ABSTRACT
Natsume SOseki (1867-1916) was active as a writer in the early twentieth century. He was already 39 years old when he published his first novel, Wagahai wa Neko de aru, (I am a cat), serialized in Hototogisu in 1905. Many novels appeared in rapid succession until his death in 1916 at the age of 49. Along with Mori Ogai, Natsume Soseki is considered to be one of the most outstanding writers of the Meiji and early Taisho eras. Soseki 1 was also an outstanding intellectual, having studied English literature at the Tokyo Imperial University and later in London from 1900 to 1903. His wide knowledge of oriental and western philosophies and literatures made him an excellent critic of contemporary Japanese civilization.
