Kokuga Umebori

Background

Umebori Kokuga was born in 1750 in Japan.

Career

Kokuga Umebori was originally an inspector of the Kurume Clan (Fukuoka Prefecture) assigned at the Clan House at Edo (now Tokyo). In 1787-1793, the censorship of Kansei Reforms kept Umebori away from writing sharebon. Although, after the governmental crackdown, Kokuga put out the sharebon. It was his first attempt at literature and it was met with success. It was titled Keiseikai Futasujimichi (Two Ways To Revel With Harlots) (1798). The book was written in a light vein, though represented the genre of sharebon in its late stage. Because of the accessible spoken language and shift in emphasis toward raw emotion, Kokuga's sharebon attracted broad readership. His subsequent works were more serious. Other works include Kuruwa-no-Kuse (Customs of Gay Quarters).

Kokuga Umebori died in 1821 at the age of 71.

Works

• book

  • Kaiseikai Futesujimichi ((Two Ways To Revel With Harlots)

    1798

  • The Custom of the Quarter (Sato no Kuse)

    1799

  • Surrounding the Evening (Yoi no Hodo)

    1800