Koshoshi Miyazaki and American Literature

Abstract

　Washington Irving, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Nathaniel Hawthorne may have exerted considerable influence upon Koshoshi Miyazaki (1864-1922), one of the representative poets and essayists of modem Japan. In one of his works, Kikyô (Homecoming), Miyazaki describes his native village in Fukuoka in the setting of a pastoral myth which shows the influence of his Christian faith, Irving’s The Sketch Book and Wordsworth’s view of nature. Miyazaki translated the following American poems and short stories into Japanese: Longfellow, Excelsior, The Kokumin Shinbun, March 13, 1893. Bryant, Innocent Child and Snow-white Flower, The Kokumin Shin-bun, March 28,1893. Irving, The Spectre Bridegroom, The Shōnen En, August, 1894. ―.The Broken Heart, The Kokumin Shinbun, January 1-17, 1894. ―,The Pride of the Village, The Kokumin Shinbun, January 23- February 3, 1894. Hawthorne, The Gray Champion, The Kokumin Shinbun, February 14-19, 1894. ―.The Village Uncle, The Kokumin Shinbun, February 26-March 31,1894. Irving, The Voyage, The Shōnen En, April, 1894. ―,A Sunday in London, The Kokumin Shinbun, April 3, 1893. ―,The Wife, The Katei Zasshi, January, 1895.

　Longfellow, The Village Blacksmith, The Shōnen En, March, 1896. Miyazaki took an active part as a poet in literary circles from 1893 to 1900. His form was influenced by Irving’s The Sketch Book. From Hawthorne he learned about original sin and from Longfellow he learned diligence and courage.