Kyoji Shirai

Novelist. Born in Yokohama on September 1, 1889, as the second of one son and three daughters to Inoue Takamichi, a samurai from Tottori Prefecture. His real name was Inoue Yoshimichi. After graduating from Tottori Prefectural Yonago Middle School, he entered the humanities department of Waseda University in 1905 (Meiji 38). He later transferred to the political science and economics department of Nihon University. After working for a cosmetics company, he began his career as a writer. In 1920 (Taisho 9), under the pen name Shirai Kyoji, he attracted attention with his novel "Kaikenchiku Jyuunidan-gaeshi," which incorporated a novelistic twist into a period novel. From 1921, he published the full-length novels "Shinsengumi" (1924-25) and "Fuji ni Tatsu Kage" (1924-27), as well as a collection of short stories "Bangaku no Isshou" (1932). Shirai had been an early proponent of the entertainment value of literature, and in 1950, with the aim of improving the quality of entertainment novels, he formed the "Twenty-first Society" with Naoki Sanjugo and Edogawa Ranpo, and launched the magazine "Taishū Bungei" the following year. In 1960 (Showa 10), he became a member of the selection committee for the Naoki Prize, and in 1986 he became the president of the Tokyo Writers Club. He was also active as a critic, and published "Taishū Bungaku no Ronjō: Konomine Roku" (1967). His style of writing was highly entertaining historical novels that focused on traditional Japanese storytelling, and depicted ideal human figures. He passed away on November 9, 1980.

[Hideyuki Sakai]

"The Complete Works of Kyoji Shirai, 16 volumes (1969-70, Gakugei Shorin)" ▽ "Popular Literature by Hiroshi Nakatani (1973, Togensha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小説家。明治22年9月1日、鳥取県士族井上孝道の1男3女の第2子として横浜市で生まれる。本名井上義道。鳥取県立米子(よなご)中学卒業、1905年（明治38）早稲田(わせだ)大学文科に入学。のちに日本大学政経科に転学。化粧品会社勤務後、作家生活に入る。20年（大正9）白井喬二の筆名で、時代小説に斬新(ざんしん)な趣向を取り入れた『怪建築十二段返し』を発表して注目された。24年から長編小説『新撰組(しんせんぐみ)』（1924～25）と『富士に立つ影』（1924～27）、短編小説集『盤嶽(ばんがく)の一生』（1932）を発表。早くから文芸の娯楽性を主張していた白井は、25年、娯楽小説の質を高める目的で、直木三十五、江戸川乱歩らと「二十一日会」を結成し、翌年『大衆文芸』を創刊した。35年（昭和10）直木賞の選考委員となる。61年から東京作家クラブ会長に就任。評論家としても活躍し、『大衆文学の論業・此峰(しほう)録』（1967）がある。作風は、日本在来の講談に着目した娯楽性の強い伝奇小説であり、理想的人間像を描く。昭和55年11月9日没。

［酒井英行］

『『定本　白井喬二全集』全16巻（1969～70・学芸書林）』▽『中谷博著『大衆文学』（1973・桃源社）』

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