Kojin Shimomura

Novelist and educator. Born in Saga Prefecture. Real name Korokuro. Maiden name Uchida, later adopted into the Shimomura family. From middle school in Saga, he aspired to be a writer, and after graduating from the Fifth High School, he graduated from the Department of English Literature at Tokyo Imperial University. He was noted as a budding poet, but due to the downfall of his family and foster home, he went into education and taught at middle and high schools under the old system for 24 years. He later assisted his friend Yoshiharu Tazawa (1885-1944) in guiding young people, and in 1933 (Showa 8) he became director of the Dai-Nippon Rengo Youth Association Training Center, serializing the first part of "Jiro Monogatari" in the school's journal. This was well received, so he wrote "Tama wa ayumu" (1936) and "Wakaki Kensetsusha" (1944), among others, which are highly regarded as educational novels aimed at young people. His other works include the essay collections "Educational Reflection" (1934) and "Shinsodoki" (1943), as well as the biography "Tazawa Yoshihide" (1954).

[Shoichiro Kami]

“The Complete Works of Shimomura Kojin, 10 volumes (1975-1976, Kokudosha)” ▽ “Shimomura Kojin” by Kisuke Nagasugi (1964, Kodansha)”

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小説家、教育家。佐賀県の生まれ。本名虎六郎(ころくろう)。旧姓は内田、のち下村家の養子となる。佐賀中学時代から文学に志し、第五高等学校を経て東京帝国大学英文科卒業。新進詩人として注目されたが、実家・養家の没落のため教育界に進み、24年間、旧制中学・高等学校の教職にあった。その後は友人田沢義鋪(よしはる)（1885―1944）を助けて青少年の指導にあたり、1933年（昭和8）大日本連合青年団講習所所長となり、その機関誌に『次郎物語』第1部を連載。これが好評だったので『魂は歩む』（1936）、『若き建設者』（1944）などを執筆、青少年向きの教養小説として高く評価されている。ほかに随想集『教育的反省』（1934）、『心窓記』（1943）、伝記『田沢義鋪』（1954）などがある。

［上笙一郎］

『『下村湖人全集』全10巻（1975～1976・国土社）』▽『永杉喜輔著『下村湖人』（1964・講談社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例