The Shinshicho (新思潮)
The Shinshicho (New Tides of Thought) is a Japanese literary magazine. It was launched in 1907 by Kaoru OSANAI, and the publication has been carried on as a dojinshi (hobby magazine) at the University of Tokyo. In particular, the contributors to the third and fourth runs of Shinshicho such as Kan KIKUCHI, Ryunosuke AKUTAGAWA, Masao KUME and Yuzuru MATSUOKA were called the Shinshicho School, and became one of the bases for literature in the Taisho period.
History
The first series of the Shinshicho (1907-1908)
It was launched under the editorship of OSANAI as a general literary magazine. For funding its publication, OSANAI received assistance from his acquaintances. It contained articles such as translations of Anton CHEKHOV and the proceedings of the IBSEN study group (group participants included Toson, Katai and others). The publication continued until the sixth issue.
The second series of the Shinshicho (1910-1911)
The participants included: Junichiro TANIZAKI, Tetsuro WATSUJI, Hitoshi ASHIDA, Sota KIMURA, Sueo GOTO and Shosen ONUKI. TANIZAKI published his debut drama piece 'Tanjo' (literally, 'The Birth'), and the work brought him recognition in the liberary circle, the novel 'Shisei' (Tattooer). OSANAI contributed a novel to its initial issue. In reality, this second series was more of a dojinshi organized by TANIZAKI and other contributors who were still students at the University of Tokyo, which borrowed the renowned name of the "Shinshicho". This series of the magazine was banned because of a short story of Anatole France translated by ASHIDA, resulted in the end of publication.
The third series of the Shinshicho (1914)
Contributors such as Masao KUME, Yuzuru MATSUOKA, Yoshio TOYOSHIMA and Yuzo YAMAMOTO took a lively role in the magazine. Osanai contributed a literal criticism piece to the initial issue of this series of the magazine. Ryunosuke AKUTAGAWA (under the pseudonym Ryunosuke YANAGAWA) also took part in the publication by translating literary works, while Fumimaro KONOE and Kyo IGAWA (Kyo TSUNETO) translated the works of some Irish writers.
The fourth series of the Shinshicho (1916-1917)
Shoichi NARUSE (a scholar of French literature), Masao KUME, Kan KIKUCHI and Ryunosuke AKUTAGAWA participated in the publication of this series. A work of Akutagawa, 'Hana' (The Nose) contained in the initial issue, was highly acclaimed by Soseki NATSUME.
The fifth sereis of the Shinshicho (1918-1919)
It included participants such as Kichiji NAKATOGAWA, Ton SATOMI's disciple.
The sixth series of the Shinshicho (1921-)
The participants included Yasunari KAWABATA, Toko KON, Hikojiro SUZUKI, Kinsaku ISHIHAMA and Mahito SAKAI.
The seventh series of the Shinshicho (1924)
The eighth series of the Shinshicho (1927-1928)
The ninth series of the Shinshicho (1925-1929) ?
The tenth series of the Shinshicho (1929-1930)
The eleventh series of the Shinshicho (1932-)
The twelfth series of the Shinshicho (1934-)
The thirteenth series of the Shinshicho
The fourteenth series of the Shinshicho (1947-1948)
The participants included Hideo NAKAI, Jyunnosuke YOSHIYUKI and others.
The fifteenth series of the Shinshicho (1950-1958)
Contributors such as Hiroyuki AGAWA, Takeo OKUNO, Ayako SONO, Shumon MIURA, Hyoe MURAKAMI, Hiroo SAKATA, Toshiyuki KAJIYAMA and Sawako ARIYOSHI took part in the publication of this series. The magazine "Shincho" even published some works as "special recommendations" from this dojinshi. In addition, a work in the magazine was recommended for the Akutagawa Prize in 1957.
The sixteenth series of the Shinshicho (1961-1964)
The seventeenth series of the Shinshicho (1964-1967)
The eighteenth series of the Shinshicho (1969-1970)
The nineteenth series of the Shinshicho (1976-1979)