Yagi Jukichi

Yagi Jukichi (八木重吉), was a Japanese poet on modern religious themes.

Born in Tokyo on February 9 1898, Yagi attended the Kanagawa Prefecture Normal School in Kamakura, where he converted to Methodism, and became attracted to the poetry of Tagore. He remained a devout Protestant all his short life, but migrated to non-church Christianity as advocated by essayist, Uchimura Kanzo. After graduation, Yagi taught in Hyogo Prefecture, and he began to write verse as an expression of his faith. He published his first collection of poems Aki no Hitome (Autumn Eye) in 1925. Although Yagi contributed several pieces to poetry magazines, he remained shy of poetic circles.

Hospitalized with tuberculosis in 1926, he died on October 26 1927. It was only after his death and the publication of Mazushiki Shinto (Humble Believer), Yagi Jukichi Shishu (Yagi Jukichi Anthology), and Kami O Yobu (Talk to God) that he gained recognition.

See also:Japanese literature,