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♪　Torahiko Koori's ladies

In June 1887 (1890), Torahiko Koori was born at Minato 1-chome, 3-12 Minami Hatchobori, Kyobashi-ku. I was the sixth man of Kosui Suzuki, the principal of Suzuki School. Shortly after birth, Torahiko is adopted to his aunt and his wife. My mother, Toshimi Ishiwata Tin's sister, and his husband-gun, Kanshiro. For this reason, Torahiko named himself the county last name.

♪　The family of Mifunete-gumi

The Ishiwata family, the birthplace of tin, Torahiko's mother, is a family member who has been working for the Mifune-gumi of the Shogunate for generations. Hiroshiro Yabu, who was also raised by the Ishiwata family.
Kanshiro was the oldest captain of Nippon Yusen, so Torahiko spent his childhood in Kobe and Hiroshima. From 1896 (1896), he studied at Sakamoto Hirone Elementary School in Nihonbashi-ku, and entered the Gakushuin Junior High School in September 1902 (1902). I will go to Gakushuin from the uncle of Echizenbori (currently Shinkawa, Chuo-ku), Toshikazu.

The residence of Echizen moat in Toshikazu was the former residence of Maejima Hisoka, who introduced the postal system for the first time in Japan. There is a large vertebra tree in the garden, which is said to have been a landmark for a ship entering Edo Minato.
At the same time as entering the Gakushuin, Torahiko learned that he was an adopted child. Torahiko was very proud of the family he was born and raised, so that was a great shock. After that, it casts a kind of dark shadow on the heart of Torahiko.

♪　The first publication of Shirakaba and the debut of Torahiko

After entering the Gakushuin, Torahiko began to appear in the editorial department of the "Hojinkai Magazine", a magazine related to the Gakushuin, despite suffering from the flu. . There were Naoya Shiga, Minatsu Mushakoji, Kinkazu Ogimachi (Ogimachi Kinkazu), Rigennoshita, Hideo Yamanouchi (Satomi), etc. who later became "Shirakaba".

In April 1910 (1910), the doujinshi magazine "Shirakaba" was born from Rakuyodo. At that time, Torahiko was a second-year high school student. "Electrical infarction" announced in the first issue is Torahiko's debut work. That year, in a sweepstakes novel recruited by the magazine "Sun", Torahiko posted the "Matsuyama Family" and was elected. The winner was Roan Uchida.

In December 1908 (1908), the "Bread no Kai" was launched by Mokutaro Kinoshita of the literary world. There, the doujin of "Shirakaba", "Subaru", "Mita Literature" and "Shinshicho" joined to deepen exchanges, and the wave of aesthetic literary movement occurred. The meeting was held at the Western restaurant Daiichi Yamatokan at the base of Yanagibashi, Sanshu-ya in Otemmacho, and Maison Kounosu at the base of Armor Bridge. Gradually, Torahiko began to join the bread party.

♪　The first stage was very bad!

In 1911 (1911), the play "Kiyohime Waka or Dojo-ji Temple" published in the June issue of the magazine "Subaru" was performed at the Imperial Theater as the sixth test performance of the "Free Theater" led by Kaoru Osanai and Sadanji Ichikawa. Was performed. However, the reaction of the viewer was disappointing. Torahiko, who was confident, the failure of the playwright debut was so shocked. In addition, his relationship with his father-in-law, who also opposed Torahiko's literary activities, also worsens. Torahiko decided to leave Japan.

♪　Encounter with Star

In August 1913 (1913), Torahiko traveled from Kobe to Miyazaki Maru to Western Europe. Blessed with language talent, Torahiko learned French during his days on a boat, and when he arrived in Paris at the end of September, he was able to speak without any inconvenience. In Paris, Toson Shimazaki was arranging a boarding house.
After that, we went to London via Munich. We interacted with art historian Kozue Sawaki, physicist Masao Kinoshita, Gakushuin sync student Akira Osawa, and dancer Michio Ito.

Torahiko was guided to a house where painters and poets live together on Royal Hospital Road in Cercy. Standing behind Tsuguji Fujita, who was greeted, was Hester Margaret Saiinsbury, who later became Torahiko's good understanding and benefactor.
What kind of woman was Hester? Akira Osawa, a best friend of Torahiko, described in "Torahiko Koori's Recollection" (a separate volume), as "a tall, round face, a slightly sharp eye with glasses, and a young woman with a hair stupid." It is expressed.
Hester was always on the side of Torahiko, faithfully nursing the sick Torahiko, and was the last person who took care of him. I guess he was a person who supported his heart for Torahiko.

♪　A great success in London!

At the end of 1917 (1917), "Kanawa", previously announced in "Shirakaba", was performed at the Critellion Theater in Piccadilly Circus, London. Of course, everything is in English. At that time, Torahiko wore a cloak and dressed as an Oriental poet, went up on stage, and talked about his own front mouth. "Tetsuwa" was a performance only for one night, but it was well received and was featured in morning post papers.

In September 1920 (1920), Torahiko returned home. However, the welcome of the Japanese people and literary people was not enough, contrary to expectations. In addition, his father-in-law and his family did not want Torahiko to return to Europe, and his relationship became worse, so Torahiko left Japan again to escape.

After returning to London, Torahiko travels to Switzerland with Hestar and begins writing his life-long masterpiece "The toils of yoshitomo". "Yoshichoki", which consists of three acts and six places and epilogues, was performed at the Little Theater in London. Many newspapers and magazines have taken up this performance.
It was exactly the time when the literary world of Europe reached a major turning point, such as J. Joyce, T. S. Elliott, Valerie, and Proust. Among them, Torahiko Koori made a name in his history as a Japanese playwright who built a unique view of tragedy.

♪　Torahiko's

After the performance of "Yoshichoki", he struggled so far, and Torahiko further worsened his condition. I left London and moved to Switzerland, South France and Italy. In the meantime, Torahiko has completed the criticism "Memorandum of Art". And finally, I went back to Switzerland.
Herster's father, Harington Saiinsbury, was working at the recuperation facility "Share Sirene" in Montana, Switzerland. Torahiko was treated there, temporarily recovered, and worked out the concept of a play he wanted to write next. Unfortunately, the condition worsened again, and on October 6, 1924 (1924), he traveled to heaven, watched by Dr. Hester and Dr. Harrington. Torahiko was 34 years old.

♪　Everyone liked the county

A number of literary colleagues, including Soetsu Yanagi, Hideo Nagata, Masaki Sugiyama, and Yoshiro Nagayo, look back on memories with Torahiko. Everyone said all together, "The county was premature," "The county was confident," "The county was a romanticist," "The county had a language talent," "The county was fashionable." And so on. It is also true that he was a wasteful man, not just a good reputation, but in the end, he didn't hate him.

There is also such an episode.
Torahiko seemed to be elaborate on what he wore in high color, but unfortunately he was wearing dirty clothes as it was. He may have had such a personality that he was really lonely and ruined, but showed his gap to his opponent.

In 1958 (1958), the 34th year after the death of Torahiko, the play "Dojo-ji Temple" was performed at the Actor Theater. Then, the following year, "Tetsuwa" was performed in the form of a test performance. In 2004 (2004), "Yoshichoki" was performed at the Osaka Art Creation Center.
In addition, Torahiko Koori is also seen to have had a great influence on Yukio Mishima later. It is said that there is a tendency in Yukio Mishima's confession of mask and modern Noh collection.

Reference: "Seventh Collection to Visit Historic Sites and History in Chuo Ward", others

Close to the birthplace of Torahiko Koori, overlooking the Sumida River from the former Inari Bridge (near 1-7 Minato, Chuo-ku, Tokyo).

Correspondent Minato kid, Chuo-ku Tourism Association

No. 53 June 9, 2019