Ishizuka Tomoji

Infobox Writer
name = Tomoji Ishizuka


caption = Ishizuka Tomoji
birthdate = birth date|1903|11|15|df=y
birthplace = Niigata Japan
deathdate = death date and age|1984|3|3|1903|11|15|df=y
deathplace = Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
occupation = writer
genre = "haiku" poetry
movement =
notableworks =
influences = Yokomitsu Riichi, Hasegawa Reiyoshi
influenced = nihongo|Tomoji Ishizuka|石塚友二|Ishizuka Tomoji|extra=20 September 1906—8 February 1984 was the pen-name of a Japanese "haiku" poet and novelist active in Showa period Japan. His real name was also Ishizuka Tomoji, but written in different "kanji" (石塚友次).

Early life

Ishizuka was born in Niigata Prefecture. He moved to Tokyo in 1924, and found a job in a bookstore, while hoping to find a break into the literary world. His chance came when a friend introduced him to the famed novelist Yokomitsu Riichi, who agreed to take Ishizuka on as his disciple. However, Ishizuka was interested in poetry as well as prose, and also joined a literary circle organized by Hasegawa Reiyoshi.

Literary career

In 1933, he contributed "haiku" verses to the "Ashibi" literary magazine. Around this time, he went to work for Tenbosha Books as an editor of the essay magazine, "Buntai" (“Style”). In 1935, he started his own bookstore, called Sara, which enabled him to published works by Yokomitsu Riichi and Kawabata Yasunari, and the "haiku" anthologies of Nakamura Kusatao and Ishida Hakyo. He co-founded the "haiku" magazine, "Tsuru" (“Crane”) in 1937 with Ishida.

In 1940, he succeeded in publishing his own haiku anthology, "Hosun Kyojitsu", which brought him to the attention of the "haiku" world. After the death of Ishida Hakyo in 1969, he took over full control of "Tsuru". His other "haiku" anthologies include "Iso Kaze" (“Beach Wind”), "Kojin" (“Light Dust”) and "Tamanawa-sho".

In 1942, he changed from poetry to prose, and published the novel, "Matsukaze" ("Pine Wind"), serialized in the magazine "Bungakukai". His subseuent novels included "Seishun" (“Youth”) and "Hashi-mori" (“Bridge Guard”).

Ishizuka lived in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture from 1945 until his death in 1986 at the age of 79. In Kamakura, he was a member of the "Nanboku" (“North-South”) literary circle and (through a recommendation by Kawabata Yasunari) was hired as an editor to the short-lived "Kamakura" magazine published by " Kamakura Bunko".

A memorial stone with one of his "haiku" is at the temple of Kencho-ji, but his grave is at the Kamakura Reien cemetery.

ee also

*Japanese literature
*List of Japanese authors

References

*Ishizuka, Tomoji. "Haiku no hanashi". Hobunkan Shuppan (1992). ISBN 4832014064

External links

* [http://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/bunka/bunjinroku/ishizuka_e.htm Literary Figures from Kamakura]