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Masahiro Kudo

くどう まさひろ

Kudō Masahiro

Aliases: 工藤正広

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1943-05-05 （Kuroishi, Aomori, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, Russian
Residence History
Kuroishi, Aomori (birthplace) → Sapporo, Hokkaido

Career

Occupations
Russian literature scholar, Poet, Translator, University professor, Museum director
Active Years
1967-
Affiliations
Hokkaido University (Professor Emeritus), Hokkaido Museum of Literature / Hokkaido Prefectural Museum of Literature (Director)
Memberships
Oguma Hideo Award (selection committee member), Hokkaido Shimbun Literary Prize (selection committee member)
Influenced By
Boris Pasternak

Education

Hokkaido University
Faculty of Letters (Department of Russian) / Russian Studies
Country: Japan
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (Graduate School)
Graduate School, Slavic Languages (Master's program) / Slavic Languages
Degree: 修士
Country: Japan
Completed master's coursework in Slavic languages
Moscow State University (study abroad)
Period: 1976（留学）
Country: USSR (at the time)
Study abroad in 1976

Awards

Hokkaido Shimbun Literary Prize
1993
Work: Reading the Future of Russian Poetic Language: Modern Poetry 1917–1991
Organization: Hokkaido Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award (Special Prize)
2021
Work: The Mountain of Chekhov
Category: 特別賞
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Reading the Future of Russian Poetic Language: Modern Poetry 1917–1991

1993 Literary criticism / Research

A study analyzing the linguistic characteristics of Russian modern poetry since 1917 and discussing its expressive possibilities and future.

Russian literaturepoetrylanguagemodern and contemporary poetrytranslation

The Mountain of Chekhov

2020 Essays / Criticism

A collection of essays and scholarly reflections on Chekhov and Russian literature.

ChekhovRussian literaturetravelliterary studies

Nostalgic Endings and Beginnings: My Tsugaru Dialect Poems

1997 Poetry collection

A poetry collection using the Tsugaru dialect, depicting the author's origins and nostalgia.

Tsugaru dialectnostalgiahometowndialect poetry

Love of Russia 1953–1991: Collected Poems of Masahiro Kudo

2001 Poetry collection

A collection of poems weaving Russian and Japanese landscapes and memories.

Russialovememoryperspective of a translator

Eternity and Yoke: A Biographical-Poetic Collection on Boris Pasternak

2015 Biographical poetry / Critique

A book-length poetic reconstruction of Pasternak's life and works from a poetic perspective.

Pasternakbiographypoetrytranslation studies

Studies on Doctor Zhivago

1990 Research / Literary study

Essays and research on 'Doctor Zhivago' compiled into a critical study.

Doctor ZhivagotranslationRussian literature

Bibliography

  • Toward the Village of Cherries
  • In Pasternak's Poetic Garden: Essays on Masahiro Kudo
  • Sleeping Hometown: Selected Works of Masahiro Kudo
  • Dream Snow
  • Pasternak Studies: The Poet's Summer
  • New Sakhalin Travelogue
  • Studies on Doctor Zhivago
  • Reading the Future of Russian Poetic Language: Modern Poetry 1917–1991
  • Nostalgic Endings and Beginnings: My Tsugaru Dialect Poems
  • Love of Russia 1953–1991: Collected Poems of Masahiro Kudo
  • Tsugaru: The Voice of Story / Lessons in Style
  • Rice Grain and the Teacher
  • Katauta Travelogue: Tatebe Ayatari Living Today
  • "Akita Ujaku" Travelogue 1905–1908
  • Eternity and Yoke: A Biographical-Poetic Collection on Boris Pasternak
  • Alyosha Chronicles: Spring Evening
  • Valley of Life: Alyosha Chronicles 2
  • In the Shape of Clouds: Alyosha Chronicles 3
  • Nostalgia: Saigyō of Michinoku
  • Selections of Saigyō: 72 Commented Poems
  • The Mountain of Chekhov
  • Operation 'Nativity Star': A Zhivago Pilgrimage
  • Saigyō of 1187: At the End of the Journey
  • Polandia: In the Last Summer
  • Decline and Love 2023
  • Phantoms and Life 2024
  • Yuzef Rozanov: At the End of Youth
  • Poet Saigyō: Endings and Beginnings

Translations by Author

  • The Pale Horse (Boris Savinkov)
  • The Jet-Black Horse (Boris Savinkov)
  • Love (Yury Olesha)
  • The Machine and the Wolf (Boris Pilniak; co-translated)
  • The Sun Rises in Iron Bars (Mikhail Zoshchenko?)
  • Ticket to the Stars (Vasily Aksyonov)
  • Pasternak: The Poet's Love (compiled by Olga Ivinskaya)
  • Motherland (Aleksandr Lebedev et al., co-translation)
  • The Shaman and the Venus (Velimir Khlebnikov?)
  • A House with a Mezzanine (Anton Chekhov)
  • Evening (Vechér) (Anna Akhmatova)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Poetic expression incorporating the Tsugaru dialectA style that moves between scholarly analysis and lyrical narrationPrecise annotation and diction in relation to Russian literature
Recurring Motifs
nostalgiahometown (Tsugaru)reciprocity between Russia and Japantranslation and memorytravel

Legacy

Known for his research on Russian literature, translations, and poetry using the Tsugaru dialect. Through his teaching at Hokkaido University and leadership at the Hokkaido Museum of Literature, he contributed to literary scholarship and public literary culture in Hokkaido.

Museums

  • Hokkaido Museum of Literature Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

Academic Societies

  • Japan Writers' Association

Archives

  • Hokkaido University Library
  • Hokkaido Museum of Literature Archives

Trivia

  • Writes poetry using the Tsugaru dialect and is known for practice in dialect poetry.
  • Has produced numerous translations and studies of Boris Pasternak.
  • Appointed director of the Hokkaido Museum of Literature in 2018 (effective July 1, 2018).
  • Participated in literary doujinshi such as 'Rei', 'Oriza', and 'Dojidai' as a contributor and editor.