Origins & Early Life

Yosano Hiroshi (与謝野 寛; 26 February 1873 – 26 March 1935), known by his pen name Tekkan Yosano (与謝野 鉄幹 or 與謝野 鐵幹, Yosano Tekkan) was a Japanese author and poet active in late Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa era. His wife was fellow author Yosano Akiko. His grandson was politician Kaoru Yosano. Yosano was born in Kyoto as the son of Buddhist priest, and was a graduate of Keio University.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After graduation, he taught Japanese language for four years at Tokuyama Girls' School, in what is now Shunan city, Yamaguchi prefecture. He was forced to quit over alleged improprieties with one of his students. At the age of 20, he moved to Tokyo. He supported himself as a staff writer for Tokyo newspapers. On 11 May 1894, he published a strongly worded article encouraging the reform of traditional Japanese poetry, or waka, to give it more originality and thus make it more popular.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Yosano was a disciple of Ochiai Naobumi, and a prominent founding member of the latter's Asaka Society. In 1900, Yosano founded the literary magazine Myōjō (Bright Star), and soon collected a circle of famous poets, including Kitahara Hakushū, Yoshii Isamu and Ishikawa Takuboku. The magazine...

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