Rofu Miki (三木露风)
(23 June 1889-229 December 1964) Miki was born in Tatsuno in the Hyogo Prefecture. He was the eldest son of Setsujiro Mike and Kata Midorikawa. His mother was a prominent player in the women's movement of that time period. Following his parents divorce, Miki was raised by his grandfather. He began writing at and early age and published his first collection of poems at the age of 17. He went on to study literature at Waseda University and Keio University. Following college he worked for a literary magazine called "Akai Tori" or "Red Bird" overseeing the children's literature section. It was during this time period that he wrote the famous "Akatonbo" children's poem which is culturally significant in Japan because of its representation of the celebrated red dragonfly. |
Kosaku Yamada (山田 耕筰)
(9 June 1886 - 29 December 1965) Yamada was born of a samurai family in Tokyo, Japan. He first studied music as a teenager at the Tokyo School of Music. He continued his studies at the Berlin Hochshule from 1910 to 1913 where he focused on composing. He later returned to his homeland to lead the symphony Society of Japan which was the first professional orchestra in Japan. Yamada was a prolific writer composing over 1600 pieces in his lifetime. He composed Japan's first symphony entitled "Victory and Peace". He talents spanned many genres including the symphony, opera and "nursery" or "school" songs such as "Red Dragonfly" . |
