author
Chogyu Takayama
1871–1902
A leading voice of late Meiji literary criticism, he wrote with unusual intensity about individualism, beauty, and national identity. Though he died young, his essays helped shape modern Japanese literary thought.
1 Audiobook
Buddhan elämäntarina
by Chogyu Takayama
About the author
Born in Yamagata in 1871, Takayama Chogyu was the pen name of Saito Rinjiro. He became known in the Meiji period as a writer and literary critic, and his work stood out for its energetic mix of romantic individualism, aesthetic thinking, and strong interest in questions of self and nation.
He taught at Tokyo Imperial University and was recognized as a scholar as well as a man of letters. Chogyu's criticism helped guide literary debate in the late 1890s and early 1900s, making him an influential figure even though his career was brief.
He died in 1902 at just 31 years old. Even so, his name remains closely tied to the intellectual and literary ferment of late Meiji Japan, where he is remembered as a bold and passionate critic.