author
Hakuchō Masamune
1879–1962
A sharp-eyed Japanese novelist and critic, he became one of the leading voices of naturalist literature in modern Japan. His work is known for its skeptical, unsentimental view of people and society.
1 Audiobook
何處へ
by Hakuchō Masamune
About the author
Born in Okayama on March 3, 1879, Hakuchō Masamune was the pen name of Tadao Masamune. He became known as a novelist, dramatist, and literary critic, and is widely associated with the Japanese Naturalist school.
Reference works describe him as a major figure in modern Japanese literature, noting the cool, skeptical tone that set his writing apart from some of his contemporaries. Early in life he was influenced by Christianity, a background that helped shape the moral and philosophical questions running through his work.
Masamune remained an important literary presence for decades, writing across fiction and criticism until his death in Tokyo on October 28, 1962. He is still remembered as one of the notable Japanese writers who helped define the literary culture of the Meiji, Taishō, and Shōwa eras.