Nakamura Kusatao

Haiku poet. Born on July 24, 1901 in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China. His real name was Seiichiro. He switched from German to Japanese literature at Tokyo Imperial University, and wrote his graduation thesis on Masaoka Shiki. In 1928 (Showa 3), he read "Hototogisu" (Little Cuckoo), and the following year he joined the Tokyo University Haiku Society, where he was taught by Mizuhara Shuoushi. He then emerged as a newcomer to "Hototogisu", and was active in criticism, becoming a member in 1934. He maintained a critical attitude towards the emerging haiku movement of the time, thoroughly criticizing the modernism of Hino Sojo. Together with Ishida Hakyo and Kato Shuson, he is known as a member of the human-seeking and esoteric school. During World War II, he was slandered and oppressed as a "liberal." After leaving "Hototogisu," he founded and presided over "Banryoku" in 1946 (Showa 21). Many of his works could be described as hymns to life. He was a leading figure in modern haiku, criticizing socially conscious haiku and avant-garde haiku. He passed away on August 5, 1983. His haiku collections include "Chosuko" (1936), "Hi no Shima" (1939), and "Banryoku" (1941), and his children's stories include "Beaver no Hoshi" and "Fuusen no Shisha" (The Balloon Messenger). He was a professor at Seikei University. At his alma mater, Aominami Elementary School in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, there is a monument bearing the haiku "Falling snow, the Meiji era is becoming distant."

[Takaha Kariyuki]

In the midst of all the greenery, my child's teeth begin to grow

"New Haiku Series: People and Works 14: Kusadao Nakamura" (1980, Ohfusha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

俳人。明治34年7月24日、中国福建省厦門(アモイ)生まれ。本名清一郎。東京帝国大学独文科から国文科に転じ、正岡子規(しき)を卒論とする。1928年（昭和3）『ホトトギス』を読み、翌年、東大俳句会に入り、水原秋桜子(しゅうおうし)の指導を受けた。その後『ホトトギス』の新人として台頭、評論にも活躍して1934年、同人に推される。当時の新興俳句運動には終始批判的態度を通し、日野草城(そうじょう)のモダニズムを徹底的に非難した。石田波郷(はきょう)、加藤楸邨(しゅうそん)らとともに人間探求派、難解派とよばれる。第二次世界大戦中は「自由主義者」と中傷、圧迫された。『ホトトギス』を離れ、1946年（昭和21）『万緑(ばんりょく)』を創刊、主宰。生命賛歌というべき作品が多い。社会性俳句、前衛俳句を批判して、現代俳句の指導的存在でもあった。昭和58年8月5日没。句集に『長子』（1936）、『火の島』（1939）、『万緑』（1941）など、童話に『ビーバーの星』『風船の使者』など。成蹊大学教授。母校の東京・南青山の青南小学校に「降る雪や明治は遠くなりにけり」の句碑がある。

［鷹羽狩行］

　万緑の中や吾子(あこ)の歯生え初むる

『『新訂俳句シリーズ　人と作品14　中村草田男』（1980・桜楓社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例