Saijo Yaso

Poet. Born in Tokyo on January 15, 1892. During his time at Waseda Junior High School, he learned English directly from an English lady. His later collection of translated poems, "The White Peacock" (1920), was dedicated to her. He was also strongly influenced by the new teacher, Yoshie Takamatsu. In 1909 (Meiji 42), he entered the English department of Waseda University. His classmates included Tanizaki Seiji and Hirotsu Kazuo. Due to family circumstances, he also enrolled in the Japanese Literature Selection Department of Tokyo Imperial University, but graduated from Waseda in 1915 (Taisho 4). During his time at university, he also participated in "Waseda Bungaku" and "Mirai" by Miki Rofu and Kawaji Ryuko. In 1909, together with Hinatsu Kounosuke and others, he founded the magazine "Seihai" (later renamed "Mask"), which introduced and critiqued a wide range of foreign literary works, including those by Mallarmé and Maeterlinck. In 1914, he self-published his first collection of poems, "Gold Sand." At the end of the Taisho era, he studied at the Sorbonne for two years, where he was friends with Valéry and others. He served as a professor of French literature at his alma mater until the end of World War II. While he composed sophisticated symbolist poetry, he was also a representative children's song poet of the Taisho era, on a par with Kitahara Hakushu. He also wrote the lyrics for many popular songs, such as "Tokyo March." His side as a brilliant scholar-poet is clearly revealed in his magnum opus, "A Study of Arthur Rimbaud" (1967). He became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1966. He passed away on August 12, 1970.

[Yoshiori Takahashi]

"Saijo Yaso Poetry Collection" (1976, Yayoi Shobo)" ▽ "Saijo Yaso Children's Song Collection" (1979, Yayoi Shobo)" ▽ "Saijo Yaso Works Catalog and Chronology" compiled by the Saijo Yaso Works Catalog Publishing Committee (1972, Chuokoron-Shinsha Publishing)" ▽ "Father Saijo Yaso, by Saijo Nobiko (Chuko Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

詩人。明治25年1月15日東京に生まれる。早稲田(わせだ)中学時代、イギリスの婦人に直接英語を学ぶ。後の訳詩集『白孔雀(くじゃく)』（1920）は彼女に献じられた。また新任の教師吉江喬松(たかまつ)の強い影響を受ける。1909年（明治42）早稲田大学英文科に入学。谷崎精二、広津和郎(ひろつかずお)らは同級生。家庭の事情により東京帝国大学国文選科にも籍を置くが、15年（大正4）早大卒業。在学中から『早稲田文学』や三木露風(ろふう)、川路柳虹(りゅうこう)らの『未来』にも参加。また12年には日夏耿之介(ひなつこうのすけ)らと『聖盃(せいはい)』（のち『仮面』と改題）を創刊し、マラルメやメーテルリンクら広く海外文芸を紹介し論評した。19年第一詩集『砂金』を自費出版。大正末、2年間ソルボンヌ大学に学び、バレリーたちとも交遊。第二次世界大戦終戦まで母校の仏文科教授を務める。高踏的象徴詩をつくる一方、北原白秋(はくしゅう)と並ぶ大正期の代表的童謡詩人でもあった。また『東京行進曲』など多くの流行歌謡の作詞もした。優れた学匠詩人としての一面は大著『アルチュール・ランボオ研究』（1967）が如実に物語っている。61年（昭和36）芸術院会員。昭和45年8月12日没。

［高橋世織］

『『西条八十詩集』（1976・弥生書房）』▽『『西条八十童謡集』（1979・弥生書房）』▽『西条八十著作目録刊行委員会編『西条八十著作目録・年譜』（1972・中央公論事業出版）』▽『西條嫩子ふたばこ著『父西条八十』（中公文庫）』

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