第6回公演『ジュリアス・シーザー』ポスター / 企画展『演劇人坪内逍遙』データベース

The Literary Society—Towards a revolution in modern theatre

When Shimamura Hogetsu, a lecturer at Waseda University, returned from studying in Europe, the Literary Society was conceived with the aim of conducting research on and implementing culture in general, such as theater and art, led by Hogetsu. Initially, the Literary Society was established in 1906 with Okuma Shigenobu as chairman, and Kiri hitoha was performed as the first performance. After that, the activities of the Society stopped due to financial loss. Shoyo became the chairman and launched reforms in Meiji 42 (1909) by focusing on theater activities.

This statement was prepared when the Literary Society was established. In February Meiji 44 (1911), Shoyo focused the Society's goals on theater and took full responsibility for a reorganization. In April, Shoyo provided the site of his own residence in Okubo Yochomachi for free of charge and established an attached theater institute, and started to train actors by open recruitment.

This is a phrase from the Analects of Confucius which was displayed in front of the stage of the Literary Society. The characters are collected from the book of Kobo Daishi, a Japanese Buddhist monk and calligrapher. “Shi iwaku, ‘michi ni kokorozashi tokuni yori jinni yori geini asobu’” (Confucius said, “seek Heaven's will, root in morality, have compassion and enjoy the arts").

Theatre institute and Matsui Sumako

During the reform, Shoyo established a "theatre institute" on the premises of his residence to train research students. Hamlet was performed as a graduation performance of the first student in Meiji 44 (1911), and Ophelia was played by Matsui Sumako. In the second performance, Ningyo no ie (A Doll's House) and Benisu no shonin (The Merchant of Venice) (translated by Shoyo) were performed and well received. A Doll's House demonstrated the New Woman, along with the Seito (Bluestocking) movement. However, after the fifth performance, a love scandal between Matsui Sumako and Shimamura Hogetsu, who had a wife and children, came to light. The Literary Society disbanded in Taiho 2 (1913) with the sixth and final performance, of Julius Caesar (translated by Shoyo).

Hamlet, Ophelia, Gertrude, Laertes, gravedigger

In November 1911 (Meiji 44), A Doll's House by Ibsen, translated and directed by Shimamura Hogetsu, was presented at the Imperial Theatre, as well as dance plays by Shoyo, such as Kanzan Jittoku, Oshichikichisa, and a trial scene from The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, which had been performed several times before. For the younger members of the society, who were more inclined to perform Ibsen's modern dramas, Hogetsu tried to balance the performances with dance dramas and Shakespeare's dramas, in case they were not well received. The performance was well received, and the public was impressed by the differences between the old and new generations in the selection of works.

Sumako's suicide note to Shoyo. In November 1918 (Taisho 7), Hogetsu died suddenly of the Spanish flu, and two months later Sumako followed, hanging herself. At the end of the year just before her suicide, Sumako went to Shoyo's house in Yochomachi and said, "Hello..., thank you..., I'm sorry..." with her head down. Shoyo replied, "Ah..." with a troubled expression on his face.