Author. He gained fame as a Japanese novelist and translator of Western literature, who was active during the late Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa periods of Japan. Born Morita Yonematsu, he used the pen name of Morita Sōhei. He attended what is now Kanazawa University and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University. After leaving his wife, he traveled to Tokyo to seek his literary interests. In 1909, he published "Baien" or "Smoke," which was a largely autobiographical account of his unhappy marriage, subsequent affair with Hiratsuka Raicho, and their attempt to commit a double suicide. From 1920 to 1930, he taught as a professor of English literature at Hosei University. During this time, he published a large biography of "Natsume Sōseki" and the novel "Rinmei" or "Reincarnation." During World War II, his home was destroyed in Tokyo by the dropping of bombs on the city by Allied Forces. Near the end of his career, he wrote historical fiction such as the novel "Hosokawa Garashiya Fujin" and he joined the Communist Party. He died of liver failure.
Author. He gained fame as a Japanese novelist and translator of Western literature, who was active during the late Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa periods of Japan. Born Morita Yonematsu, he used the pen name of Morita Sōhei. He attended what is now Kanazawa University and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University. After leaving his wife, he traveled to Tokyo to seek his literary interests. In 1909, he published "Baien" or "Smoke," which was a largely autobiographical account of his unhappy marriage, subsequent affair with Hiratsuka Raicho, and their attempt to commit a double suicide. From 1920 to 1930, he taught as a professor of English literature at Hosei University. During this time, he published a large biography of "Natsume Sōseki" and the novel "Rinmei" or "Reincarnation." During World War II, his home was destroyed in Tokyo by the dropping of bombs on the city by Allied Forces. Near the end of his career, he wrote historical fiction such as the novel "Hosokawa Garashiya Fujin" and he joined the Communist Party. He died of liver failure.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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