滝沢馬琴生誕地

Born into a samurai family, Takizawa Bakin’s life at the Takizawa Bakin Birthplace was far from predictable. He began life as Takizawa Okikuni in 1767, right here in Edo, now Tokyo. His family served the Matsudaira clan. Young Bakin witnessed hardship early on. Two of his older brothers died in infancy. His father, a devoted samurai scholar, suffered from gout and passed away when Bakin was only eight. The family’s stipend was cut in half, marking the beginning of their decline. At the tender age of fourteen, Bakin left the Matsudaira service. He composed a haiku expressing his resolve to journey with the gods. He bounced between various samurai positions, never quite finding his place. Then, tragedy struck again. His brother Keichū, who had briefly supported him, died. Bakin, humbled and ill, abandoned the samurai path entirely. He explored various professions: medicine, comic poetry, fortune-telling, even comedy. But fate had other plans. In 1790, he sought guidance from the renowned author Santō Kyōden. This pivotal moment marked Bakin’s entry into the literary world. His first work, published under a pen name, hinted at the didactic style that would characterize his future writing. The Takizawa Bakin Birthplace may not have foreseen the literary giant Bakin would become. He authored over 200 works, ranging from historical romances to literary critiques and diaries. His most famous work, *Nansō Satomi Hakkenden*, a sprawling 106-volume epic, cemented his place in literary history. The Takizawa Bakin Birthplace stands as a testament to a life that defied expectations. From samurai beginnings to literary greatness, Bakin’s journey is a captivating tale of perseverance and the power of words.