Collected Works of Atsuo Masamune 1: Fugura ni Komorite

2024/11/22

Atsuo Masamune (1881–1958) was a poet and scholar of Japanese literature from Okayama Prefecture. In contrast to his eldest brother Hakucho, who was active in the central literary world, Atsuo lived a quiet life in a small village of farmers and fishermen. In his later years, he was invited to teach at a university, but it is said that his appearance remained that of a simple village teacher (sonpushi).

However, his academic achievements were truly immense. These include the compilation of the Manyoshu Sakuin (General Index to the Manyoshu), which made the Manyoshu searchable by both orthography and reading; the publication of the 266-volume Nihon Koten Zenshu (Complete Collection of Japanese Classics) for a wide readership; and the establishment of the Masamune Bunko (Masamune Library) to prevent precious materials from being scattered. It is astonishing that these feats were accomplished almost single-handedly in a rural area with poor transportation.

Nevertheless, Atsuo did not boast of his achievements. He said, "It is enough if my footprints serve as a guide for those who come after me," and he did not publish a single collection of essays during his lifetime. However, he hoped that the Masamune Bunko would long serve as a source of cultural light for the region. As someone who assisted in the survey of the library preserved by his bereaved family, I have decided—though it is long overdue—to compile and publish Atsuo's posthumous manuscripts ("Fugura" refers to the library).

Of course, his writings are too valuable to be left buried. The content is full of original insights into Japanese and Chinese classics, and the style is simple, with an indescribable humor and warmth.

Atsuo also had those who understood him. They were distinguished figures such as Mori Ogai, the brothers Michiyasu Inoue and Kunio Yanagita, the couple Hiroshi (Tekkan) and Akiko Yosano, Yoshio Yamada, and Mokichi Saito (writings chronicling his interactions with them are also included).

In fact, Keio University alumni also contributed to this. There was the late Goro Hirasawa, a professor at the Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko), who published Atsuo's lecture notes under the title Kinyo Wakashu Kogi (Lectures on the Kinyo Wakashu). Michiaki Kawano, who transcribed hundreds of thousands of vocabulary cards for the Manyoshu Sakuin onto manuscript paper, was also a student of the Faculty of Letters and lived with the Masamune family upon the recommendation of Hiroshi Yosano. Despite having no prior connection to Atsuo, he cooperated as if it were his own work.

The fact that people from Keio University brought Atsuo Masamune's work to the world is more than just a heartwarming story. It is precisely because such a foundation was built that the scope of subsequent classical studies, not limited to the Manyoshu, expanded and reached new heights. The true beneficiaries of scholarship are only found in future generations. I cannot help but feel indignant at the current trend that allows basic scholarship to fall into ruin, as if to say that learning is only permitted for those with financial means.

Collected Works of Atsuo Masamune 1: Fugura ni Komorite

Takeo Ogawa

Toyo Bunko (Heibonsha)

320 pages, 4,400 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and job titles are as of the time of publication.