Faculty (alphabetical)

Shiomura Koh

Professor Master's (Literature)

Born in 1957. Bachelor's Degree from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Letters (1981, Japanese Literature); Master's Degree from University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology (1984, Japanese Literature); Participation in Doctoral Course at University of Tokyo, Graduate school of Humanities and Sociology (1985, Japanese Literature); Full-time instructor (1985) and Assistant Professor (1989) at Sugiyama Jogakuen University; Assistant Professor at Nagoya University, School of Letters (1998); Assistant Professor at Nagoya University, Graduate School of Letters (2000).

By combining commentaries, book reviews and biographies, Professor Shiomura utilizes a comprehensive methodology for the research of Japanese modern literature, focusing on Ukiyososhi by Saikaku Ihara. His other main research subjects include popular literature such as Hikai, Kyoka and Zappai, biographies of authors of popular literature, the history of publishing, historical bibliography, hand written documents such as letters, the biography of Hoshu Amenomori and thanatology. He has been taking a significant role in creating enumeration for Iwase Bunko Library in Nishio city, where an extensive collection of classical books have been preserved. Lately, his interest is in how people who are homo memory mori (one who is aware of death), have engaged in writing, copying manuscripts, and preserving and enjoying them as a means to overcome death. In other words, he tries to explore how people behave as homo librarius (people of books).
Professor Shiomura carries on the traditional approach toward Japanese literature research. He teaches graduate students to read books by factoring in the elements of the era in which they were written. At the same time his students will gain an ability to carry out practical field-based research and also cultivate an essential ability for understanding data.

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