Naokai and Hiromichi : Friendly Relations among Some Scholars of Japanese Literature in the Last Years of the Edo Shogunate

Abstract

Hiromichi Ogiwara was, though poor, a retainer for the Okayama clan; due to his delicate constitution, he left home to live in Osaka-as a "man of letters." Lacking a stable source of income, he became destitute, yet was rescued by some supportive friends, including Naokai Nishida, then managing the Kokura-han Osaka Kurayashiki Rusui. I will introduce some biographical details of Hiromichi, whose work is relatively unknown apart from Commentaries on The Tales of Genji through the episodes of his friendship with Naokai; in addition, I will observe his excellent critical spirit as a scholar of Japanese literature in the last years of the Edo shogunate.