Soseki

Natsume Sōseki, born Natsume Kinnosuke (February 9, 1867 – December 9, 1916), was a Japanese novelist and scholar regarded as one of the most important figures in modern Japanese literature. He wrote under the pen name Sōseki, a name associated with his literary career and identity as a modern author.

Born in Edo (present-day Tokyo) to a family of modest means, Sōseki studied English literature and later received a government stipend to study in Britain. After returning to Japan, he pursued a career as a writer and, for a period, taught at universities while contributing to newspapers and magazines. His prolific output spanned novels, essays, and literary criticism, and he was part of the Meiji era’s vibrant intellectual scene.

Sōseki’s most enduring works include I Am a Cat (a satire narrated by a cat), Botchan, Sanshiro, Kusamakura, and Kokoro. His fiction is noted for psychological realism, subtle irony, and a nuanced critique of modernizing society. He explored themes such as alienation, the tension between tradition and modernity, individual identity, and the impact of urban life on personal relationships.

Legacy and influence are central to Sōseki’s standing in world literature. His works have been translated into many languages and widely studied in Japanese literature courses and in comparative literature contexts. He is commonly cited as a foundational figure in the development of the modern Japanese novel, and his writings continue to be read for their insight into the human costs of rapid social change. Natsume Sōseki died in Tokyo in 1916.