Umetei Kinka - Baitei Kinka

A representative comic writer from the end of the Edo period to the transition to the Meiji period. His real name was Uryu Masakazu, commonly known as Kumasaburo. Born as the second son of the swordsman Yoshida Katsunosuke of Ryogoku, Edo, he was celebrated as one of the leading young swordsmen of Edo. After being adopted by the Uryu family, he became a disciple of the comic writer Shotei Kinsui, and wrote human interest stories such as "Yanagi no Yokogushi," but he established his position in the world of comic stories at the end of the Edo period with his humorous story "Myotakerinbanashi Shichihenjin" (first volume, 1857), which was based on the leisurely life of his group of comic writers. In the Meiji period, he published books introducing the West, such as "Seiyo Shinsho" and "Seiyo Kenbun Zukai," and wrote the social satire "Kisho Shinbun" under the pseudonym Hashiuri Kinzo. After that, he became involved in comedy magazines such as "Dandan Chinbun" and "Kibi Dango," writing humorous novels and comedies.

[Kaname Okitsu]

"The Heretical Artisans" by Kaname Okitsu (1972, Yomiuri Shimbun)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸末期から明治への転換期の代表的戯作(げさく)者。本名瓜生政和(うりうまさやす)、通称熊三郎。江戸両国の剣客吉田勝之丞の次男として生まれ、江戸若手剣客中の雄とうたわれた。瓜生家の養子になったのち、戯作者松亭金水(しょうていきんすい)門下になり、『柳之横櫛(やなぎのよこぐし)』などの人情本も執筆したが、自分たち戯作者グループの遊戯生活に取材した滑稽(こっけい)本『妙竹林話七偏人(しちへんじん)』（初編、1857）によって幕末戯作界に地位を確立した。明治にはいり、『西洋新書』『西洋見聞図解』などの西洋紹介書を刊行し、橋瓜錦造の変名で世相風刺戯作『寄笑(きしょう)新聞』を執筆ののち、『団団珍聞(まるまるちんぶん)』『驥尾団子(きびだんご)』などの戯作雑誌に関係し、滑稽小説や戯文を執筆した。

［興津　要］

『興津要著『異端のアルチザンたち』（1972・読売新聞社）』

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