 |
Yoshikichi FuruiJapanese writer and translator
Date of Birth: 19.11.1937
Country:  Japan |
Content:
Biography of Esikiti Furi
Esikiti Furi is a renowned Japanese writer and translator who has made a significant impact on his own style by working on the works of Austrian authors Broch and Musil. The psychological depth and intellectualism of these Austrian writers, reimagined through the lens of Japanese traditions such as tanka and renga poetry, folklore, and epistemological theories, as well as exploring themes of old age and relationships between men and women, have shaped Furi's unique position in contemporary Japanese literature.
Early Life and Education
Esikiti Furi was born in the Minato district of Tokyo. He completed his studies at the Department of German Literature at the University of Tokyo, earning a degree in philology. He further pursued his academic career by obtaining a postgraduate degree from the same university. After completing his dissertation, he taught at Kanazawa University and the University of Rikkyo in Tokyo. It was during his time at the University of Rikkyo that he began translating the works of Broch and Musil, and in 1968, he made his literary debut with the short story "On Thursday," which garnered attention for the budding writer.
Literary Career and Recognition
In 1970, Furi received the Akutagawa Prize for his novella "Yoko," a story that explored the emotional breakdown of a woman through a blend of realism and fantastical elements. This recognition led Furi to leave his teaching career and dedicate himself fully to his literary pursuits. Furi was considered part of the "generation of introverts" in post-war Japanese literature, a group of authors who were championed by prominent critics such as Shun Akiyama and Kojin Karatani.
Throughout his career, Furi's writing took various directions. One significant shift came when he turned his focus towards the theme of old age, influenced by his personal experience of being hospitalized and undergoing spinal surgery in 1991. This experience inspired him to write "Notes of an Optimist" (1992) and "Song of Gray Hair," where Furi showcased his mature mastery of merging the antinomies of reason and madness, life and death, and the present and the past. These works delved into the existential struggles of individuals nearing the end of their lives.
After receiving the Mainichi Prize in 1997 for his novel "Song of Gray Hair," Furi declined all subsequent literary awards. Since 1977, he has been leading the editorial board of the quarterly journal "Literary Style," published by the Heibonsha Publishing, alongside writers such as Masei Goto, Hiroshi Sakagami, Yuiti Takai, and Senji Kuroi. This journal serves as a platform for the literary voices of the "generation of introverts," of which Furi is a prominent representative. From 1986, he served as a member of the Akutagawa Prize jury but resigned in 2005 to concentrate on his own creative work. Furi frequently engages in public readings of his works.
