Who was this person?
A Taishō–Shōwa poet and sculptor. Son of Takamura Kōun, after study in Europe and America he left poetry collections such as The Journey and Chieko's Anthology. He left a mark on modern Japanese culture in both sculpture and poetry.
| Name | Takamura Kōtarō (高村光太郎) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1883 – 1956 |
| Period | Meiji–Shōwa |
| Birthplace | Tokyo |
| Main achievements |
|
Eldest son of sculptor Takamura Kōun, born in Tokyo. Given-name reading Mitsutarō. Seeing his father's work from childhood, he naturally took an art path and early grew fond of literature too.
He entered the sculpture course at Tokyo Fine Arts School and studied in earnest. Joining Yosano Tekkan's New Poetry Society, he began publishing poems. Form and words together marked him early. Mentions of Chieko's Anthology also mark this phase.
With his father's support he studied in New York and worked under a sculptor. Attending night school, he felt Western art and city life. The experience deeply shook values he would hold after return.
He stayed in London then Paris, touching the front line of modern art. Influenced by Rodin and others, he sought expression as a Japanese. More than three years abroad transformed his view of art.
Back home, dissatisfied with the old art world, he joined new art movements. He spoke sharply in criticism as well as sculpture. Stress on individuality and freedom became clear.
He married Naganuma Chieko, a woman who aimed to paint. Their life became a key theme of later poetry. Days began in which love and creation were tightly bound. Mentions of Tokyo Fine Arts School also mark this phase.
He published The Journey, noted for frankly singing the inner self. Alongside sculpture he became a key modern poet. A sculptor's sense lived in the chiseling of words.
Compiled after Chieko's illness and death, Chieko's Anthology was widely read as a record of love. Raising personal grief to universal feeling, it remains dear to many. Even in wartime he gazed at human affection.
After reflecting on wartime cooperation, he kept working in mountain villages of Iwate and elsewhere. In a simple life he faced sculpture and poetry. Late years became a quiet reexamination of his own path.
He died in Tokyo at seventy-three. As both poet and sculptor he left a deep mark on modern Japanese culture. Works led by Chieko's Anthology are still read.
A. A Taishō–Shōwa poet and sculptor. Son of Takamura Kōun, after study in Europe and America he left poetry collections such as The Journey and Chieko's Anthology. He left a mark on modern Japanese culture in both sculpture and poetry.
A. Period: Meiji–Shōwa. Born in 1883, died in 1956.
A. Takamura Kōtarō was born in Tokyo.
A. Takamura Kōtarō's poetry collection on feelings for his wife Chieko Naganuma. It is widely read as a record of love through illness and death.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Noguchi UjōSuzuki MiekichiSaitō MokichiShiga NaoyaTakehisa YumejiKitahara HakushūMushanokōji SaneatsuOsugi Sakae
People of the Taishō period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.