Hidemitsu Tanaka

Novelist. Born in Tokyo. Transferred from the Iwasaki family to his mother's family, the Tanaka family. Graduated from Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics. While still a student, he competed in the Olympics as a rower in 1932 (Showa 7). He later joined the left-wing movement but changed his views. His novel "Sora Buku Kaze" (1935) was recognized by Dazai Osamu and he studied under him. In 1940, he won the Ikeya Prize for "Olympus no Kajitsu" (Fruits of Olympus). He subsequently published works such as "I Am a Child of the Sea" (1941) and "Waga Saiyuki" (1944). After World War II, he rejoined the left-wing movement but was frustrated, and attempted to criticize the movement's inherent nature in "Kitashita Kara" (From the Basement) (1948). However, he fell into a decadent lifestyle, becoming addicted to Adrum and having a tragic conflict with the woman he was living with, and he committed suicide in front of Dazai's grave, leaving behind novels filled with anguish such as "Rikhon," "Yako," and "Sayonara" (all 1949).

[Akio Shimada]

"The Complete Works of Hidemitsu Tanaka, 11 volumes (1964-65, Haga Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小説家。東京生まれ。岩崎家から母の実家田中家に入籍する。早稲田(わせだ)大学政経学部卒業。在学中の1932年（昭和7）ボート選手としてオリンピックに出場。その後左翼運動に加わったが転向。小説『空吹く風』（1935）が太宰治(だざいおさむ)に認められて師事。40年『オリンポスの果実』で池谷賞を受賞。以後『われは海の子』（1941）、『我が西遊記』（1944）などを発表する。第二次世界大戦後、ふたたび左翼運動に参加したが挫折(ざせつ)し、『地下室から』（1948）で運動の内在的批判を試みる。しかしアドルム中毒、同棲(どうせい)した女との悲惨な葛藤(かっとう)などデカダンな生活に陥り、『離魂』『野狐(やこ)』『さようなら』（いずれも1949）など苦悩に満ちた小説を残しながら、太宰の墓前で自殺した。

［島田昭男］

『『田中英光全集』全11巻（1964～65・芳賀書店）』

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