Yukio Mishima: A Troubled Literary Genius

A century ago today, Hiraoka Kimitake was born in Tokyo. Known under the pen name Yukio Mishima, he became one of Japan’s most respected and prolific writers with the following novels “Confessions of a Mask”, “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion” and fertile sea Quartet. He was also one of the country’s most controversial figures due to his far-right ideology, which prompted him to stage a failed coup and commit seppuku in 1970.

On what would have been his 100th birthday, we look back at the life and times of this famous author, poet, playwright, actor, model and ultranationalist for our latest spotlight article.

Ping Gang Gongwu’s background

Kōtake was born into a traditional samurai family and spent his early years under the care of his grandmother Natsuko. A mysterious and domineering figure prone to violent outbursts, she separated Gongwu from his parents within weeks of his birth and forced him to live a very sheltered life. He was not allowed to play sports with other boys or go out in the sun. He spends most of his time either alone or playing with his cousins.

The delicate and sensitive Gongwu was sent back to his parents when he was 12 years old. His father, Azusa, felt that his grandmother was too gentle for him, so he doted on him. militarized disciplineblocking anything he considers feminine. In order to make her son more masculine, Azusa even carried the young Gongwu to the side of a high-speed train. He also tore up his manuscript. The young man was prohibited from writing any other stories, but with his mother’s encouragement he continued to write in secret.

At the age of 16, Gongwu wrote short stories blooming forest About his deep connection to his ancestors. His teacher Fumio Shimizu was so impressed that he pushed for the story to be published in a national magazine Literary culture. The editorial board approved its inclusion. The only problem is that teen dads may object vehemently. Qingshui then gave him pen name Yukio Mishima (“Yukio” comes from the Japanese word for “snow”, Mishima comes from the name of the train station Literary culture Board members passed by on their way to meet with him).

Kawabata Yasunari

World War II and Confessions of a Mask

Three years later, in 1944 blooming forest After publication, Kōtake (hereafter Mishima) graduated from Gakushuin High School, a school originally established to educate the children of Japanese aristocrats. Emperor Hirohito attended his graduation ceremony. That same year, Mishima received a draft notice from the Imperial Japanese Army. However, Misdiagnosis Suffering from tuberculosis, he was declared unfit for service. He always regretted not dying for his emperor.

After the war, Kawabata Yasunari—who later became the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature—became Mishima’s mentor. Later he descriptive His protégé is a genius who appears every three hundred years. Mishima himself was reportedly considered for the Nobel Prize several times but never won. Despite this, he is still regarded by many critics as the most important Japanese novelist of the 20th century.

His first novel, thief“” tells the story of two young members of the aristocracy who commit suicide and was published in 1948. But it was his second book that brought him national fame. Generally regarded as semi-autobiographical, Confessions of a mask It tells the story of a tortured teenager named Konchan who finds it difficult to integrate into Japanese society after being away from boys his age. He wears a metaphorical mask to reveal his false personality to the world and hide his homosexuality.

In October 1958, Masadaichi played the piano. Daily News photo. public domain

more than just a writer

after success Confessions of a maskMishima continued to enhance his reputation in the 1950s, with novels including the sound of waves, A coming-of-age story about a young fisherman who falls in love with the daughter of the village’s richest man, and Golden Pavilion TempleThe work is loosely based on the destruction of the Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto by a young Buddhist monk in 1950. He also created several Noh and Kabuki plays.

By the 1960s, Mishima was considered a superstar in Japan. In addition to writing, he worked as a model and actor, most notably playing the title character Takeo in Masumura Taizo’s 1960 yakuza film, scared to death. Known for his muscular upper body, he often portrays strong characters in films that reflect the image of himself he wants to portray. This desire to be seen as strong stems from his youth, when Mishima was struggling with insecurities stemming from his short stature and physical limitations. To combat these emotions, he started working out in his early 30s.

The pursuit of an ideal physique was a top priority, and the obligation to avoid interference with his weight training and a prohibition on interference with his writing were part of Mishima’s premarital requirements for any potential wife. These orders may be Michiko Masadathe future empress Michiko (and the current empress) no longer marries him. according to Mishima and several of his biographers pursued the future empress, who in 1959 became the first commoner to marry into the Japanese imperial family. One year before this historic wedding, Mishima married Yoko Sugiyama, the daughter of the famous painter Yasushi Sugiyama. Although they had two children, rumors about his sexual orientation persisted long after his death.

Nearing the final scene

In 1963, Yukio Mishima published one of his most popular novels, and a personal favorite of David Bowie, The sailor who lost his favor with the seatells the story of a group of wild 13-year-old boys, reminiscent of William Golding’s stories lord of the flies. Two years later he published the critically acclaimed historical fiction drama Madame de SadeAdapted from the life of Renée Sade, wife of the Marquis de Sade. In the same year, literary magazine Shincho Start serialization spring snowThe first book in Yukio Mishima’s tetralogy, Fertile sea.

spring snow followed by runaway horse and Temple of the Dawn. The manuscript is the decline of angels“Mishima Yukio” is considered to be the fourth and final part of Mishima’s masterpiece. On November 25, 1970, it was packed in a thick envelope and placed on the table of his Western-style residence. His publisher, Xinchaoshe. There is a note next to it that reads: “Human life is limited, but I want to live forever.” A few hours later, he died. His coup attempt failed, and he drew his sword and killed himself.

In the decade before his shocking ritual suicide, Mishima’s far-right ideology became increasingly apparent. Biographers and scholars agree that Amber’s protest of the U.S.-Japan security treaty a decade ago was a major turning point in his career. according to Nick Kapoor, author Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after the Anbo Incidentthe protests “awakened Mishima to an understanding of the power of spectacle that would become a guiding force in his writing and public behavior for the next decade, until his spectacular death.”

Death of Yukio Mishima

In 1968, Mishima Yukio established the “Tatenokai” (Tatenokai), a small private army composed mainly of university students who swore to protect the “living god” Emperor. Two years later, four members of the troupe who had shown unwavering loyalty to their leader were handpicked to assist the playwright in the final act. Ostensibly, the goal is to enter Ground Self-Defense Force Eastern Command This way Mishima could convince them to join his militia and launch a coup against the government, overturning the 1947 constitution. However, many – including one of his biographers, John Nathan – believe his intention had always been ritual suicide.

After tying General Masuda Kanetoshi to a chair, Mishima walked to the balcony to address the soldiers. He condemned their passive acceptance of the Constitution; ask: “Where’s the samurai spirit?” This angered the crowd, who heckled and booed him. The speech, originally scheduled for 30 minutes, ended within seven o’clock with “Long live the Emperor.” Once inside, he apologized to the commander and then disemboweled him with his sword. This was the first act of seppuku since World War II.

Morita Masakatsu, rumored to be Mishima Yukio’s lover, but failed to complete his role Haishi people (A person designated to behead those who commit seppuku), so Koga Hiroyasu, a member of the Tateno-kai, took over. Morita then stabbed himself in the abdomen and was beheaded by Koga. It was a bloody chaos that shocked the country. Mishima’s attempted coup and subsequent suicide were viewed by some as a patriotic statement against Japan’s increasing Westernization. Others saw it as a senseless act by a narcissistic maniac who Character Prime Minister Eisaku Sato is “crazy.”

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