Kyōka Izumi
Kyoka Izumi (泉鏡花 Izumi Kyōka, November 4, 1873 - September 7, 1939) is the pen name of a Japanese author of novels and kabuki plays whose real name was Kyotaro Izumi (泉鏡太郎 Izumi Kyōtarō).
Born in the city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1873, he was the oldest son of a chokin artisan. His mother played the tsuzumi drum, but died when Kyotaro was nine years old. Later, he moved to Tokyo and became a disciple of Ozaki Koyo. His first works, including Yakoujunsa and Gekashitsu, published in 1895, received note, but his personal style can be said to have started around 1903 with works like Kouyahijiri. Later works, of which Uta Andon is an example, drew material from the lives and customs of actors. His novels and plays from the late Meiji and Taisho periods such as Yashagaike (which is still performed) continue to influence Japanese literature. Izumi died in 1939.
The Izumi Kyoka Memorial Museum (泉鏡花記念館, Izumi Kyōka Kinenkan) in Kanazawa is located on the site of the house where he was born; the house itself was lost to fire in the Meiji period. It has exhibits about Kyoka's life and times, as well as items owned by Kyoka and first edition copies of his works. There are also presentation rooms for irregularly-scheduled lectures about his life and works, and a gift shop. It is located in downtown Kanazawa in the Korinbo district, close to Kanazawa Castle.
See also
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