Between History and Fantasy: The Power of Storytelling Pursued by Jiro Osaragi

Although Toyotomi Hideyori is said to have committed ritual suicide at the Siege of Osaka, "survival legends" remain in various parts of Japan.

Fascinated by this mystery, Jiro Osaragi wrote "Ikiteiru Hideyori" (Hideyori Lives) in 1937.

Twenty-six years later, he used the same subject matter to publish a completely different story titled "Tsuki no Hito" (The Man from the Moon, later retitled "Tsuki kara Kita Otoko"). Osaragi felt a deep attachment to "Tsuki no Hito," stating that he could not replicate it even if he tried to write it again.

The common thread between these two works is what Osaragi called the "romantic spirit"—a boundless imagination that weaves worlds of storytelling.

This exhibition will focus on these two "Hideyori stories," alongside other Sengoku-period works published as novels and Kabuki plays. We will explore what Osaragi considered the romanticism appropriate for popular literature, a question he continued to pursue until his later years. By showcasing materials, letters, and research records he referenced, we will reveal the behind-the-scenes of his creative process and delve into the "appeal" of Osaragi's Sengoku-themed works.

Dynamic illustrations by artists Tetsu Katsuda and Yoshiro Sata to be showcased via digital signage

"Ikiteiru Hideyori," illustrated by Tetsu Katsuda (1896-1980), was serialized in 22 parts.

"Tsuki no Hito," illustrated by Yoshiro Sata (1922-1997), was a 300-part series.