Yamada Bimyō

(1868-1910). Writer. Real name Yamada Taketaro. Born in Tokyo. He established himself with Natsukodachi (1888, Summer Grove), a collection of short stories of which the most famous is Musashino (The Plains of Musashi). These were the first Japanese stories to be written exclusively in the spoken language. Major works include the novels Chōkai shōsetsu tengu (1886-87), kochō (1889), and an essay on the new colloquial style, Gembun itchiron gairyaku (1888). (adapted from Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1993)