Mizuno Senko (3 December 1888 – 31 May 1919) (水野仙子 in Japanese, or みずのせんこ in kana) was a Japanese writer, born Tei Hattori. In her short career, she was published as a novelist, story writer, essayist, and journalist.

Early life

Senko was born in Sukugawa, Fukushima, one of the daughters of Naotaro Hattori. She graduated from high school in Sukugawa, and trained at Sukagawa Sewing College. She later studied with writer

Tayama Katai Katai Tayama (田山花袋 ''Tayama Katai'', 22 January 1872 – 13 May 1930, born Rokuya Tayama) was a Japanese author. His most famous works include ''Inaka Kyōshi'' (田舎教師, "Rural Teacher," also translated "Country Teacher") and ...

in Tokyo.

Career

Senko was a writer from her youth; she began publishing short essays in ''Joshi Bundan'' in 1905. She worked at ''Seitō'' (Bluestocking), a feminist literary magazine, and was a reporter for the ''

Yomiuri Shimbun The (lit. ''Reading-selling Newspaper'' or ''Selling by Reading Newspaper'') is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five major newspapers in Japan; the other four are t ...

'' newspaper. Much of Senko's writing was on topics related to women's lives, relationships, bodies, and illness. For example, her short story "For More Than Forty Days" ("Shijūyonichi", 1910), centers on a pregnant rural woman. "Dignity of a Dog" ("Inu no igen"), another short story, features two women discussing marriage and their husbands' faults.

Personal life

Senko married journalist Dosan Kawanami in 1911. She fell ill with

liver disease Liver disease, or hepatic disease, is any of many diseases of the liver. If long-lasting it is termed chronic liver disease. Although the diseases differ in detail, liver diseases often have features in common. Signs and symptoms Some of the sig ...

and

pleurisy Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is inflammation of the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity (pleurae). This can result in a sharp chest pain while breathing. Occasionally the pain may be a constant dull ache. Other sy ...

in 1918, and died at

Kusatsu Onsen is a hot spring resort located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, northwest of Tokyo. It is a popular tourist destination. There are 13 public baths at Kusatsu Onsen. The small bathhouses that are free for both town residents and tourists are managed ...

, a hot springs resort in

Gunma Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Gunma Prefecture has a population of 1,937,626 (1 October 2019) and has a geographic area of 6,362 km2 (2,456 sq mi). Gunma Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima ...

, in 1919, at the age of 30. Her widower published a collection of her works in 1920.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Senko, Mizuno 1888 births 1919 deaths Japanese women writers Writers from Fukushima Prefecture Japanese novelists Japanese journalists Deaths from liver disease