Murakami Namiroku
was a well-known writer in Japan during the late 19th and early 20th century, best remembered for his popular fiction frequently set in the Edo period featuring chivalric gangsters. In 1891, he published his first work "Mikazuki (Crescent Moon) under the alias "Chinunoura Namiroku" (ちぬの浦浪六), which was well received. He would go on to write more than 100 novels until 1930 and become a prominent writer of the time.

He was the maternal grandfather of Otoya Yamaguchi, the 17-year-old ultranationalist who assassinated Japan Socialist Party chairman Inejirō Asanuma in 1960.

Early life
Namiroku was born Murakami Makoto (信) in Sakai, Osaka, Japan. His father died when he was very young, and was a result was raised by his mother. When he was in elementary school, he was adopted by a politician of the time named Saisho Atsushi. Namiroku wanted to become a politician and businessman, but inevitably failed at those endeavors. In 1890, Namiroku joined the staff of the Tokyo-based mail order magazine company Hochi Shimbun as a proofreader.

Writing career
In 1898, one year after joining Hochi Shimbun, Murakami published his first work of fiction "Mikazuki ("Crescent Moon"), which described the life of a swordsman who adhered to traditional samurai values. The book was very well received among the general public, and Murakami decided to be a professional writer from then on. Thereafter, he embarked on a series of novels about heroic chivalric street gangsters, which came to be known as "bachibin novels" after the hairstyle worn by their dashing streetwise heroes, whereby the hair (hin) on the head was shaved in the shape of a shamisen plectrum (bachi).

Bibliography

Mikazuki (三日月) Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1891
Izutsu Menosuke (井筒女之助), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1891
Oniyakko (鬼奴), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1892
Yakko no Oman (奴の小万),　Shunyodo Publishing Co, 1892
Yabu Daitsudzumi (破大皷), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1893
Yoarashi (夜嵐), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1893
Namiroku Manpitsu (浪六漫筆) Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1893
Seishin Gunki (征清軍記), Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1894
Namiroku Soushou 10-ban Nouchi Tasoya Andon (浪六叢書十番のうちたそや行燈) Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1894
Nochi no Mikazuki (後の三日月), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1894
Nisshin Jiken Shinshousetsu (日清事件新小説) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1895
Fukaamigasa (深見笠), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1894
Hige no Jikyuu (髯の自休), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1894
Yasuda Sakubee (安田作兵衛), Shunyodo Publishing Co., 1894
Kaizoku (海賊) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1895
Koga-shi (古賀市) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1895
Sakana-ya Sukezaemon (魚屋助左衛門) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1895
Nochi no Kaizoku (後の海賊) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1895
Osaka-jō (大阪城) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1896
Onii Azami (鬼あざみ) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1896
10-Moji (十文字) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1896
Shinpei-ei (新兵衛) Saidō Eizō, 1896
Kyasha (Minshaan)　(花車 (眠獅庵)) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1896 
Luzon Sukezaemon　(呂宋助左衛門)　Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1896
Jinasadame (しなさだめ) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1897 
Roroku Bunko (浪六文庫) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1897 
Tōsei Gonin Otoko (当世五人男) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1897
Musha-kishitsu (武者気質) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1897
Kyōkashuu　(狂歌集)　Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1898
Ukiyo-zoshi (浮世草紙) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1898
Tsuta no Hozomichi (蔦の細道) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1898
Saigo no Kurodakenji (最後の黒田健次) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1899
Akatonbo (赤蜻蛉) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1900
Harada Sosuke (原田宗輔) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1900
Meiji Jūnen (明治十年) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1900
Kasuga no Tsubone (春日局) Shinshinō Publishing Co., 1901
Date Furi-ko (伊達振子) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1901
Nihon Bushi (日本武士) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1901
Yamato Kokoro (やまと心) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1901
Ukiyo Nikki (うき世日記) Shinshinō Publishing Co, 1902
Otoko Ippiki (男一疋) Shinshinō Publishing Co., 1902
Mitari Kyōdai (三人兄弟) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1902
Shigure Kasa (時雨笠) Shinshinō Publishing Co., 1902
Naniwa Meibutsu Otoko　(浪華名物男) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1902
Hachimanza (八幡座) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1902
Otoko-yama (男山)　Shinshinō Publishing Co., 1902
Tokubu (毒婦) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1902
Uyamuya Nikki (うやむや日記) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1904
Kongōban (金剛盤) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1904
Narihirabumi Haruji (業平文治) 田中霜柳 Kanarisha, 1905
Ishida Mitsunari (石田三成) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1905
Saigo no Okazaki Toshihira (最後の岡崎俊平) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1905
Daiakuma (大悪魔)Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1905
Yasha Otoko (夜叉男)Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1905
Yukidaruma (雪達磨) Shinshinō Publishing Co., 1902
Joryūken (仍如件) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1906
Futsūbunhan (普通文範) 村上信  Ishizuka Shobō, 1907
Kawazu no Yanagi Jizai (川柳自在)  Ishizuka Shobō, 1907
Ukiyoguruma (浮世車) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1907
Genroku On'na (元禄女) 隆文館
Takakura Chōemon (高倉長右衛門) 駸々堂
Tōsei Onna (当世女) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1907
Ukifune (浮舟) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1908
Nichiren (日蓮) Min'yūsha, 1908
Hachiken Nagaya (八軒長屋) Min'yūsha, 1908
Inada Isaku (稲田一作) Min'yūsha, 1909
Bomon Byōin (煩悶病院) Aoki Sūzandō Publishing Co., 1910
Baka Yarō (馬鹿野郎) 金葉堂, 1911
Toyotomi Taikō (豊太閤) Min'yūsha, 1911
Genroku Chūkon (元禄忠魂録) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1912
Kakeya Shosei Ningen-gaku (居家処世人間学) Ōe Shobō, 1913
Itazuramono (いたづらもの) Ōe Shobō, 1913
Gendai Shichō Danjo no Tatakai (現代思潮男女の戦ひ) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1913
Ikitaru Ningen no Kaibō (生きたる人間の解剖) Ōe Shobō, 1914
Rorokusenshū (浪六全集) 全26編 Shiseidō Bookstore, 1914–1926
Koku'un (黒雲) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1914
Yukidaruma (雪だるま) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1914
Rakka Rōzai (落花狼藉) 文明社, 1914
Batō Roku (罵倒録) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1914
Genroku Shijūshichishi (元禄四十七士) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1914
Waga Gojūnen (我五十年) 加島虎吉, 1914
Hōgen Roku (放言録) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1915
Jinsei no Uramen (人生の裏面) Tōadō Shobō, 1916
Hito no Aku (人の垢) Meibunkan Shoten, 1916
Jinsei no Ryokō (人生の旅行) Meibunkan Shoten, 1916
Taishō Gonin Otoko (大正五人男) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1916
Sekengaku (世間学) 大阪屋号 Shoten, 1916
Tengan Tsū (天眼通) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1917
Hiniku Bunshū (皮肉文集) Kōyōsha, 1919
Kawatoku (川徳) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1919
Hadaka-tai no Ningen (裸体の人間) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1919
Shutsuhōdai (出放題) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1919
Roroku Hachi-attari (浪六八ッあたり) Roroku Kai, 1919
Ura to Omote (裏と表) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1920
Muenryo (無遠慮) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1921
Roroku Sōseki Kessaku Bunshū (浪六漱石傑作文集) Tsunashima Shoten(Bimon Hyōkai Sōsho), 1921
Kawarimono (かはりもの) Meibunkan, 1921
Gyūniku Ikkin (牛肉一斤) Shiseidō Bookstore, 1922
Shinran (親鸞) Meibunkan Shoten, 1922
Jidai Sō (時代相) 全5巻 Jidai Sō Kankōkai, 1923–24
Mumei no Eiyū (無名の英雄) Jidai Sō Kankōkai, 1925
Ningenmi (人間味) 明文堂 Shoten, 1925
Roroku Meisaku Senshū (浪六名作選集) Kodansha, 1925
Roroku Kessakushū (浪六傑作集)  Ninjō-hen, Ren'ai-hen Naigai Shuppan Kyōkai, 1926
Myōhōin Kanpachi (妙法院勘八) Dainippon Yūbenkai Kōdansha, 1926
Hito no Chikara (人の力) Meibunkan Shoten, 1927
Ukiyo no Uraomote (浮世の裏表) Kinryūdō Shuppanbu, 1927
Hachisuka Koshirō (蜂須賀小六) Meibunkan Shoten, 1929
Kamaitachi (かまいたち) Meibunkan Shoten, 1930
Ninjō no Omoteura (人情の表裏) Kōyōsha, 1930
Roroku Zenshū (浪六全集) 45th Volume Tamai Seibundō, 1930–31
Katsukyaku Retsuden Dai 1-kan (侠客列伝 第1巻) Meibunkan Shoten, 1931
Suzuki Shin'nai (鈴木新内) Meibunkan Shoten, 1931
Ukiyo no Ame ni Yabure Kasa (うき世の雨に破れ傘) Meibunkan Shoten, 1934
Suteuri Kanbei (すてうり勘兵衛) Roroku Sōsho Kankōkai, 1934
Kyōkaku (侠客) Meibunkan, 1934
Ippo Tobu (一足飛) Kōbunkaku, 1940
Doku ka Kusuri ka (毒か薬か) Monasu, 1940
Oni Fusetsu Zukin (鬼伏せ頭巾) Kōbunkaku, 1941
Kaishō no Rekishi (海上の歴史) Kibundō Shobō, 1943

References

External links 

1865 births
1944 deaths
People from Sakai, Osaka
19th-century Japanese novelists
20th-century Japanese novelists