Ogai, Making Magazines

As magazine publishing flourished in Meiji-era Japan, journals devoted to politics, economics, satire, medicine, and literature became important platforms for new ideas and debate. Many were founded and produced by groups of like-minded writers, scholars, and intellectuals. After returning from Germany in 1888, Mori Ogai took on a leading role in the world of publishing, becoming editor-in-chief of Tokyo Medical Journal the following year. Around the same time, Ogai helped launch a number of medical and literary journals, including Eisei Shinshi and Shigarami Soshi. Through these publications, new ideas from Europe were introduced to Japanese readers, while literary criticism, translations, and intellectual debates found a wide audience. Contributors included prominent figures of the day such as Kure Shuzo, Ozaki Koyo, Koda Rohan, and Masaoka Shiki. Together, these magazines offer a glimpse into the foundations of Ogai's career as both a physician and a writer, as well as the vibrant intellectual and cultural circles of the Meiji period. Featuring magazines edited and published by Ogai alongside letters, manuscripts, proof sheets, and memoirs, the exhibition explores the people, ideas, and editorial work behind these influential publications.