Natsume Soseki, given name Kinnosuke, was a pioneering and influential Meiji novelist seen, along with Mori Ogai, as one of the two founding fathers of modern Japanese literature. He took an early interest in literature during middle school but was discouraged by his parents and began writing only in college after meeting Masaoka Shiki, who encouraged him to try his hand at poetry. He studied abroad in London and worked as a journalist with the fledgling newspaper industry. His style is influenced by both English and Chinese classical literature. His best-known works include the novels Wagahai wa neko de aru (1905–6; tr. I Am A Cat, 1961), Botchan (1906; tr. Botchan: Master Darling, 1947), and Kokoro (1914; tr. Kokoro: A Novel, 1957). Many of his works have been translated into English, and his face has appeared on the one thousand yen note.
Historical dictionary of modern Japanese literature and theater. J. Scott Miller. 2009.