更新日：2010年7月5日

Hagiwara Sakutaro

The poet Hagiwara Sakutaro was born in Gunma Prefecture in 1886. From his early teens, he contributed poems to magazines, such as Nomori, which were circulated among young students. He also had his tanka verse published in the literary journals Shinsei and Myojo.

Around 1910, at a time when he was frequently in and out of university, he began to learn the mandolin and guitar, with the aim of becoming a professional musician. He later founded a mandolin orchestra in his native Gunma. In 1913, he had tanka and other verse published in Zamboa (Shaddock), the magazine presided over by Kitahara Hakushu. He also contributed verse to Maeda Yugure's Shika (Poetry) and Chijo Junrei (Earth Pilgrimage), another journal created by Hakushu. The following year, he joined Muroo Saisei and Yamamura Bocho in creating a publishing group, Ningyo Shisha (Mermaid Poetry), which gave rise to a literary bulletin, Takujo Funsui (Tabletop Fountain).

In 1916, Hagiwara founded the magazine Kanjo (Emotions) with Muroo Saisei, and in the following year, he brought out his first verse anthology, Tsuki ni Hoeru (tr Howling at the Moon). His talents were recognized by Mori Ogai and Yosano Akiko, thus securing his position in literary circles. He established a unique style of verse that expressed his doubts about existence, and his fears, ennui and anger. He continued to bring out more anthologies, such as Aoneko (tr Blue Cat) and Hyoto (Icy Island), as well works of poetic and literary criticism. He was also a keen scholar of classical verse and published Shi no Genri (Principles of Poetry) and Kyoshu no shijin Yosa Buson (Nostalgic Poet Yosa Buson). He died in 1942 at the age of 57.

Hagiwara stayed at an inn in Sakanoshita in 1916, during which time he became acquainted with the poet and English Literature scholar Hinatsu Konosuke, who was likewise recuperating from an illness. Hagiwara also lived for a year (1925) in Zaimokuza.