Koji Hayashi 'Biographies of Zainichi Korean Writers' 10: Chang Hyok-chu and Kim Sa-ryang (Part 6)
↑ Header photo: 'Modern Japan', October 1, 1930 inaugural issue
Bungeishunju / Public Domain
←Return to 'Chang Hyok-chu and Kim Sa-ryang' (Part 5)
←Magazine: Koji Hayashi 'Biographies of Zainichi Korean Writers' Top
←Koji Hayashi 'Biographies of Zainichi Korean Writers' Table of Contents
←Keikosha Magazine HOME
|Chang Hyok-chu and |Kim Sa-ryang — The |Pioneers of Zainichi Korean Literature (Part 6)
6 Kim Sa-ryang's Activities
Kim Sa-ryang enrolled in the German Literature Department at Tokyo Imperial University in 1936. It is said that his German grades were outstanding even while he was a student at Saga Higher School.
He lived in an apartment in Mitaka, published the magazine 'Teibo' (Embankment) with Tatsuo Tsurumaru, Yoshito Nakajima, and others, and published the short story 'Doshoro' there. He also visited Tomoyoshi Murayama of the Shinkyo Theater Company. On October 28, he was arrested and detained for over 100 days in connection with the Korean Art Theater Incident along with |An Yong-il and |Kim Yong-je, and was released without indictment in December.
In the spring of 1937, he visited his senior writer Chang Hyok-chu, and thereafter they interacted frequently. The following year, he returned to Korea, guiding Tomoyoshi Murayama to help with the Korean performance of the Chang Hyok-chu play 'Chunhyangjeon'.
The following year, 1939, he graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Tokyo Imperial University, and at the age of 25, he married |Choe Chang-ok in Pyongyang. His new bride was also the daughter of a wealthy family.
That year, carrying a letter of introduction from Chang Hyok-chu, he visited 'Bungei Shuto' editor Tokuzo Hotaka. Kim Sa-ryang became a contributor to 'Bungei Shuto' and became a disciple of Hotaka.
In April, while staying in Seoul, he briefly worked as a reporter for the Arts and Sciences Department of the Chosun Ilbo. In June, his admission to the Tokyo Imperial University graduate school was decided, and he and his wife set up home in an apartment in Shibuya, Tokyo. In October, he was actively writing in Japanese, publishing works such as 'Into the Light' in 'Bungei Shuto', but at the same time, he was also writing essays, critiques, and novels in Korean for magazines such as the Chosun Ilbo's 'Chogwang'.
He also participated in the editing of the 'Modern Japan' Korean Edition and translated and published |Yi Kwang-su's 'Mumyeong' (Unknown). 'Modern Japan' was initially published by Bungeishunju, but due to worsening management, |Ma Hae-song became the owner of the independent Modern Japan Company and continued its publication.
Around 1940, along with the strengthening of the 'Naisen Ittai' (Japan and Korea as one body) movement, a small Korea boom occurred, with the 'Modern Japan (Korean Edition)' being published, a special feature on Korean literature in 'Bungei' (July 1940 issue), and the publication of the three-volume 'Selected Korean Literature'.
In the first half of 1940, 'Akutagawa Prize candidate' 'Into the Light' was selected and reprinted in the March issue of 'Bungeishunju'.
That year, he published Japanese works one after another, such as 'Tenma' (Pegasus) ('Bungeishunju', June), 'Kishirin' ('Bungei Shuto', June), 'Kusa Fukashi' (Deep Grass) ('Bungei', July), and 'Mukyu Ikka' ('Kaizo', September).
In December, his first short story collection, 'Into the Light', was published by Koyama Shoten.
→ Continue to 'Chang Hyok-chu and Kim Sa-ryang' (Part 7)
←Return to 'Chang Hyok-chu and Kim Sa-ryang' (Part 5)
←Magazine: Koji Hayashi 'Biographies of Zainichi Korean Writers' Top
←Koji Hayashi 'Biographies of Zainichi Korean Writers' Table of Contents
◆ Reference Materials
* The copyright of the text belongs to the author (Mr. Koji Hayashi), and the publishing rights belong to Keikosha.
◆ Author Profile
Koji Hayashi (Hayashi Koji) is a literary critic. Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1956. Former member of the Shin Nihon Bungakkai (New Japan Literary Society).
His books include 'A Study of Japanese-Language Literature by Zainichi Koreans' (1991, Shinkansha), 'A Study of Postwar Non-Japanese Literature' (1997, same publisher), and 'Mani-mani' (2001, Shin Nihon Bungakkai Publishing Department). 'Zainichi Korean Literature: Beyond the Literature of Antithesis' (Shinkansha, published November 2019) has been featured in media such as the Tosho Shimbun and has been well-received.
He has also written numerous essays.
His 'Gugin's Blog,' which he has been maintaining since 2011,
http://kghayashi.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/ is a treasure trove!