The first professional Japanese author who generated enough literary earnings to live from was born in 1765

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Literary History

The first professional Japanese author who generated enough literary earnings to live from was born in 1765

[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

Jippensha Ikku (1765-1831) the prolific bestselling author and illustrator of titles such as the Shank’s Mare, a comic novel that follows two amiable scoundrels on a madcap road trip adventure along the great highway leading from Tokyo to Kyoto (Tokaido), was reportedly the first creative individual in Japan to be able to support himself on literary earnings alone. Shank’s Mare was published in instalments over many years.

As a young man at an early stage of his career, Ikku lived with Juzaburo Tsutaya (1750-1797), a highly innovative trendsetting publisher of woodblock prints in Edo, the world’s largest city at that time.

Ikku, like many, was drawn to the city seeking opportunity and success. He was born in Shizoka.

His experience at Tsutaya’s residence helped him, after some earlier false starts, tremendously. He acknowledged that his time residing with Tsutaya allowed him to see Tsutaya in action close up, meet his connections and friends, and witness his approach to publishing.

Tsutaya was the publisher and distributor of many titles including the Yoshiwara saiken, a very popular guidebook to the Yoshiwara pleasure district in what is now Tokyo where prostitution was legal.

All the different types of people Ikku met at Tsutaya’s house or through him and his guidebook helped Ikku develop his narratives and become one of the most commercially successful authors of his generation.

The Shank’s Mare, which is still readable today, is available in English translation from Amazon.

The first professional Japanese author who generated enough literary earnings to live from was born in 1765 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

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