Shuko Shirayanagi

A literary scholar and historical commentator from the Meiji to Showa periods. Born on January 7, 1884, in Kiga-cho, Inasa-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture (now Hosoe-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City). His real name was Takeshi. His pen names were Tetsuyosei and Ake no Satobito. In 1907 (Meiji 40), he graduated from the Department of Literature and Philosophy at Waseda University. During his time at university, he was influenced by his senior from the same town, Muramatsu Rakusui, and became interested in social issues such as the Ashio Copper Mine Pollution Incident, and participated in the Heiminsha movement. In 1905, he founded Kaben, and with Ekifu Nikki, he became a writer and social critic who drew attention as a member of the new generation of socialists. In 1910, the year of the High Treason Incident, he published Townspeople's World. He was also active as a historian, following in the footsteps of Yamaji Aizan. His representative works include "Zaikai Taiheiki," "Saionji Kinmochi Den," and "Nationwide History of Japan." He also invented social storytelling and wrote popular literature such as "Sakamoto Ryoma." He supported the war effort during the 15-year war, and was lonely in his later years. He passed away on November 9, 1950.

[Eiichi Matsushima]

"War and Father and Son: A Biography of Shuko Shirayanagi" by Natsuo Shirayanagi (1971, Nippon Shoko Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治～昭和期の文学者、史論家。明治17年1月7日、静岡県引佐(いなさ)郡気賀(きが)町（現、浜松市北区細江(ほそえ)町）に生まれる。本名は武司(たけし)。筆名は哲羊生(てつようせい)、曙(あけ)の里人(さとびと)。1907年（明治40）早稲田(わせだ)大学文学科哲学部を卒業。在学中より同郷の先輩村松楽水(らくすい)の影響を受け、足尾鉱毒事件などの社会問題に関心を寄せ、平民社の運動に参加。1905年には『火鞭(かべん)』を創刊、『駅夫(えきふ)日記』で社会主義の新しい世代として注目される作家・社会批評家となった。大逆事件の起きた1910年『町人の天下』を刊行。山路愛山(やまじあいざん)の史論を継ぐ史家としても活躍した。代表作に『財界太平記』『西園寺公望(きんもち)伝』『民族日本歴史』などがある。かたわら社会講談を創案し、また『坂本龍馬(りょうま)』などの大衆文学も執筆した。十五年戦争期には、戦争協力の立場をとったため、晩年は孤独であった。1950（昭和25）11月9日死去。

［松島榮一］

『白柳夏男著『戦争と父と子――白柳秀湖伝』（1971・日本商工出版）』

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