MUSHANOKOJI SANEATSU

Mushanokoji Saneatsu, a novelist, playwright, poet, artist, and philosopher, attended Tokyo Imperial University, but left before graduation to form a literary circle with others, including Shiga Naoya and Arishima Takeo (which became the Shirakaba School). Mushanokoji’s writing is known for its humanist style. In 1918, Mushanokoji put his humanitarian philosophies into action by establishing a quasi-socialist arts commune in Kyushu named Atarashiki-mura. Although Mushanokoji left the community shortly after founding it, the village still exists. Purged following World War II, he made a literary comeback and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1951.

See also MARXISM; MODERN THEATER; NAGAYO YOSHIRO; SATOMI TON.