HIGUCHI ICHIYO

(1872–1896)

   Higuchi Ichiyo, given name Natsu, is considered to be the first female professional writer of modern Japanese literature. Born in Tokyo, she studied at the Haginoya, a poetry school, but after the deaths of her brother and father worked odd jobs to help make ends meet until she turned to writing at age 20. Her first major work, “Otsugomori” (1894; tr. On the Last Day of the Year, 1981), was followed the next year by “Takekurabe” (1895–96; tr. Growing Up, 1956), “Nigorie” (1895; tr. Troubled Waters, 1953), and “Jusan’ya” (1895; tr. The Thirteenth Night, 1960–61). Higuchi died of tuberculosis in 1896 at the age of 23. Her life story has been retold in both film and television drama, and her portrait appears on the current five thousand yen note.

   See also FEMINISM; PSEUDOCLASSICISM; ROMANTICISM; WOMEN IN LITERATURE.