Kada no Azumamaro

Kada no Azumamaro (Japanese荷 田 春 満; * February 3, 1669; † August 8, 1739 ) was a Japanese Shinto philologist (Text researchers ) and poet.

Kada came from a family of Shinto priests who served in Kyoto for centuries at the Fushimi- Inari Shrine. He was educated in his youth in the art of waka poetry and introduced to the world of Shintoism. After serving three years at the court of the dance Tennō, he worked in the library of the Shogun to Edo. In Edo, he was from 1699 also lectures on the early Japanese writings such as the Nihon Shoki, Kojiki and Man'yōshū.

Besides Motoori Norinaga, Kamo no Mabuchi and Hirata Atsutane he is considered the founder of the literary and philosophical school Kokugaku. In 1828 he petitioned the shogunate to be able to set up a Kokugaku School ( Sōgakōkei ). His most important pupil was the Man'yōshū Kamo no Mabuchi expert. His work was continued by his adopted son Kada no Arimaro.