文學. 季刊 Bungaku. Kikan (Literature. Quarterly) (6 vols. complete)
東京 (Tokyo): 厚生閣書店 (Koseikaku Shoten), 1932-1933. First edition. Softcover. Octavos. No.1: 405pp. [14], No.2: 410pp. [10], No.3: 400pp. [12], No.4: 400pp. [12], No.5: 404pp. [12]. No.6: 403pp. [11]. All issues, except #4 have their original illustrated dust jackets. A collection comprising the complete 6-issue run of this this extremely scarce Japanese modernist literary magazine, published quarterly between March 1932 and June 1933. The publication can be seen as the continuation of the literary periodical "Shi to Shiron" (translated as "poetry and poetry") originally published 1928-1931.
The original magazine "Shi to Shiron" was started by a group of 11 influential avant-garde and modernist Japanese poets and writers, including Yukio Haruyama (1902-1994, editor), Fuyuhiko Kitagawa, Junzaburō Nishiwaki, Toshio Ueda, Katsue Kitazono, Azuma Kondo, Iku Takenaka, Tatsuji Miyoshi and Shozu Takiguchi. Although the work of the figures associated with the magazine was diverse, the group's overarching goal was the introduction and promotion of elements from a diverse array of modernist western literary and art movements into Japanese literature, including influences from Surrealism, Dadaism, Futurism, and Expressionism. Eventual artistic and literary differences lead a significant group of contributors to break away from Haruyama. They left the magazine to start "Poetry and Reality" in 1930.
Starting in 1932 the magazine was re-named Bungaku, with only six issues under this name. Each of these contain poetry, essays, and literary criticism. Included are occasional small illustrations throughout the text, with each issue containing a b/w photographic frontispiece (including portraits of James Joyce and Marcel Proust). Includes indices and table of contents. Period advertisements at the rear. All dust jackets display modernist design, with illustrated and/or photographic elements,.
Notable contributors to these issues include Junzaburō Nishiwaki (西脇 順三郎, 1894-1982), Katsue Kitazono (北園克衛, 1902-1978), Taruho Inagaki (稲垣 足穂, 1900-1977), Iku Takenaka (竹中郁, 1904-1982), Fuyue Anzai (安西 冬衛, 1898-1965), Shozu Takiguchi (瀧口修造, 1903-1979), and Chika Sagawa (左川 ちか, 1911-1936), among many others. The dust jacket of issue #3 features artwork and design by Ichiro Fukuzawa (福沢一郎,1898-1992).
Dust jackets with some light to moderate rubbing, chipping, and/or creasing to extremities, as well as some minor to light stains and/or smudges. Wrappers lightly rubbed and/or creased, a few smudges and stains. Book blocks fairly tight overall. Interiors relatively clean for the most part, with sporadic instances of minor to light foxing, water stains or smudging. Jackets, bindings and interior in good to very good- condition overall. All jackets and wrappers protected in modern mylar. g to vg-. Item #51094
Alternate titles: Kikan Bungaku, Shi to shiron, 詩と詩論, 季刊文學.
Price: $2,250.00