Souma Kokkou

Essayist. Born into a samurai family in Miyagi Prefecture. Maiden name Hoshi, real name Ryo. Aiming to become a writer, she studied at Miyagi Girls' School and Meiji Girls' School, and was known as an "Ambitious Girl." She married Aizo Soma and founded Shinjuku Nakamuraya. While leading the business to prosperity, she also opened the store to artists' salons, supporting artists such as Morie Ogiwara (Rokuzan), Tsune Nakamura, and Eroshenko. Her semi-autobiographical work "Mokui" (1934) is a valuable resource for the history of literature and women, providing a good account of the activities of Meiji Girls' School and members of the "Bungakukai" group. "Three Women in the Early Meiji Era" (1940) is a heartfelt critical biography of advanced women such as Shoen Kishida (Toshiko).

[Akiko Esashi]

"Moku-i" (1982, Hosei University Press) ▽ "From Talent to a Deeper Soul - Soma Kokko's Wanderings in His Youth" by Kyoko Utsu (1983, Japan YMCA Alliance Publishing Division) ▽ "The Folklore Rose Song" by Hisae Shimamoto (1983, Chikuma Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

随筆家。宮城県の士族の家に生まれる。旧姓星、本名良(りょう)。文学を志し、宮城女学校、明治女学校に学んで、「アンビシャス・ガール」（大志を抱いている女性）とよばれた。相馬愛蔵と結婚して、新宿中村屋を創業。商売を繁盛に導く一方で、店を芸術家のサロンに開放して、荻原守衛(おぎわらもりえ)（碌山(ろくざん)）、中村彝(つね)、エロシェンコらを援助した。半自叙伝『黙移(もくい)』（1934）は、明治女学校や『文学界』同人たちの動静をよく伝えて、文学史、女性史の貴重な資料。『明治初期の三女性』（1940）は、岸田湘煙(しょうえん)（俊子(としこ)）ら先進女性たちへの心尽くしの評伝である。

［江刺昭子］

『『黙移』（1982・法政大学出版局）』▽『宇津恭子著『才藻より、より深き魂に――相馬黒光・若き日の遍歴』（1983・日本YMCA同盟出版部）』▽『島本久恵著『俚譜薔薇来歌』（1983・筑摩書房）』

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