Junichiro Tanizaki

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Junichiro Tanizaki

Role / Field:

Pioneering Japanese author whose work explores sexuality, culture clash, and identity.

Born:

1886-07-24

Died:

1965-07-30

Century / Era:

1886s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (谷崎 潤一郎, Tanizaki Jun'ichirō; 24 July 1886 – 30 July 1965) was a Japanese author who is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in modern Japanese literature. The tone and subject matter of his work range from shocking depictions of sexuality and destructive erotic obsessions to subtle portrayals of the dynamics of family life within the context of the rapid changes in 20th-century Japanese society. Frequently, his stories are narrated in the context of a search for cultural identity in which the West and Japanese tradition are juxtaposed. He was one of six authors on the final shortlist for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964, the year before his death. Tanizaki was born into a well-to-do merchant-class family in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, where his uncle owned a printing press, which had been established by his grandfather.

Career & Major Achievements

His parents were Kuragorō and Seki Tanizaki. His older brother, Kumakichi, died three days after his birth, which made him the next eldest son of the family. Tanizaki had three younger brothers: Tokuzō, Seiji (also a writer) and Shūhei, as well three younger sisters: Sono, Ise and Sue. Tanizaki described his admittedly pampered childhood in his Yōshō Jidai (Childhood Years, 1956). His childhood home was destroyed in the 1894 Meiji Tokyo earthquake, to which Tanizaki later attributed his lifelong fear of earthquakes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His family's finances declined dramatically as he grew older until he was forced to reside in another household as a tutor. Despite these financial problems, he attended the Tokyo First Middle School, where he became acquainted with Isamu Yoshii. Tanizaki attended the Literature Department of Tokyo Imperial University from 1908, but was forced to drop out in 1911 because of his inability to pay for tuition. Tanizaki began his literary career in 1909. His first work, a one-act stage play, was published in a literary magazine that he had helped found.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1886 (1886-07-24): Birth of Junichiro Tanizaki — Pioneering Japanese author whose work explores sexuality, culture clash, and identity.
2. 1894: 1894 Milestone — His childhood home was destroyed in the 1894 Meiji Tokyo earthquake, to which Tanizaki later attributed his lifelong fear of earthquakes.
3. 1908: 1908 Milestone — Tanizaki attended the Literature Department of Tokyo Imperial University from 1908, but was forced to drop out in 1911 because of his inability to pay for tuition.
4. 1909: 1909 Milestone — Tanizaki began his literary career in 1909.
5. 1956: 1956 Milestone — Tanizaki described his admittedly pampered childhood in his Yōshō Jidai (Childhood Years, 1956).
6. 1964: 1964 Milestone — He was one of six authors on the final shortlist for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964, the year before his death.
7. 1965 (1965-07-30): Passing & Historical Legacy — Junichiro Tanizaki passed away on 1965-07-30, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Junichiro Tanizaki

True or False: “Tanizaki's early career was solely focused on writing about the perceived decadence of Western European culture.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he initially showed fascination with the West, his later work developed a deep and nuanced interest in traditional Japanese aesthetics, particularly those of the Kansai region.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Junichiro Tanizaki