SHIRAKABA

Shirakaba (White Birch) was a humanistic literary journal published from 1910 to 1923. The journal was named after the literary circle founded by Shiga Naoya, Mushanokoji Saneatsu, Satomi Ton, and other Peers School alumni. Shirakaba focused on Tolstoyan humanism rather than the naturalism that prevailed in other literary journals of the time. Many of the contributing authors were also leaders of the I-Novel movement. Functioning as both a literary journal and art magazine, Shirakaba helped introduce new Western art styles, including impressionism and postimpressionism. Publication ceased following the 1923 Kanto Earthquake.

See also ARISHIMA TAKEO; LITERARY CRITICISM; MIYAMOTO YURIKO; NAGAYO YOSHIRO.