Kyosuke Kindaichi

Linguist. Founder of Ainu literature research and Ainu language studies. Born in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture on May 5, 1882. Studied at the Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Letters, Tokyo Imperial University. The end of the Meiji era was the dawn of Japanese linguistics, and Ueda Kazutoshi, a mentor at the time, advocated the need to study surrounding languages ​​in order to study Japanese. At that time, Kindaichi was assigned to study the Ainu language. In an age when Western culture was all-powerful, Kindaichi chose to study the Ainu language, which had been discarded as an old custom and ignored, as his life's work, and through his research, the Ainu epic poem Yukar was introduced to the world for the first time, and the Ainu language was academically elucidated. His numerous books on Yukar and Ainu language grammar, including "A Study of the Ainu Epic Poem Yukar" (2 volumes, 1931, awarded the Imperial Academy Prize) and "Ainu Epic Poem Yukar Collection" (1959-1975), will forever remain as the starting point for those studying the culture of the northern part of the Japanese archipelago.

From around 1935 (Showa 10), his interest also extended to the study of Japanese language, and he compiled various dictionaries such as "Cikai," "Meikai Kokugo Jiten," and "Shinsen Kokugo Jiten," as well as textbooks such as "Chuto Kokugo" and "Koto Kokugo." He was also close friends with the poet Ishikawa Takuboku, who was from the same hometown, and wrote "Ishikawa Takuboku" (1951). He was a professor at the University of Tokyo, Kokugakuin University, and Waseda University. He received a doctorate in literature. In 1954 (Showa 29), he was awarded the Order of Culture. He passed away on November 14, 1971. His grave was at Kifukuji Temple in Hongo, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, but was later reburied in Zoshigaya Cemetery in Toshima Ward.

[Yamada Hidezo October 19, 2018]

"Kindaichi Kyosuke Selections" 3 volumes (1960-1962, Sanseido)" ▽ "Kanari Matsu's notes, Kindaichi Kyosuke's translation and annotated Ainu Epic Yukarshu" 9 volumes (1959-1975, Sanseido)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

言語学者。アイヌ文学研究、アイヌ語学の創設者。明治15年5月5日岩手県盛岡に生まれる。東京帝国大学文学部言語学科に学ぶ。明治末年は日本言語学の黎明(れいめい)時代で、当時指導者であった上田万年(うえだかずとし)は日本語研究のためにも周辺の諸言語の研究が必要であることを提唱、そのときアイヌ語の研究を指定されたのが金田一であった。欧米文化万能の時代に、旧弊として捨てて顧みられなかったアイヌ語の研究をライフワークとして選び、彼の研究で、初めてアイヌ叙事詩ユーカラが世に紹介され、アイヌ語が学問的に解明された。『アイヌ叙事詩ユーカラの研究』2巻（1931。学士院恩賜賞受賞）、『アイヌ叙事詩　ユーカラ集』（1959～1975）をはじめとするユーカラやアイヌ語文法に関する数々の著書は、日本列島の北方の文化を学ぶ者の原点として永久に残る。

　1935年（昭和10）ごろからは国語学の研究にも関心が及び、『辞海』『明解国語辞典』『新選国語辞典』など諸辞典の編纂(へんさん)や『中等国語』『高等国語』などの教科書の編修も広く行った。また、同郷の歌人、石川啄木(いしかわたくぼく)と深い交友関係にあり、『石川啄木』（1951）の著がある。東大・国学院大・早大教授。文学博士。1954年（昭和29）文化勲章受章。昭和46年11月14日没。墓は東京都文京区本郷の喜福寺にあったが、のち豊島(としま)区の雑司ヶ谷(ぞうしがや)霊園に改葬された。

［山田秀三　2018年10月19日］

『『金田一京助選集』全3巻（1960～1962・三省堂）』▽『金成まつ筆録、金田一京助訳注『アイヌ叙事詩　ユーカラ集』全9巻（1959～1975・三省堂）』

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