Author. He was a Japanese novelist along with being the author of published Kanshi poetry, fairy tales and essays in the dawn of modern literature. He was considered a scholar of British literature. Born Natsume Kinnosuke, the sixth and unexpected child of his parents, who almost immediately fostered him to a childless couple who raised him to the age of nine. He earned a degree in English from the University at Tokyo in 1893 and taught in the provinces until 1900. That year, his government sent him to Britain on scholarship, a period he later called the most unpleasant in his life. He returned home after two years , and in 1903 he was appointed lecturer in English at the University of Tokyo. His reputation as a writer was made after the publication of "Wagahai-wa neko de aru" (I Am a Cat) in 1905, satirizing human vanity, and "Botchan" in 1906. His next book, "Kusamakura" (The Three-Cornered World), also published in 1906, was considered quite lyrical, and cemented his reputation, allowing him to give up teaching in order to devote himself to his writing. Further works became increasingly somber, often utilizing themes of betrayal, isolation, and guilt. "Mon" (The Gate), was published in 1910 "Kōjin" (The Wayfarer), in 1912 , "Kokoro" (Heart) in 1914 . He claimed that he owed little to the Japanese literary tradition, and he had introduced what was essentially a foreign literary genre, the contemporary realistic novel, to Japan. His last complete novel, "Michikusa" (Grass on the Wayside) published in 1915, was semi-autobiographical. His final work, often called his unfinished masterpiece, "Meian" (Light and Dark) has been called a work of art and a fascinating example of contemporary Japanese fiction. His portrait was included on the 1984 series of the Japanese 1,000 yen note.
Author. He was a Japanese novelist along with being the author of published Kanshi poetry, fairy tales and essays in the dawn of modern literature. He was considered a scholar of British literature. Born Natsume Kinnosuke, the sixth and unexpected child of his parents, who almost immediately fostered him to a childless couple who raised him to the age of nine. He earned a degree in English from the University at Tokyo in 1893 and taught in the provinces until 1900. That year, his government sent him to Britain on scholarship, a period he later called the most unpleasant in his life. He returned home after two years , and in 1903 he was appointed lecturer in English at the University of Tokyo. His reputation as a writer was made after the publication of "Wagahai-wa neko de aru" (I Am a Cat) in 1905, satirizing human vanity, and "Botchan" in 1906. His next book, "Kusamakura" (The Three-Cornered World), also published in 1906, was considered quite lyrical, and cemented his reputation, allowing him to give up teaching in order to devote himself to his writing. Further works became increasingly somber, often utilizing themes of betrayal, isolation, and guilt. "Mon" (The Gate), was published in 1910 "Kōjin" (The Wayfarer), in 1912 , "Kokoro" (Heart) in 1914 . He claimed that he owed little to the Japanese literary tradition, and he had introduced what was essentially a foreign literary genre, the contemporary realistic novel, to Japan. His last complete novel, "Michikusa" (Grass on the Wayside) published in 1915, was semi-autobiographical. His final work, often called his unfinished masterpiece, "Meian" (Light and Dark) has been called a work of art and a fascinating example of contemporary Japanese fiction. His portrait was included on the 1984 series of the Japanese 1,000 yen note.
Bio by: Iola
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