Hatsuyo Oyama

Hatsuyo Oyama was born on March 10, 1912, in Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan, the eldest daughter of Toichiro Koyama and Yoshimi Yoshizawa. In 1922 her father disappeared, leaving behind a single-parent family that moved to Aomori. Her mother worked as a seamstress at the okiya "Nozawa-ya". In March 1925, Hatsuyo Koyama graduated from Daigo Elementary School in Daigo-cho, Minamitsugaru District, Aomori. At her mother's recommendation, she became a geisha at the ryokan "Tamaya" (the successor to Nozawa-ya). In September 1927, Koyama Hatsuyo became friends with Osamu Dazai, then a first-year student at Hirosaki High School. The two fell deeply in love. Dazai gave up his opportunity to study in France for Oyama, and insisted on marrying her despite his family's objections.^[2]

On September 30, 1930, Hatsuyo fled Tamaya and moved to Tokyo under the guidance of Dazai. On November 9 of the same year, due to the Zhengtai Incident and the left-wing movement, Dazai was taken back to Aomori by his elder brother, Tsushima Bunji, and expelled from the family. However, on November 29 of the same year, Dazai attempted suicide with a waitress, Tabe Atsumi, at a Ginza café behind the Hirodo Shrine on Shichirigahama Beach. Hatsuyo, upon hearing the news in Aomori, wept bitterly and was furious, but eventually reconciled with Dazai. Because Dazai's grandmother opposed geisha entering the family, the two did not register their marriage.^[3]

In February 1931, Hatsuyo Koyama returned to Tokyo and started a new life with Osamu Dazai in Gotanda, Shinagawa Ward. From then until July of the following year, she followed Dazai, participating in illegal left-wing movements under the pen name Souko Kawasaki. In 1936, Dazai was admitted to Musashino Hospital for drug addiction treatment. During this time, Hatsuyo Koyama had a relationship with Dazai's brother-in-law, Zenshiro Kodate. In early March 1937, Hatsuyo Koyama's relationship with Zenshiro Kodate was exposed. Afterwards, Hatsuyo Koyama and Osamu Dazai made a failed attempt at suicide with Calmotin near Tanigawa Onsen. Returning to Tokyo in June, Hatsuyo Koyama, with the help of her uncle Yugoro Yoshizawa, formally divorced Dazai. After receiving a farewell gift from Dazai, Hatsuyo Koyama returned to Aomori and helped out at her family's fish shop in Asamushi Onsen, a suburb of Aomori. Ultimately, she moved to Hokkaido without her family's permission.^[4][5]

Hatsuyo Koyama later went to Qingdao, China. It is said that her life was very difficult, and she became the mistress of a quartermaster, Kiyoshi Nakamura. In early autumn of 1942, Hatsuyo Koyama temporarily returned to Japan. She visited Masuji Ibuse in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, staying there for about a week before returning to Asamu's birthplace, where she stayed for over a month. In Asamu, she met Zenshiro Kodate, who advised her to find a good man to marry as soon as possible. After staying at Ibuse's house for over a week again, Hatsuyo Koyama returned to Qingdao, despite the objections of the Ibuse couple. At that time, she was suffering from facial neuralgia. On July 23, 1944, Hatsuyo Koyama died of heart disease in Qingdao, China, under the care of Kiyoshi Nakamura. On August 23, she was returned to Japan in a wooden box. On April 10, 1945, Masuji Ibuse informed Osamu Dazai of Hatsuyo Koyama's death.^[6] Hatsuyo Koyama was buried at Seianji Temple in Zenrin-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture.^[7]