Tayama Katai’s Essay “K and T” (“K to T”)

Abstract

This publication presents the translation into Russian of the essay “K and T” by the Japanese writer Tayama Katai (1871–1930). The essay was published in 1917, first as a stand-alone piece in the magazine Bunshō Sekai, and then as a chapter of the book Thirty Years in Tokyo (Tōkyō no Sanjūnen). The heroes of the essay are Tayama Katai himself (in the text he acts as T) and his friend Kunikida Doppo (1871–1908, in the text he is K). The author speaks about the time in 1897 when the young heroes (both of them are 26 years old) spent a little over a month in a temple in Nikkō. At this time, Tayama Katai and Kunikida Doppo, who soon became famous writers, were just entering literary life.

The essay gives an idea of the thoughts and feelings of the Japanese literary youth at the end of the 19^th century. As twenty years passed since the events described, Tayama Katai manages to see not only his friend, but also himself “from the outside.” The heroes, very different in character, talk about what human life, love, religion, and nature are. They often argue, even quarrel. The conversations about literature give an idea of what the Japanese literary youth of that time were passionate about, which Western writers and poets were especially popular.

From the essay, one can also learn how much the writers earned with their writings. The main purpose of the journey of the young people was writing. It was during his stay in Nikkō that Doppo wrote the short story “Uncle Gen” (“Gen oji”), a work that marked his turn to prose.