Yamanokuchi Baku's Youth - Centered on the Footsteps of Ishigaki Island -

"Baku" before "Poet Yamanokuchi Baku"

From his teens to his early twenties, Yamanokuchi Baku was influenced by the social thought and literary trends of the time, and was critical of his school, his homeroom teachers, and Okinawan writers and artists, and he behaved in a semi-rebellious manner both in terms of worldly morality and everyday life.He is in many ways a rough man, but also a fascinating man.

Based on thorough research, the author sheds light on the meaningful and painful days that the young Yamaguchi Baku experienced during his trip to Yaeyama (Ishigaki Island). In addition, in a separate chapter, he examines the cause of his father, Yamaguchi Shigetoshi's business failure in the context of the social background, and describes his tragic life.

Tetsuo Sunagawa

Born in 1946 in Yahata city, Fukuoka prefecture (now Kitakyushu city). A few years later, he moved to his parents' hometown of Miyakojima. In 1961, during the summer of his third year of junior high school, he moved to Ishigakijima. In 1969, he participated in the launch of the Yaeyama Local Culture Study Group (which changed its name to the current Yaeyama Culture Study Group in February 1972). In 1974, he participated in the launch of the literary coterie magazine Bara Bara, and was the editor and publisher of the first issue. In 1989, he launched his personal magazine Atoll, which ceased publication with the 10th issue in 2002. In 2005, he participated in the revival of the coterie magazine Hi-Sekai in Okinawa city. In 2009, he received the 25th Yaeyama Mainichi Culture Award (Main Prize) (sponsored by the Yaeyama Mainichi Shimbun).

Author: Tetsuo Sunagawa Publisher: Nanzansha Book specifications: A5 size, 240 pages