Golden Demon

A full-length novel by Ozaki Koyo. It was serialized intermittently in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper from January 1, 1897 (Meiji 30) to May 11, 1902. A part of the end of the Yomiuri serialization was republished in Shinshosetsu from January to March 1903 as Shinshoku Konjiki Yasha, but it was left unfinished. Published by Shunyodo from 1898 to 1903, 5 volumes, incomplete. Kan'ichi Hazama, a high school student, was in love with his fiancée Miya Shigisawa, but Miya was to marry the wealthy man Tadatsugu Toyama. Feeling betrayed, he disappears on the beach in Atami, leaving behind heartbreaking words to Miya: "When this month comes tonight next year, I will make the moon cloudy with my tears." Afterwards, Kan'ichi becomes a loan shark to get revenge, refusing to listen to the advice of his best friend, Arao. Miya, who regrets her marriage, begs Kan'ichi for forgiveness, but his request is not heard. However, just as Kan'ichi finally begins to open Miya's letters, the pregnancy is aborted. This masterpiece by Koyo was well received, and since its premiere at Ichimuraza in March 1898, it has been frequently performed in Shinpa theater, gaining overwhelming popularity, and has been hailed as a hit piece for Ii Yoho, Takada Minoru and others. It has also been made into many films.

[Yasushi Oka]

"The Great Series of Modern Japanese Literature 5: The Collection of Koyo Ozaki" (1971, Kadokawa Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

尾崎紅葉(こうよう)の長編小説。1897年（明治30）1月1日～1902年5月11日『読売新聞』に断続連載。03年1～3月『新小説』に『読売』連載の終わりの一部を『新続(しんしょく)金色夜叉』として再掲のまま、未完中絶。1898～1903年春陽堂刊、5冊、未完。高等中学生の間貫一(はざまかんいち)は許婚(いいなずけ)の鴫沢宮(しぎさわみや)を愛していたが、宮は資産家の富山唯継(とみやまただつぐ)に嫁すことになり、裏切られたとして熱海(あたみ)の海岸で宮に「来年の今月今夜になったならば、僕の涙で必ず月は曇らして見せる」と悲痛なことばを残して行方をくらましてしまう。その後、貫一は復讐(ふくしゅう)のため高利貸となり、親友荒尾の忠告にも耳を傾けない。結婚後悔悟した宮は貫一に許しを請うが、それも聞かれなかった。が、その貫一もようやく宮からの手紙を開封するようにはなった、というところで中絶。紅葉一代の大作で、好評を得、早く1898年3月市村座(いちむらざ)初演以来、たびたび新派劇で上演されて圧倒的な人気を博し、伊井蓉峰(ようほう)、高田実(みのる)らの当り芸としてうたわれた。映画化も多い。

［岡　保生］

『『日本近代文学大系5　尾崎紅葉集』（1971・角川書店）』

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