Tachikawa Library - Tachikawa Bunko

These small-sized story-telling books were published by Tachikawa Bunmeido (Bakuro-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka) from 1911 (Meiji 44) until around the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923). Approximately 200 books were published, and they were welcomed by young people at the time, becoming a source of popular literature. The authors used pen names such as Sekkasanjin and Nobanasanjin, and these were co-written by Osaka lecturer Tamada Gyokushusai (real name Kato Manjiro), his wife Yamada Kei, and their eldest son Otetsu. The first volume was "Ikkyu Zenji," and featured popular historical figures such as "Mito Komon" and "Okubo Hikozaemon." However, the 40th volume, "Sarutobi Sasuke," was well-received for its lovable personality and ninjutsu, despite being a completely fictional character, and it raised the name of Tachikawa Bunko and sparked a ninjutsu boom in movies and other media. Inspired by this, many small series of books were produced, including the "Shuchin Okawa Bunko," "Bushido Bunko," "Ninjutsu Bunko," and others, but none of them could match the original in terms of the thrill of rebelling against those in power.

[Kida Junichiro]

"The Heroes of the Tachikawa Library, by Makiichi Adachi (1980, Bunwa Shobo)" ▽ "The Masterpieces of the Tachikawa Library, four volumes (1981, Nobel Shobo)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1911年（明治44）から関東大震災（1923）前後まで、立川文明堂（大阪市中央区博労(ばくろう)町）から刊行された小型講談本。約200点を出して、当時の青少年に歓迎され、大衆文学の一源流となった。著者は雪花山人、野花散人などの筆名を用いているが、これは大阪の講釈師玉田玉秀斎（本名・加藤万次郎）とその妻山田敬、長男阿鉄(おてつ)らの共同執筆である。第一編は『一休禅師』で、『水戸黄門』『大久保彦左衛門(ひこざえもん)』というように、歴史上の人気者が並んだが、第40編の『猿飛佐助』はまったくの架空の人物にもかかわらず、愛すべき個性と忍術によって好評を博し、立川文庫の名をあげるとともに、映画などにおける忍術ブームを巻き起こした。これに刺激されて、『袖珍(しゅうちん)大川文庫』『武士道文庫』『忍術文庫』その他多くの小型叢書(そうしょ)が輩出したが、権力者に反抗する痛快味において、元祖には及ばなかった。

［紀田順一郎］

『足立巻一著『立川文庫の英雄たち』（1980・文和書房）』▽『『立川文庫傑作集』全四巻（1981・ノーベル書房）』

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