Born into a family of physicians, Ogai had a traditional education in the Chinese classics and was also well read in Japanese, German, and other Western literatures. He studied medicine in Germany for four years. Eventually he became head of the medical division of the Japanese Army Ministry. His literary production, which was often interrupted by official duties, falls into three main groups: 1909--12, semiautobiographical fiction; 1912--16, historical literature; and finally, biography. His Vita Sexualis (1972) is a philosophical look at the development of his sexual awareness and the place of sexual desire in life. Although not devoid of humor, this is a serious work that was also intended to chide writers of the naturalist school for their relentless, narrow scrutiny of their own lives. In his historical fiction, Ogai wrote about real people and real events, researching his subjects carefully and providing notes for readers. He was, however, a superb stylist and engaging storyteller. He was also an able translator. With the exception of his early romantic works, his writing is marked by an austere tone.
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