Akatsuki Kanbayashi

Novelist. Born in Kochi Prefecture on October 6, 1902. His real name was Tokuhiro Iwaki. He graduated from the Department of English Literature at Tokyo Imperial University. He joined Kaizosha Publishing. His literary debut was "Zelkova Diary" published in "Shincho" in 1931 (Showa 6), but his breakthrough work was "Rose Thief" published in "Shincho" the following year. He became the editor-in-chief of "Bungei", but left Kaizosha in 1934 to begin his career as a writer. However, he continued to suffer from a slump, and it was not until he published "The House of Peace" in 1938 that his future began to open up. But this was short-lived, as his wife Shigeko became mentally unstable the following year, and they continued to live a difficult life until her death in 1946 (Showa 21). His stories about sick wives, such as "At St. John's Hospital" (1946), are based on his experiences during this period. In 1952, he suffered his first cerebral hemorrhage. After recovering, he wrote several excellent works based on his hometown, such as "Haru no Saka" (1957) and "Omi no Shizuku" (1959). In 1962, he suffered a second cerebral hemorrhage and was bedridden thereafter, but his desire to create was strong and he left behind many excellent works, including "Shiroi Yakatabune" (1963). Kanbayashi's works, which endured adversity and were captivated by it, are free of sentimentality or darkness and are filled with a natural brightness. He passed away on August 28, 1980.

[Omori Sumio]

"The Revised and Expanded Works of Kamibayashi Akira, 19 Volumes (1977-80, Chikuma Shobo)" ▽ "Takahashi Hideo, On Kamibayashi Akira (included in "I as an Element", 1976, Kodansha)" ▽ "Tokuhiro Mutsuko, My Brother's Left Hand (1982, Chikuma Shobo)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小説家。明治35年10月6日、高知県に生まれる。本名徳広巌城(とくひろいわき)。東京帝国大学英文科卒業。改造社に入社。1931年（昭和6）『新潮』に発表の『欅(けやき)日記』が文壇的処女作であるが、出世作は翌年『新潮』に発表の『薔薇盗人(ばらとうにん)』。『文芸』の編集主任になったが、34年に改造社を退社し、作家生活に入る。しかしスランプが続き、前途が開けてきたのは38年『安住の家』を発表したころからである。それもつかのまのことで、妻繁子が翌年精神に異常をきたし、46年（昭和21）に亡くなるまで辛苦の生活が続いた。『聖ヨハネ病院にて』（1946）などの病妻物は、この時期の体験に根ざしたものである。52年に第1回目の脳溢血(のういっけつ)にみまわれた。快癒後、『春の坂』（1957）、『御目の雫(しずく)』（1959）などの郷里に取材したいくつかの秀作を書く。62年に第2回目の脳溢血にみまわれ、以後病床にあったが、創作欲は旺盛(おうせい)であり、『白い屋形船』（1963）をはじめとする多くの優れた作品を残した。逆境に耐え、かつそれを虜(とりこ)にした上林の作品には、感傷や暗さがなく、自然な明るさをたたえている。昭和55年8月28日に没した。

［大森澄雄］

『『増補・改訂　上林暁全集』全19巻（1977～80・筑摩書房）』▽『高橋英夫著『上林暁論』（『元素としての「私」』所収・1976・講談社）』▽『徳広睦子著『兄の左手』（1982・筑摩書房）』

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