Unraveling the Unexpected Relationship between Kyoka Izumi and Ichiyo Higuchi, “Great Men of Letters of the Meiji Era【Kanazawa Topics】

Novelist Kyoka Izumi, born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Tokyo-born Ichiyo Higuchi. In the light novel 『Asakusa Bungo Ayakashi Zoshi』 (Takahiko Ohashi, 2019), he appears as the protagonist who solves the mystery of Ayakashi in modern times, but what was their actual relationship like…

Was Izumi Kyoka more attracted to her?

Kyoka Izumi was born in November 1873 and passed away in September 1939 at the age of 65. Higuchi Ichiyo was born in May 1872 (Meiji 5) and passed away at the young age of 24 in November 1896 (Meiji 29) due to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Kyoka Izumi is known to have studied under Momiji Ozaki, but a literature review by Twitter revealed that 「she highly appreciated Ichiyo’s 『Takekurabe』 more than Momiji’s works」.

She also wrote in his memoirs that he was delighted to hear Higuchi Ichiyo’s praise of 『The Night Officer』.

Furthermore, in 「Ichiyo and Kyoka, from Kyoka’s Letters」, published in July 2015 on her personal blog, 『Ariadne’s Room』, on the Ameba blog, she read the contents of 「Kyoka’s Letter to Ichiyo」 and described it as 「unknown to Kyoka researchers, it would be obvious at first glance that it is a love letter」.

Furthermore, in 「Higuchi Ichiyo」 in 『How the Great Writers Die』 (Mio Kadoga, 2020), he explains that 「Kyoka Izumi seems to have been a bit of a ho-hum to Ichiyo, with whom she had a relationship before her death」.

It could have been glossier than the portrait on the 5,000 yen bill

According to 『How the Great Men of Letters Died』, not only Kyoka Izumi but also other great writers who were fascinated by Ichiyo Higuchi idolized her, so perhaps the figure used on the 5,000 yen bill is only one aspect of her life.

Kiyokata Kaburaki, who was active as an ukiyoe artist, Japanese-style painter, and essayist from the Meiji period to the Showa period, was devoted to the literature of Ichiyo Higuchi, and is famous for having been inspired by Kyoka Izumi’s essay 『The Tomb of Ichiyo』 to draw his work 『The Tomb of Ichiyo Women』. It could be said that the female figures he depicted create the atmosphere of Ichiyo…

Izumi Kyoka Memorial Museum Information

☆Kanazawa Information

・Kanazawa-born “morning drama” heroine Misato Tanaka becomes an ambassador for the 『Ishikawa Hyakumangoku Cultural Festival 2023』【Kanazawa Topics】

・「Bonbori Festival」 at Yuwaku Onsen, the sacred place of Yumeji Takehisa and the anime Hanasaku Iroha 【Kanazawa Topics】

・Works by Takato Yamamoto and others gathered at the exhibition 「Kyokaryoran: Challenges of Painters」 at the Izumi Kyoka Memorial Museum in Shimo-Shinmachi, Kanazawa 【Kanazawa Event】