Hosoi Wakizo

A proletarian writer from the Taisho period. Born on May 9, 1897, in Kayacho, Yosa County, Kyoto Prefecture (now Yosanocho). He lost his parents at an early age and became a weaver's boy in the fifth grade of elementary school. He then worked in textile and spinning factories across the Kansai region, eventually joining the labor movement. In 1920 (Taisho 9), he moved to Tokyo and joined the Tokyo Muslin Kameido Factory, playing an active role in the labor dispute the following year, but quit due to conflicts with union leaders. While supported by his wife Hori (now Takai), whom he met and married at the factory, he began writing proletarian literature and published it in works such as "The Sower." In 1920, he began writing "The Sad History of a Factory Girl," based on his own and his wife's experiences and aimed to restore the human rights of "factory girls." It was published by Kaizosha in July 1925 (Taisho 14), but he died of illness on August 18, shortly thereafter.

[Tsunehisa Abe]

"Complete Works of Kazuki Hosoi, published by the Committee for Publishing the Complete Works of Kazuki Hosoi and the Commemorative Society for the Tragic History of Factory Girls," 4 volumes (1955-56, Vol. 2 and onwards published by Sanichi Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大正時代のプロレタリア作家。明治30年5月9日京都府与謝(よさ)郡加悦(かや)町（現与謝野(よさの)町）に生まれる。早く両親を失い、尋常小学校5年にして織屋の小僧となり、以後関西各地の織物・紡績工場などで働き、やがて労働運動に参加。1920年（大正9）上京、東京モスリン亀戸(かめいど)工場に入り、翌年の争議で活躍したが、組合幹部との対立などから退職。同工場で知り合い結婚した堀（現姓高井）としをに生計を支えられながら、プロレタリア文学の創作に着手、『種蒔(たねま)く人』などに発表した。23年より自身と妻の体験をもとに「女工」の人間的復権を目ざして『女工哀史』を執筆し始め、25年（大正14）7月改造社より出版したが、直後の8月18日病没した。

［阿部恒久］

『細井和喜蔵全集刊行委員会・女工哀史記念会編・刊『細井和喜蔵全集』全4巻（1955～56・第2巻以後三一書房刊）』

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