Osanai Kaoru's <i>Daiichi no Sekai</i>: Concerning Religious Faith and Spiritualism

KUMAGAI Tomoko

doi:10.18935/jjstr.62.0_51

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小山内薫『第一の世界』論
小山内薫『第一の世界』論 : 宗教信仰と心霊主義をめぐって
オサナイカオル『ダイイチノセカイ』ロン : シュウキョウシンコウトシンレイシュギオメグッテ
—宗教信仰と心霊主義をめぐって—

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In my previous research note “OSANAI Kaoru's religious faith and that time” (2015), I argued that OSANAI had followed several religions in his life. Around 1900, he briefly became a Christian. Thereafter, he was closely involved with new religions: Shiseiden around 1916 and Omoto-kyo around 1920. Whereas he held these faiths temporarily, OSANAI was interested in spiritualism throughout his life. It is necessary to consider this tendency in his theatrical work. This paper discusses OSANAI Kaoru's play Daiichi no Sekai (The First World), focusing on his religious faith and spiritualism. This play was written for a Kabuki actor, ICHIKAWA Sadanji II, performed by the Sadanji troupe in 1921. Until now, Daiichi no Sekai has been explored only in terms of its mysticism or symbolism, however this paper focuses on its connection to an autobiographical novel by a devout Christian: Shisen wo Koete (Before the Dawn) by KAGAWA Toyohiko. It is important to note that OSANAI had directed Shisen wo Koete, dramatized by the Shimpa (the 'new school'), in the month prior to the opening performance of Daiichi no Sekai. Specifically, this paper focuses on the reflection of OSANAI's feelings in the characters of Yamanaka, the man of the house, and Shimamura, the orphan houseboy.

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