Katsuichiro Kamei

Critic. Born in Hakodate, Hokkaido on February 6, 1907. Immediately after entering the Department of Aesthetics at Tokyo Imperial University, he joined the Marxist Art Research Society, became a member of the Shinjinkai and participated in the labor movement, and voluntarily dropped out of university in 1928 (Showa 3). After the March 15 Incident, he was arrested for violating the Peace Preservation Law, and in 1930 he fell ill while in prison, converted, and was released. In 1932 he joined the Proletarian Writers League and became active as a critic. After publishing his first collection of essays, Literature in a Period of Transition (1934), he retired from left-wing literature and founded the Japanese Romantic School (1935) with Yasuda Yojuro and others. He developed an interest in Japanese ancient art, classics, Buddhism, and other subjects, and compiled them into the book A History of the Ancient Temples of Yamato (1943). He was also active as a member of the Bungakukai magazine, and organized a roundtable discussion with Kawakami Tetsutaro titled "Overcoming Modernity."

After the Second World War, he began work exploring the spiritual history of the Japanese people through his own work, including Waga seishin no itenri (The Journey of My Spirit) (1948), and in the social sphere, he also made an effort to restore diplomatic relations between Japan and China. His life work was the unfinished Nihonjin seishin shi kenkyu (Research on the Spiritual History of the Japanese People) (1959-66). He became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1965 (Showa 40). He passed away on November 14, 1966.

[Tadataka Kamiya]

"The Complete Works of Kamei Katsuichiro, Volume 21 and Supplementary Volume 3 (1971-75, Kodansha)" ▽ "The Wandering Seeker Kamei Katsuichiro, by Takeda Tomohisa (1978, Kodansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

評論家。明治40年2月6日、北海道函館(はこだて)市生まれ。東京帝国大学美学科入学後すぐマルクス主義芸術研究会に入り、新人会会員となって労働運動に参加し、1928年（昭和3）大学を自主的に退学。三・一五事件のあと治安維持法違反で検挙され、30年獄中で発病し、転向して出所。32年プロレタリア作家同盟に加わって評論家として活躍。第一評論集『転形期の文学』（1934）刊行後は左翼文学から退き、保田与重郎(やすだよじゅうろう)らと『日本浪曼(ろうまん)派』（1935）を創刊し、日本の古美術、古典、仏教などに関心を深め、『大和(やまと)古寺風物誌』（1943）にまとめた。『文学界』同人としても活躍し、河上徹太郎と「近代の超克」座談会を企画した。

　第二次世界大戦後は『我が精神の遍歴』（1948）をはじめとして、自己を通して日本人の精神史を探る仕事に着手し、社会的には日中国交回復にも尽力した。未完に終わった『日本人の精神史研究』（1959～66）がライフワーク。1965年（昭和40）芸術院会員となる。昭和41年11月14日没。

［神谷忠孝］

『『亀井勝一郎全集』21巻・補巻3（1971～75・講談社）』▽『武田友寿著『遍歴の求道者亀井勝一郎』（1978・講談社）』

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