and married her publisher, Iwamoto Yoshiharu, in 1889. Her translation of 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' was issued as a serial between 1890 and 1892. In 1894 she worked as an editor for the journal 'The Japan Evangelist,' writing a column for foreign missionaries in Japan in order to aid in their understanding of Japanese culture. She became regarded as the most prominent female translator of her time, her work is said to have directly influenced the development of a modern written language for Japanese fiction. A long time sufferer of tuberculosis, her health was precarious and she succumbed to heart failure at 22. 'Lost Leaves: Women Writers of Meiji Japan' by Rebecca L. Copeland published in 2000 discussed her impact. She was also known as Ōkawa Kashi, Shimada Kashi and Matsukawa Kashiko.
Bio by: Iola
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