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Yasuji Toita

といた やすじ

Toita Yasuji

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1915-12-14 （Tokyo (present-day Shiba Sanda, Minato, Tokyo, Japan)）
Died
1993-01-23 （Showa University Hospital, Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan） age 77
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo (Shiba, Minato) - birth/childhood → China (Shanghai) - childhood → Hatanodai, Shinagawa, Tokyo - later years

Career

Occupations
Theatre critic, Kabuki critic, Mystery novelist, Essayist, Editor, Japanese language teacher
Active Years
1942-1993
Affiliations
Nihon Engeki-sha (served as editor-in-chief), Meiji Seika (public relations department), Japan Art Academy
Memberships
Member, Japan Art Academy
Influenced By
Shinobu Orikuchi, Mantarō Kubota, Edogawa Rampo
Influenced
Seiichi Yano, Eriko Hayashi

Education

Shanghai Elementary School
Period: 幼少期
Country: China
Attended while family lived in China due to father's work
Atago Elementary School (Minato, Tokyo)
Period: 帰国後・少年期
Country: Japan
Gyosei Junior High School
Period: 中等教育
Country: Japan
Graduated junior high
Keio University, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Degree: 学士
Period: 予科を経て卒業
Country: Japan
Studied under Shinobu Orikuchi

Awards

Togawa Shūkotsu Award (1st)
1949
Work: Marumoto Kabuki / Waga Kabuki (vols.)
Organization: Togawa Shūkotsu Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Arts Festival / Minister of Education Award (Literary Criticism, 3rd)
1952
Work: Theatre Chairs / Kabuki Today
Category: 文学評論部門
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Naoki Prize (42nd)
1960
Work: The Danjuro Seppuku Incident (short story) / Kuruma-hiki Murder Case (collection)
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Mystery Writers Association Award (Short Story, 29th)
1976
Work: The Child in the Green Car
Category: 短篇部門
Organization: Japan Mystery Writers Association
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize (24th)
1976
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Art Academy Prize (Literature, 33rd)
1977
Category: 文芸部門
Organization: Japan Art Academy
Result: 受賞
Tokyo Metropolitan Culture Award (3rd)
1987
Organization: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Result: 受賞
Meijimura Prize (17th)
1991
Organization: Meijimura
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Invitation to Kabuki

1950 Criticism / Introductory guide

An introductory guide to kabuki explaining its history and points of appreciation in accessible language. It became a long-selling work and has been reprinted in modern paperback editions.

kabuki historytheatre appreciationstage arts

Kuruma-hiki Murder Case

1959 Mystery novel

A mystery novel set against the world of kabuki and theater. Written at the recommendation of Edogawa Rampo, it marked Toita's debut as a mystery writer.

mysterytheatre worldhuman drama
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Kuruma-hiki Murder Case (1960)

The Danjuro Seppuku Incident

1960 Mystery (short story)

Contains the short story 'The Danjuro Seppuku Incident'. The story was highly regarded and contributed to winning the 42nd Naoki Prize.

kabuki historymystery solvingprofessional ethics
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] The Danjuro Seppuku Incident (1960)

A Little Good Story

1978 Essay

A series of short anecdotal essays originally from magazine columns. He continued to write it until shortly before his death; several volumes were published.

essaysperson profilesanecdotes

The Child in the Green Car

1976 Mystery short story

A mystery short story that won the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award (Short Story) in 1976.

mysterytrainhuman drama

Bibliography

  • Actor Theory (1942)
  • Around Kabuki (1948)
  • Marumoto Kabuki (1949)
  • Invitation to Kabuki (1950)
  • Theatre Chairs (1952)
  • Kuruma-hiki Murder Case (1959)
  • The Danjuro Seppuku Incident (1960)
  • A Little Good Story (1978–)
  • The Child in the Green Car (1976)
  • Toita Yasuji Theatre Reviews Collection (1991)

Adaptations

  • Kuruma-hiki Murder Case (TV adaptation, NHK, 1960)
  • The Danjuro Seppuku Incident (Fuji TV Naoki Prize series, 1960)
  • Film involvement examples: Onna-goroshi Abura Jigoku (Toho, 1957)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, careful proseExpert and practical analysis in theatre criticismLight, approachable tone in essays
Recurring Motifs
Kabuki and actorsHuman stories backstageDialogue between classical and modern

Health

  • Cerebral thrombosis (stroke)
    1993年1月
    Suffered a fatal cerebral thrombosis in January 1993 and died at Showa University Hospital. His writing activity ended with his death.

Legacy

Yasuji Toita influenced a wide readership through his kabuki and theatre criticism, known for accessible explanations and sharp reviews, and he was also respected as a mystery novelist. His long-running column 'A Little Good Story' and many introductory books helped popularize theatre and kabuki. He was named a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1991, and his collection is preserved as the Toita Collection.

Museums

  • Toita Collection (Library of Toita Women's Junior College) Library, Toita Women's Junior College

Academic Societies

  • Japan Art Academy
  • Japan Mystery Writers Association

Archives

  • Toita Collection (Library of Toita Women's Junior College)

In Popular Culture

  • Television adaptations (Kuruma-hiki Murder Case, The Danjuro Seppuku Incident, etc.)
  • Some works used as material for films and TV dramas

Trivia

  • In childhood he lived in China (Shanghai) due to his father's work and attended a Shanghai elementary school.
  • He was adopted into the Toita family (founder Toita Sekiko) and took the name Toita Yasuji in 1923.
  • Studied Japanese literature at Keio University under Shinobu Orikuchi.
  • At age 44 he debuted as a mystery writer at the encouragement of Edogawa Rampo.
  • The 'A Little Good Story' series continued until shortly before his death and was published in multiple volumes.