Mori Ogai
Mori Ogai (森 鴎外 Mori Ōgai, February 17, 1862 - July 9, 1922) was a Japanese novelist and physician. He was born in Iwami province (now Shimane prefecture) into a family of doctors.
For five years starting in 1884, Mori was sent to study in Germany by the Meiji government. Upon his return he assumed a high rank as a medical doctor in the Japanese army. As a physician, Mori specialized in beriberi, an ailment caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1. His questionable decisions involving the contents of soldiers' rations during the Russo-Japanese War might have cost the lives of thousands of Japanese soliders (ironically, to the beriberi disease that Mori specialized in).
As an author, Mori is considered one of the leading writers of the Meiji period, known for works including Maihime (舞姫), Sanshō Dayū (山椒大夫), and Takasebune (高瀬舟).
Mori's real name was Rintarō (林太郎). Ōgai is correctly written as 鷗外 but many computers cannot properly display this kanji and so 鴎外 is often used in its place.
See also: Japanese literature, List of Japanese authors
