Theatre of Life

This is an autobiographical full-length novel by Shiro Ozaki. In 1933 (Showa 8), he published "Youth Chapter" in the Miyako Shimbun (the predecessor of the Tokyo Shimbun), and thereafter wrote "Love," "Chivalry," "Storm," and "Expedition" for the same paper. After World War II, he added three more stories, "Dreaming," "Nostalgia," and "The Boy Who Loved You," for various Nakama novel magazines. As soon as "Youth Chapter" was published (1935, Takemura Shobo), Yasunari Kawabata highly praised it, saying, "This story shows how well Ozaki has lived and grasped life, and shows his true worth as a writer to the fullest." It was immediately made into a film and a stage play, and gained popularity. The "Youth Chapter" tells the story of Aonari Hyokichi, the only son of Tatsumi-ya in Yokosuka Village, Sanshu, who was raised to "live like a man," and went on to Waseda University after attending Okazaki Middle School, where he became a leader in a school riot. It is a coming-of-age novel that vividly depicts the rebellious spirit and friendship of passionate and unrestrained students against the backdrop of the early Taisho period. It is filled with Japanese sentiments such as chivalry and a sense of justice, obligation and humanity, which strikes a chord with readers and is why it is regarded as a timeless masterpiece.

[Tsuzuki Hisayoshi]

"Theater of Life - Youth Edition" 2 volumes / "Theater of Life - Love Edition" 2 volumes (Shincho Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

尾崎士郎の自伝的長編小説。1933年（昭和8）『都(みやこ)新聞』（『東京新聞』の前身）に「青春篇(へん)」を発表し、以後、「愛欲」「残侠(ざんきょう)」「風雲」「遠征」の各篇を同紙に書き継ぎ、第二次世界大戦後も「夢現」「望郷」「蕩子(とうし)」の3篇を中間小説誌各誌に書き加えた。「青春篇」が刊行（1935・竹村書房）されるや、川端康成(やすなり)に「この一篇は尾崎氏が如何(いか)に立派に生きて来たか、人生を掴(つか)んでゐるかを明かにし、作家としての真価を心ゆくばかり発揮した」と激賞され、ただちに映画化、舞台化されて評判となった。三州(さんしゅう)横須賀村の辰巳(たつみ)屋のひとり息子青成瓢吉(あおなりひょうきち)が「男らしく生きよ」と育てられ、岡崎中学を経て早稲田(わせだ)大学に進み、学校騒動のリーダーとなるまでを描いたのが「青春篇」で、情熱的で野放図(のほうず)な学生たちの反骨と友情を大正初期を時代背景として活写した青春小説である。侠気(きょうき)と正義感、義理と人情といった日本的心情があふれ、それが読者の琴線を揺さぶり、時代を超えた傑作と評価されるゆえんであろう。

［都築久義］

『『人生劇場――青春篇』全2冊／『人生劇場――愛欲篇』全2冊（新潮文庫）』

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