Yuzo Yamamoto

Playwright and novelist. Born on July 27, 1887 in Tochigi-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture (present-day Tochigi City). His real name was Yuzo. His father was a samurai of the former Utsunomiya domain who ran a kimono business. After graduating from the First Higher School, he graduated from the German Literature Department of Tokyo Imperial University in 1915 (Taisho 4). While still a student, he founded the third Shinshicho with Akutagawa Ryunosuke and Toyoshima Yoshio. He had already been writing plays since his time at First Higher School, and was recognized as a budding playwright with social dramas such as Professor Tsumura (1919), Infanticide (1920), and The Crown of Life (1920). He then turned his attention to historical dramas, and wrote works such as "Sakazaki Dewa no Kami" (1921) and "Comrades" (1923), which depicted the psychological conflicts of people in certain historical situations with dramatic tension, leaving a deep impression on readers. He also worked hard to establish the Playwrights Association and the Writers Association around this time. His activities as a novelist began with the newspaper novel "Ikitori Ikeru Mono" (All Living Things) in 1926 (Taisho 15), and he published long works such as "Nami" (Waves) (1928), "Onna no Isshou" (A Woman's Life) (1932-33), "Tsujitsu Ichiro" (A Path of Truth) (1935-36), and "Roadside Stone" (1937), which depict people trying to live honestly while being tossed about by the rough waves of reality. His works, which ask the meaning of life from the standpoint of humanitarian idealism in a simple style, have resonated with a wide range of readers as wholesome citizen literature.

He became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1941 (Showa 16), and after World War II, he contributed to the construction of a cultural nation as a member of the House of Peers and the House of Councillors. He particularly focused on issues of the national language and writing system, and made many achievements, including being a central figure in the establishment of the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics and the establishment of the current kanji and modern kana spelling system. In 1980, he was awarded the Order of Culture. His postwar works include "The Man in Safety" (1949), which deals with the quest for peace, and the unfinished "Muddy Current" (1973). He passed away on January 11, 1974. His former home is now the Mitaka City Arizo Youth Library.

[Munakata Kazushige]

"The Complete Works of Yamamoto Yuzo, Definitive Edition, 12 volumes (1976-77, Shinchosha)" ▽ "Yamamoto Yuzo: The Man and His Works, by Fukuda Kiyoto and Imamura Tadazumi (1967, Shimizu Shoin)" ▽ "Shincho Japanese Literature Album 33: Yamamoto Yuzo" (1986, Shinchosha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

劇作家、小説家。明治20年7月27日栃木県下都賀(しもつが)郡栃木町（現栃木市）に生まれる。本名は勇造。父は呉服商を営む旧宇都宮藩士であった。第一高等学校を経て1915年（大正4）東京帝国大学独文科卒業。在学中に芥川龍之介(あくたがわりゅうのすけ)、豊島与志雄(とよしまよしお)らと第三次『新思潮』をおこす。すでに一高時代から戯曲を書いていたが、『津村教授』（1919）、『嬰児(えいじ)殺し』（1920）、『生命の冠(かんむり)』（1920）などの社会劇で、新進劇作家として認められた。ついで関心は歴史劇に移り、『坂崎出羽守(でわのかみ)』（1921）、『同志の人々』（1923）など、ある歴史的状況に置かれた人間の心理的葛藤(かっとう)を、劇的緊張感のうちに描き尽くして深い感銘を与えた。このころ劇作家協会や文芸家協会の設立にも尽力。小説家としての活動は、26年（大正15）の新聞小説『生きとし生けるもの』に始まり、現実の荒波にもまれながら誠実に生きようとする人間の姿を描いた『波』（1928）、『女の一生』（1932～33）、『真実一路』（1935～36）、『路傍の石』（1937）などの長編を発表した。彼の作品は、人道主義的な理想主義の立場から、人生の意味を平明な文体で問いかけ、健全な市民文学として、広範な読者の共感をよんでいる。

　1941年（昭和16）に芸術院会員になり、第二次大戦後は貴族院議員、参議院議員として文化国家の建設に貢献。特に国語国字問題に力を注ぎ、当用漢字や現代かなづかい制定、国立国語研究所設立の中心になるなど、多くの功績を残した。65年文化勲章受章。戦後の作品に、平和の探究を主題にした『無事の人』（1949）、未完の『濁流』（1973）がある。昭和49年1月11日没。旧邸は三鷹市有三青少年文庫になっている。

［宗像和重］

『『定本版　山本有三全集』全12巻（1976～77・新潮社）』▽『福田清人・今村忠純著『山本有三　人と作品』（1967・清水書院）』▽『『新潮日本文学アルバム33　山本有三』（1986・新潮社）』

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