Imao Hirano

Imao Hirano (born May 5, 1900 – November 11, 1986) was a Japanese poet and French literature scholar. He was born in Yokohama City. Through his interactions with Osugi Sakae, he became known for translating several works related to Jean-Henri Fabre. Additionally, under the pseudonym Jun Matsudo, he translated works of erotic literature. Regarding his family life, it is recorded that he was married twice and had nine children.

In terms of his background, he was born at the Yanagihara Aiko residence in Aoyama Kitamachi, Akasaka Ward, Tokyo (now Minato City, Tokyo), and raised in Ropponmatsu-chō, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City. His father worked at a law firm before remarrying a wealthy widow, through whom he accumulated wealth. His father, Henry Pike Buie, was an American who served as the first president of the San Francisco Japan-America Society, and is said to have French-American ancestry. However, according to American records, he was a descendant of the Buie family who emigrated from Scotland to America.

His mother, Hirano Koma, was a Catholic and a koto (Japanese harp) teacher, but she also suffered from discrimination. Imao was raised being called "Remi." His father traveled between Japan and America, but when he was seven years old, he temporarily returned to Japan, during which his younger brother Takeo was born.

As a child, he experienced discrimination as a mixed-race child. He learned judo at the Yōgikan dojo in the neighborhood and became the captain of the youth group. After attending Yokohama Municipal Rōmatsu Elementary School, he transferred to the Catholic-affiliated Gyosei Elementary School to avoid discrimination, where he studied as a boarding student. During his school years, he faced discriminatory treatment from teachers and classmates, which he later criticized. He also attended Gyosei Middle School, where he was recognized for his talent by his Japanese language teacher, studying many classical Japanese works and original French texts. Due to his prominent nose, he was sometimes teased or labeled "Hirano de Berguillard." He was an atheist, and in the summer of his fifth year at the old system Gyosei Middle School, he made an inappropriate gesture during mass, resulting in his expulsion for disciplinary reasons.

Later, he used a vacation home in Horiuchi Beach, Hayama Town, as his base and transferred to the fourth year at Zushi Kaisei Junior High School. He continued to face discrimination and struggle. During his time at the school, he developed an interest in French literature and, along with friends Kato Ryozo, Shimizu Chōichi, and Kondo Jūsuke, published the literary magazine "Eto."

【Note: The continuation of the original text is omitted.】