Toki Zenmaro

Poet and Japanese literature scholar. Born on June 8, 1885, at Tokoji Temple, a temple of the Shinshu Otani sect in Shoseicho, Asakusa, Tokyo. His temple pen names were Koyu and Aika. He graduated from the English department of Waseda University. After working as a newspaper journalist, he taught at Waseda University and other institutions, and later became a professor at Musashino Women's University (now Musashino University). In 1905 (Meiji 38), he joined Kaneko Kunen's Shiragiku-kai (White Chrysanthemum Society). He was inspired by Kubota Utsubo's Mahiruno (Mahiruno), and in 1910 published a collection of poems written in three lines in the Roman alphabet, Nakiwarai. He pioneered writing that was clear-sighted while still digging into inner feelings. The following year, he came into contact with Ishikawa Takuboku, and planned to start a magazine called Kiju to Kajitsu (Tree and Fruit), but this was never completed. He was close to socialist ideology, and his style was established in the three-line collection of tanka poems "At Dusk" (1912), which sang of the intellectual joys and sorrows of urban workers and intellectuals. In 1913 (Taisho 2), he launched "Seikatsu to Geijutsu" (Life and Art). It became the origin of the so-called "Seikatsuha" movement, which awakened to social consciousness, but it ceased publication in 1916. It was around this time that he switched to single-line tanka writing. In 1924, he participated in the launch of "Nikko", and in the early Showa period, he briefly experimented with composing free verse in colloquial language, producing works such as "Shin-kashu Sakuhin I". "July" (1940) is a collection of poems about the conscience of intellectuals in the dark age of the onset of war. After the war, in "Rekishi no Naka no Seikatsusha" (1958), he sang of ancient figures such as Yamato Takeru with grand epic lyrics, and his desire to innovate tanka lyricism and rhythm continued throughout his life. He studied classical works such as "Tayasu Munetake" and "Kyogoku Tamekane", wrote new Noh poems, translated and studied Chinese poetry, and wrote essays on tanka, and his collection of tanka is close to 40 volumes. He is a Doctor of Literature and served as the chairman of the National Language Council. He passed away on April 15, 1980.

[Takashi Takekawa]

Let the bell ring now. / I'm happy to say that snow is falling in the Tokyo edition.

"Toki Yoshimaro's Poetry Collection" (1971, Kofusha) ▽ "Thoughts on Toki Yoshimaro - His Tragic Times" by Hiyasui Shigeta (1985, Aoyamakan) ▽ "Toki Yoshimaro" by Takekawa Chuichi (1980, Ohfusha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌人、国文学者。明治18年6月8日、東京・浅草松清町の真宗大谷(おおたに)派等光寺に生まれる。別号湖友、哀果(あいか)。早稲田(わせだ)大学英文科卒業。新聞記者を経て、早大などに教鞭(きょうべん)をとり、のち武蔵野(むさしの)女子大学（現武蔵野大学）教授。1905年（明治38）金子薫園(くんえん)の「白菊会」に入る。窪田空穂(くぼたうつぼ)の『まひる野』に感銘、10年、ローマ字三行書きによる歌集『NAKIWARAI』を出版。内面の心情につきながら、覚めた意識の作を開拓。翌年石川啄木(たくぼく)と交流、雑誌「樹木と果実」を計画したが果たさなかった。社会主義的思想に近接し、『黄昏(たそがれ)に』（1912）の三行書き歌集は、都会勤労者、知識人の知的哀歓を歌って、歌風は確立する。1913年（大正2）『生活と芸術』創刊。社会意識に目覚めた、いわゆる生活派の源流となったが、16年廃刊。このころから一行書き表記となる。24年『日光』創刊に参加、昭和初期には一時、口語自由律の作を試み、『新歌集作品Ⅰ』などがある。『六月』（1940）は、戦争に突入する暗い時代の知識人の良心を歌った集。戦後は『歴史の中の生活者』（1958）で、倭建(やまとたける)など古代の人物を壮大な叙事詩的叙情として歌うなど、短歌の叙情や韻律の革新への意欲は生涯に及ぶ。『田安宗武(たやすむねたけ)』『京極為兼(きょうごくためかね)』など古典研究、新作能詞章、中国詩の和訳と研究、歌論など多く、歌集は40冊近い。文学博士。国語審議会会長も務めた。昭和55年4月15日没。

［武川忠一］

　りんてん機、今こそ響け。／うれしくも、／東京版に、雪のふりいづ。

『『土岐善麿歌集』（1971・光風社）』▽『冷水茂太著『土岐善麿考――その哀果時代』（1985・青山館）』▽『武川忠一著『土岐善麿』（1980・桜楓社）』

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