japanese literature essay

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Japanese Literature: A Very Short Introduction

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With a history stretching back nearly 1,500 years, Japan literature encompasses a vast range of forms and genres. Since the eighth century, poetry and the non-philosophical lyric voice have occupied a central position in Japanese literary expression. The art of narrative blossomed in the eleventh century with one of the world’s great literary masterpieces, Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji and later in the work of the great modern novelists Natsume Sôseki, Tanizaki Jun’ichirô, Kawabata Yasunari, Kôbo Abe, and Ôe Kenzaburô. Beginning with Murasaki and through the present day, Japanese women have occupied a central place in the tradition: Higuchi Ichiyô, Kôda Aya, Takahashi Takako, among others. Japanese literature birthed other genres no less important than poetry and narrative, among them the literary diary, the free-flowing essay, drama, the picture book, and the literary treatise. As steeped as it is in the beautiful literary rendering of the world, Japanese literature has also been deeply responsive to history and violence, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While intensely attentive to its own tradition, Japanese literature has also imbibed influences from around the globe—early on from China, later from Europe, the United States, and Latin America. It has been embraced by the outside world in turn, exporting literary genres such as the haiku and manga (whose pre-history the book explores), and bestselling authors such as Yukio Mishima and Haruki Murakami. A succinct introduction to one of the most dynamic and diverse world literatures, this Very Short Introduction traces the rich history of Japanese literature from its beginnings over a millennium ago to the present day.

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Why I Love Reading Japanese Literature

The Gift Of Japanese Literature

I could not make any sense of it, this enigma of Japan which drew me like a magnet. And then I received the gift of Japanese literature, quite literally. A dear and respected friend gifted us a copy of Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. A tome running into almost a thousand pages, it describes the life and times of the legendary swordsman and ronin, a master-less samurai, Miyamoto Musashi. The story takes place in the 17th century and traces Musashi’s life from a rowdy youth to master of swordsmanship and an enlightened person. It is a conventional adventure story, full of twists and turns, thrilling swordfights and skin-of-teeth escapes, jealousy and romantic confusions. For me, however, the book was a glimpse of the old, strife-torn and feudal Japan of early Edo period, one that has disappeared leaving behind beautiful reminders like the Chiyoda castle which is now a part of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and Matsuo Basho’s ethereal haikus.

What remained with me from this novel written in the early 20 th century, was not the heroic, pragmatic Musashi who ran away as often as he fought, but the myriad pictures of Japan – travellers kitted out in straw sandals and hats, white dust rising from winding roads, temples and tea houses, pine forests and mountains, gay pleasure quarters and wise geishas. And of course, Otsu, a young woman raised in a village who pursues Musashi up and down Edo-period Japan. I wondered at her – rejected and abandoned by Musashi and yet confident that they belonged together. The image of the coy, fragile, unseen-by-the-sun beauties of old Japan clashed with this determined woman walking down wild roads after the man she loved. The list of contradictions grew.

An Accidental Discovery

I began seeking the works of Japanese authors actively. Browsing through an old bookstore somewhere in the mid-levels of Hong Kong, I came across a paperback copy of Junichiro Tanizaki’s turn-of-the-era epic, The Makioka Sisters . Set in the Showa period during the World War II years, it is a stunningly told tale of four sisters belonging to an affluent Osaka family – the conventional Tsuruko, vivacious Sachiko, demure Yukiko and rebellious Taeko – and how they negotiate their lives. The elegance and slow charm of life in the prosperous suburbs of Tokyo at a time when the world was caught in the throes of the most cruel war mankind had known, fascinated me. Again, it was the details of that life – the conventions of dress and makeup, daily routines and social visits, shopping in the great stores of Tokyo, catching fireflies, viewing cherry blossoms that captivated me.

I read every book of Tanizaki Sensei that I could find – Some Prefer Nettles , Diary Of A Mad Old Man , A Cat, A Man And Two Women , Quicksand , Arrowroot , The Secret History Of The Lord Of Musashi . I reveled in the sensory splendour he invoked in his descriptions of elaborate, brocaded kimonos, rituals of watching a bunraku performance , (food cooked on days of feast, gardens in autumn and summer. But it was when I read his long stories – ‘The Bridge Of Dreams’, ‘The Tattoist’, ‘A Portrait Of Shunkin’, ‘The Terror’, ‘The Thief’, ‘Aguri’ – that I truly appreciated his great gift of crafting psychological, open-ended narratives filled with dark forebodings. He possessed an unparalleled genius in characterisation and storytelling against the living, breathing backdrop of a Japanese society in transition. He spelt his creed of aesthetic in his astonishing treatise, In Praise Of Shadows – ‘Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty’.

I read more modern masters – Natsume Soseki, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Yukio Mishima, Endo Shusaku, Yasunari Kawabata, Kenzaburo Oe. Their rich and diverse styles, intensity of portrayals of tradition and modernity had me in their thrall. The meticulous perfection of their writings, the layered and complex, and at times, shocking themes, their experiments in craft – all so subtle and so refined, that I found myself reading and re-reading them, discovering fresh aspects with every read.

Finding Murakami

Around this time, my husband bought me a collection of short stories from the airport book shop at Narita Airport – Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman . It was by an author I hadn’t heard of – Haruki Murakami . This was before Murakami became well-known outside of Japan and the circle of Western scholars who studied Japanese literature. His stories came as a revelation to me. They were like a thunderclap of brilliance that destroyed all prejudices of plots and resolutions, setups and paybacks. Traversing between real and fantastical worlds, telling stories of the urban Japan I saw during my trips but was unable to understand, and exploring intricate themes of isolation and intimacy, they opened a new vista which was as much external as internal. A woman gives up sleeping, a green monster falls in love with a housewife, a monkey steals the name of a young woman, a man revisits his old sweetheart, and another suffers inexplicable bouts of nausea.

The characters and the stories revolutionised the way I had looked upon and read fiction so far. I sought out and read his works – The Windup Bird Chronicle , Hard Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The World , A Wild Sheep Chase , Dance Dance Dance , After The Quake , Kafka On The Shore , Norwegian Wood – with mounting excitement. His complicated and fantastical plots, all with elements of mystery, repeating motifs of missing cats, people going on journeys, time-travels and dry, wry humour, made reading his works an adventure with elements of predictability. A contradiction again. One can never get too far away from contradictions in Japan and Japanese fiction and therein lies their allure for me – the opportunity to experience something and its opposite in one complete experience.

I constantly re-read the Japanese Masters. Some volumes are always on my bed-side table but I also read contemporary Japanese literature, eagerly and with great curiosity. All the books by the contemporary Japanese authors that I have read in past years, from Kanae Minato’s Confessions to Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen , Yukiko Motoya’s Picnic In The Storm , Tomihiko Morimi’s The Night Is Short , Walk On Girl , Natsu Miyashita’s The Forest Of Wool And Steel and many more, are completely different from each other in style and stories and yet there is a common sensibility running through their differences, a subtle, veiled spirit that haunts them and which I seek, book after book. It’s yet another contradiction adding to the appeal of Japan and her literature for me.

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Consider Me Booked!

Anukrti Upadhyay writes fiction and poetry in both English and Hindi. Japani Sarai, a collection of Hindi short stories and two English novellas, Daura and Bhaunri, have been published to date, and a number of works are in progress. Her short stories have appeared in numerous prestigious literary journals. With post-graduate degrees in Management and Literature and a graduate degree in Law, she also wrote a doctoral thesis on Hindi Literature. She divides her time between Bombay and Singapore.

You can read her articles here .

What To Read If You Want To Explore Japanese Literature

Very fascinating! I have always been intrigued by Japanese literature and this article offers a window to its literary landscape. Enjoyed it! Thanks.

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About This Page

This page introduces the variety of essays written by popular contemporary authors. Unless noted, all are in Japanese.

The author, さくらももこ, is known for writing a comic titled 『ちびまる子ちゃん』. The comic is based on her own childhood experiences and depicts the everyday life of a girl with a nickname of Chibi Maruko-chan. The author has been constantly writing casual and humorous essays, often recollecting her childhood memories. We have both the『ちびまる子ちゃん』 comic series and other essays by the author.

To see a sample text in a new tab, please click on the cover image or the title .

中島らも(1952-2004) started his career as a copyrigher but changed his path to become a prolific writer, publishing novels, essays, drama scripts and rakugo stories. He became popular with his "twisted sense of humour." He is also active in the music industry when he formed his own band. He received the 13th Eiji Yoshikawa New Author Prize with his 『今夜、すべてのバーで』 and Mystery Writers of Japan Aaward with 『ガダラの豚』.

東海林（しょうじ）さだお

東海林さだお(1937-) is a well-known cartoonist, but he is also famous for his essays on food. His writing style is light and humorous and tends to pay particular attention toward regular food, such as bananas, miso soup, and eggd in udon noodles, rather than talk about gourmet meals. (added 5/2/2014)

Collection of Essays: 天声人語 = Vox Populi, Vox Deli (Bilingual)

A collection of essays which appear on the front page of Asahi Shinbun . Each essay is approx. 600 words. KU has collections published around 2000. Seach KU Online catalog with call number AC145 .T46 for more details.

To see a sample text, please click on the cover image or the title .

Other Essays

Online Essay

村上さんのところ "Mr. Murakami's Place" -- Haruki Murakami's Advice Column Part of Haruki Murakami's official site. He answers questions sent to this site. He will also take questions in English. Questions will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2015.

Search from KU Collection

If you are looking for essays in Japanese available at KU, use this search box. If you know the author, search by last name, then first name, such as "Sakura, Momoko." Make sure to select "Author" in the search field option.:

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Catalogs of old japanese books, article indexes and full text articles, bibliographies, texts and translations, dictionaries, handbooks/chronological tables.

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Here is a list of major journals in Japanese literary studies and Japanese aesthetics:

Asiatische Studien. Études asiatiques Print Only
British journal of aesthetics Print and Online
Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient Print Only
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Print and Online
Harvard journal of Asiatic studies Print and Online
Japanese journal of religious studies Print Only
Journal of Asian studies Print and Online
Journal of Japanese stuidies Print and Online
Journal of the American Oriental Society Print and Online
Monumenta Nipponica Print and Online
Oriens extremus Print Only
Philosophy East and West Print and Online

RSS feed is available from 雑誌記事索引採録誌一覧 .

Bungaku 文学 (Tokyo, Japan : 2000) View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .B822
Bungakukai 文學界 (Tokyo, Japan : 1947) View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .B864
Bungei 文藝 (Tokyo, Japan : 1962) View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .B865
Gendaishi techō 現代詩手帖 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL757 .G45
Gunzō 群像 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .G95
Haiku 俳句 (Tokyo, Japan) View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL729 .H37
Hikaku bungaku 比較文学 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PN851 .H54
Kanbun kyōshitsu 漢文教室 Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL2250 .K35
Kinsei bungei 近世文芸 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .K56
Kodai bungaku 古代文学 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .K58
Kokubungaku gengo to bungei 国文学言語と文芸 Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .K659
Kokubungaku kaishaku to kanshō 国文学解釋と鑑賞 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .K59
Kokubungaku kenkyū 国文学研究 View RSS feed Location: SRLF ; Call Number: 5861 K89
Nihon bungaku 日本文学 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .N54
Renga haikai kenkyū 連歌俳諧研究 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL732.R4 H3
Shinchō 新潮 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL700 .S545
Tanka kenkyū 短歌硏究 (Tokyo, Japan : 1944) View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL728 .T3936
Waka bungaku kenkyū 和歌文学硏究 View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: PL758.A1 W34
Yuriika ユリイカ = Eureka View RSS feed Location: EAL Journals ; Call Number: AP95.J2 Y87
Catalog of rare Japanese materials at the University of California, Los Angeles = カリフォルニア大学ロサンゼルス校所蔵日本古典籍目錄 / 鈴木淳, 三木身保子編 A catalog of old and rare Japanese materials held by UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History and Special Collections for the Sciences, Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections, and East Asian Library.
Directory of North American Collections of Old and Rare Japanese Books, Other Print Materials, and Manuscripts Descriptions of and contact information for collections in North American academic libraries and museums more... less... http://www.eastasianlib.org/cjm/pdf/Directory_Rev0401.pdf https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/JEAL/article/viewFile/8663/8312 http://www.eastasianlib.org/cjm/jrb/directoryOfNorthAmericanCollectionsOfOldAndRareJapaneseMaterials_2008version.pdf
Nihon kotenseki sōgō mokuroku 日本古典籍総合目録 A union catalog of Japanese old and rare books originally produced before 1868; combines 『国書総目録』 and 『古典籍総合目録』 and more.
Zenkoku Kanseki Dētabēsu 全國漢籍データベース Union catalog of Chinese books held by Japanese libraries provided by Center for Informatics in East Asian Studies, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University

Here is a short list of useful articles databases for classical Japanese literary studies. Note that many of these sources only index to journal articles -- they don't actually have the full text. Use the gold " UC-eLinks " button to do an automated search to find the full text or citation linker , or search for the journal title in the UCLA Library Catalog . See also "Articles and Books (Scholarly)" page under "By Source Type" tab for more general article indexes.

Asian Literature Bibliography Series Print only
Book review guide b
Kokubungaku ronbun mokuroku dētabēsu 国文学論文目録データベース Bibliographic database of books and articles on Japanese literature since 1912, maintained by the National Institute of Japanese Literature
An introductory bibliography for Japanese studies Covers major Japanese works published in Japan on a variety of subjects. Location: YRL ; Call Number: Z3306 .I59 (Pt. 2 for Humanities)
Asian Literature Bibliography Series
Bungei nenkan 文芸年鑑 Annual; began in 1929 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL701 .B85
Bungei zasshi shōsetsu shoshutsu sōran, 1945-1980 文芸雑誌小說初出総覧, 1945-1980 / 勝又浩監修 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: Z3308.L5 B86 2005 A sequal ed. for 1981-2005 is available at Z3308.L5 .B862 2006
Buyō o Shiri, Manabu tame no Kihonteki na Bunken Risuto 舞踊を知り、学ぶための基本的な文献リスト Compiled by Naomi Inata
Gendai bungaku kenkyū : Jōhō to shiryō 現代文学硏究 : 情報と資料 / 編集長谷川泉 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: Z3308.L5 G45
Gendai bungaku kenkyū jiten 現代文学研究事典 / 大久保典夫, 高橋春雄編. Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.65 .G39 1983
Gendai Nihon bungaku sōran shirīzu 現代日本文学綜覧シリーズ Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: Z3308.L5 G46 1982
Jōdai bungaku kenkyū jiten 上代文学研究事典 / 小野寬, 櫻井満編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.12 .J54 1996
Kinsei bungaku kenkyū jiten 近世文学研究事典 / 岡本勝, 雲英末雄編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.35 .K45 2006
Nihon bungaku kenkyū bunken yōran : gendai Nihon bungaku 日本文学研究文献要覧 : 現代日本文学 1975-1984, 1985-1989, 1990-1994, 1995-1999, 2000-2004
Nihon bungaku kenkyū bunken yōran : Koten bungaku 日本文学研究文献要覧 : 古典文学 1975-1084, 1985-1989
Nihon koten bungaku kenkyūshi daijiten 日本古典文学硏究史大事典 / 西沢正史, 徳田武編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.1 .N54 1997
Aozora Bunko 青空文庫 Modern Japanese literary works in full-text.
Digital Library from the Meiji Era = 近代デジタルライブラリー Full-text works published during the Meiji period and owned by the National Diet Library
Gendai bungaku kenkyū : Jōhō to shiryō 現代文学硏究 : 情報と資料 / 編集長谷川泉 Location: EAL ; Call Number: Z3308.L5 G45
Gunsho ruijū 群書類從 Sequel editions Zoku Gunsho ruijū, Zokuzoku Gunsho ruijū, etc., and annotation volumes Gunsho kaidai, Shinkō Gunsho ruijū kaidaishū also available. Location: EAL ; Call Number: AC145 .G85 1928
Index Translationum A database of translations maintained by UNESCO
J-Texts (日本文学電子図書館)
Japanese Literature in Translation Search = 日本文学翻訳書誌検索 A database of translations of literary works into a variety of languages; maintained by the Japan Foundation
Japanese Text Initiative = 日本語テキストイニシアチブ Texts of classical and modern literature; collaborative effort of the University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center and the University of Pittsburgh East Asian Library
Kabuki daichō shūsei 歌舞伎台帳集成 Location: EAL ; Call Number: PL767 .K23 1983
Kindai bunken jōhō dētabēsu 近代文献情報データベース = Bibliographical Information Database of Japanese Modern Times Database provided by the National Institute of Japanese Literature, consisting of bibliographic information and image data of literary studies from the Meiji period
Kisho Fukuseikai sōsho 稀書複製會叢書 / 編輯山田淸作 Location: EAL ; Call Number: AC145 .K57 1918
Kokubungaku fukusei honkoku shomoku sōran 国文学複製翻刻書目総覧 / 市古貞次, 大曾根章介編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: Z3308.L5 I28 1982 A sequel ed. was published in 1989 and is available at [Ref.] Z3308.L5 I282 1989
Kokubungaku Kenkyū Shiryōkan Dētabēsu, honbun dētabēsu 国文学研究資料館データベース: 本文データベース Full texts from ''Nihon koten bungaku taikei''(Iwanami Shoten, 1957-67), ''Nijuichidaishu'', ''Koji ruien'', etc. are available
Koten bungaku zenshū, honkokusho, kenkyūsho sōmokuroku 古典文学全集・翻刻書・研究書総目録 / 石黒吉次郎監修 ; [編集日外アソシエーツ株式会社] Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: Z3308.L5 K68 1996
Kotenseki Sogo Database, Japanese & Chinese Classics 古典籍総合データベース Waseda University Library provides access to digital images of their holidngs of Japanese and Chinese classics (ca. 300,000 volumes digitized)
List of titles related to Japanese Literature translations at UCLA Library
Nihon koten bungaku taikei 日本古典文學大系 / [監修者, 高木市之助 ... et al.] Print and online Location: YRL Harvard Yenching Collection ; Call Number: 5880 N54
Nihon koten bungaku zenshū 日本古典文学全集 Location: EAL ; Call Number: PL753 .N52 more... less... Provides modern Japanese translation.
Nihon shisō taikei 日本思想大系 Cataloged separately; search individual titles.
Premodern Japanese Texts and Translations Bibliography of translations and reviews of the literary works up to about 1600; includes works written in kanbun and Chinese
Shin Nihon koten bungaku taikei 新日本古典文学大系 Cataloged separately; search individual titles.
Shinchō Nihon koten shūsei 新潮日本古典集成 Cataloged separately; search individual titles.
Shinpen Kokka taikan 新編国歌大観 CD-ROM version is available for use at the Reading Room of East Asian Library.
Shinpen Nihon koten bungaku zenshū 新編日本古典文学全集 Provides modern Japanese translation; some volumes of the series are available in JapanKnowledge in PDF format.
Shinshaku kanbun taikei 新釈漢文大系 Location: EAL ; Call Number: PL755.1 .S55 1994
Tōkyō Daigaku Shiryō Hensanjo Dētabēsu 東京大学史料編纂所データベース Databases including the index to Dai Nihon shiryō; full-text of Dai Nihon komonjo, Dai Nihon kokiroku, and Heian ibun, the Online Glossary of Japanese Historical Terms, etc.
Tōyō bunko 東洋文庫 (Heibonsha) Available via JapanKnowledge. Digitized version of the Heibonsha series ''Tōyō bunko'' in PDF format
Cambridge History of Japan
Gendai josei bungaku jiten 現代女性文学辞典 : 付・現代女性文学略年表 / 村松定孝, 渡辺澄子編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL725 .G46 1990
Gendai Nihon bungaku daijiten 現代日本文学大事典 / 久松潜一 ... [et al.] 編修 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.6 .G44 1978
Haibungaku daijiten 俳文学大辞典 / [監修加藤楸邨, 大谷篤蔵, 井本農一 ; 編者尾形仂 ... et al.]. Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL729 .H254 1995
JapanKnowledge Provides access to basic Japanese reference sources including encyclopedias and dictionaries (e.g., 日本大百科全書, 日本国語大辞典, 國史大辭典, Encyclopedia of Japan, etc.) and 東洋文庫
Kadokawa kogo daijiten 角川古語大辞典 / 中村幸彥, 岡見正雄, 阪倉篤義 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL682 .K32 1982
Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan Online Japanese art, culture, and history covering from Paleolithic to the present. UCLA contract allows two concurrent users.
Koji ruien dētabēsu 古事類苑データベース Online version of Koji ruien; full text search is available from Kokubunken Digital Library website
Nihon bungei kanshō jiten 日本文芸鑑賞事典 : 近代名作1017選への招待 / [監修井上靖...et al. ; 編纂石本隆一...et al.]. Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL707 .N52 1987
Nihon gendai bungaku daijiten 日本現代文学大事典 / 編者三好行雄...[et al]. Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.6 .N48 1994
Nihon gendai shōsetsu daijiten 日本現代小說大事典 / 浅井清, 佐藤勝編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL747.55 .N49 2004
Nihon kindai bungaku daijiten 日本近代文学大辞典 / [編者小田切進], 日本近代文学館編. Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL707 .N54
Nihon koten bungaku daijiten 日本古典文学大辞典 / [編集者日本古典文学大辞典編集委員会 ; 編集委員監修市古貞次 ... et al.] Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL726.1 .N5
Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Literature
Gendai josei sakka kenkyū jiten 現代女性作家研究事典 / 川村湊, 原善編 Location: EAL ; Call Number: PL747.65 .G45 2001
Japanese Biographical Archive (microfiche) Search Tips: use the online index for World Biographical Information System .
Jige kaden Haga jinmei jiten dētabēsu 地下家伝・芳賀人名辞典データベース） Includes ''Nihon jinmei jiten'' (1914) by Haga Yaichi (1867-1917) and ''Jige kaden'' (1937-1938) by Mikami Kagefumi and Masamune Atsuo (1881-1958)
Kindai bungaku kenkyū sōsho 近代文学研究叢書 / 昭和女子大学近代文学研究室著 Location: SRLF ; Call Number: 5877 S55
Kokusho jinmei jiten 国書人名辞典 / [編者市古貞次...et al.] Approximately 30,000 pre-modern Japanese writers are listed, based on Kokusho sōmokuroku. Provides index arranged by characters for various names, including real names, pennames, etc. more... less... Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: CT1832 .K65 1993
Rekishi jinbuntsu gazō dētabēsu 歴史人物画像データベース Includes images of historical figures dipicted in Japanese old and rare publications
Sakka, shōsetsuka jinmei jiten 作家・小說家人名事典 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL723 .S325 1990
A student guide to Japanese sources in the humanities / Yasuko Makino and Masaei Saito Location: SRLF
Shinbun shōsetsushi nenpyō 新聞小說史年表 / 高木健夫. Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL747.55 .T34 1987
Shinpan Nihon bungaku dainenpyō 新版日本文学大年表 / 市古貞次, 久保田淳編 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: PL719.5 .S55 2002
Shōwa bungaku nenpyō 昭和文学年表 / 監修谷沢永一 ; 編集浦西和彥, 青山毅 Location: EAL Ref. ; Call Number: 726.65 .U725 1995
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Essays on Japan

Between aesthetics and literature, series: brill's japanese studies library , volume: 35.

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Traditional japanese literature.

An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600

Edited by Haruo Shirane

Columbia University Press

Pub Date: August 2008

ISBN: 9780231136976

Format: Paperback

List Price: $55.00 £45.00

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Pub Date: March 2007

ISBN: 9780231136969

Format: Hardcover

List Price: $145.00 £121.00

It's one of those impressive, erudite must-have titles for anyone interested in Asian literature Terry Hong, The Bloomsbury Review

An anthology that comprises superb translations of an exceptionally wide range of texts, each with a pithy introduction... Highly recommended. CHOICE

This volume provides a wealth of material. Robert Huey, Monumenta Nipponica

About the Author

Asian Literature
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147 Japanese Culture Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Looking for interesting topics on Japan? Find them here! This list contains plenty of Japanese culture topics relating to the country’s traditions, art, and social phenomena. Check them out!

🔝 Top 10 Japanese Culture Topics to Write About

🔎 culture-related japan research topics, ✅ japanese topics for presentations, 🏆 best japanese culture topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good japanese culture essay topics, 💡 interesting japanese culture topics to write about, 📌 simple & easy japanese culture essay titles, ❓ research questions about japanese culture.

The Cultural Impact of Anime
The Mystique and Roles of Geisha
Traditional Japanese Arts and Crafts
Tea Ceremony in Japanese Culture
The Beauty of Japanese Gardens
The Art of Japanese Floral Arrangement
Festivals and Matsuri in Japanese Culture
The Code of Bushido and Its Influence on Society
Pop Culture Phenomena of J-Pop and Kawaii
Sushi, Ramen, and Other Culinary Delights of Japan
Environmental Sustainability in Japan
Shintoism and Its Influence on Japanese Society
Modernization and Transformation of Japan
Challenges Related to Japan’s Aging Population
Japanese Video Games and Their Global Appeal
The Aftermath of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
The Role of Women in Modern Japanese Society
Ways of Preserving and Revitalizing Traditional Japanese Arts
The “Japanese Miracle” of Economic Growth and Technological Advancements
Achievements, Critiques, and Reforms in the Japanese Education System
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
Symbolism of the Iconic Mount Fuji
The Legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Japan’s Ancient Temples and Urban Landscapes
How Zen Buddhism Impacts Japanese Aesthetics
The Beauty and Significance of Origami and Calligraphy
Japanese Bullet Train and Other Transportation Advancements
Traditional Japanese Performing Arts: Noh, Kabuki, and Gagaku
Modern Japanese Literature: Haruki Murakami and Yukio Mishima
Japanese Business Etiquette, Work Ethics, and Corporate Practices
Japanese Animations’ Effects on the Japanese Economy and Their Cultural Influence on Foreign Countries These artists incorporate the characteristic anime stylizations, gags and methodology in their piece of work to produce animations that are a bit similar to Japanese anime. The growing interest among foreign artists in anime is […]
Ramen Culture as a Vital Part of the Traditions in Japan Studying the history of the transformation of ramen culture and the role it plays in modern Japanese popular culture helps to explore the uniqueness of the phenomenon and understand the origins of its immense popularity.
Disneyland in American, Japanese, European Cultures Due to the popularity of the American culture, Disneyland’s representation of American culture that spreading a positive attitude about life has a significant impact on Disneyland in Asian countries, especially in Japan.
Culture Comparison Between China and Japan In Japan, it can be proved by the fact that the name Japan is written in the Chinese Kanji and not the Japanese Katakana or Hiragana.
Western Pop Culture and Street Fashion of Japanese Youth The research of the topic needs to be preceded by the explanation of the key subjects and notions used in the current paper.
The Influence of Heavy Metal on Japanese Culture In Japan, the association involving the realm of heavy metal music and personal distinctions has been surveyed in a number of studies.
Japanese Popular Culture: Anime, Video Games, and the Film Industry This report will investigate the growth and influence of Japanese pop culture through anime, video games, and the film industry. The game was created by a Japanese studio and is built on the concept of […]
Influence of Japanese Culture in Hawaii From the census, it is clear that the culture and the cuisine Hawaii, which are known today, were created by the history of the migration of Japanese to Hawaii when they settled there to work […]
Process of Modernization and How It Affected the Cultures of China and Japan Among such countries, China and Japan were voted as the most affected nations by modernization process because of the emergent of simple and advanced technologies. This changed gradually with the spread of industrial revolution in […]
Conflict Management in Japanese Culture Japan and its culture truly represent the cultural compromise that determines the development of the entire Japanese spiritual tradition.
Language and Culture: The Honorifics (Speech or System) of Japanese and Korean In Japan, honorific use is determined by the category of the addressee, that is, he/ she might be superior to the addresser, and this corresponds directly to the verb in use.
Japanese Anime and Doujin Culture In the 1980’s the anime spread to other parts of the world including the western world where it has continued to grow in popularity.
Hip-Hop and the Japanese Culture The prevalence of soul dancing in Japan in the earlier years also formed the basis for the wide acceptance of the hip-hop culture into the Japanese culture because soul dancing was common in the streets […]
Globalization and Japanese Cultures This map is in that book and this course because of demonstrating the movement of goods and people across the world from Afrique to Patagonia and Nouvelle-Guinee.
Japan After Globalization: Culture and Ethnocentrism The isolated territorial position of the country, geographical and climatic features, frequent earthquakes, and typhoons had a significant influence on the culture and mentality of the Japanese people.
Researching of the Culture of Japan As for me, I thought that the Arabic language is complicated but after I heard Japanese, I understood it was really hard to learn and speak it.
Relationships in Japanese History and Culture The preparation of the obento is not easy, it demands some special skills, and, of course, deep knowledge of the traditions.
Chinese Han Dynasty: Comparing to the Japanese Culture Changing the focus to that one of the daily lives of ordinary citizens, the art of the Chinese culture during the Han Dynasty era allowed introducing a significant amount of diversity into the artistic realm.
The Japanese Culture and Ecological Interests Many Japanese practices have been adopted in the western world due to the popularity of the culture. Among the many cultural practices of Japan, karate is the most practiced one outside the state.
Violence and War in Japanese Popular Culture 50 years after the end of the war, the effects of the war have continued to influence the Japanese culture and have also affected its relations with other countries.
Comparing the USA, China, Japan and the United Kingdom Cultures This diversity is evident in their music, fashion, cuisine, visual arts, cinema and literature and due to the propagation of the same through the media; the American culture has today become the pedestal through which […]
Culture and Customs of Japan After WWII It must be admitted, however, in the interests of truth, that the traditional mode of living and ways of thinking, both good and bad, are deeply rooted in the life of the Japanese people of […]
Comparing Japanese and Chinese Cultures The main difference between the Chinese and Japanese concept of loyalty is that the Chinese people emphasize their loyalty to their family as a top priority.
The Growth of Japanese Culture in the Tokugawa Period The principal factor that benefited the growth and progress of the nation after the ascension of Tokugawa Ieyasu to power is the conclusion of the Sengoku period.
Japan’s History and Culture on a Global Scale 1868 marked a period of the modernization of Japan, with the Meiji restoration leading to the centralization of everything about the emperor.
Japanese and Southeast Asia Cultures The activities of the warrior were based on the principle of bushido. Human civilization is the main characteristic of the culture in the continent of Asia.
Japanese Colonialism Impact on the Korean Culture For instance, Faker and Ryang consider the effects that the Japanese culture has had on the Korean one, while Schmidt and Lim deal with the ways in which Korea accepted colonialism and how the country […]
Japanese Culture and Identity in the Modern Era I strongly believe that Japanese popular culture might lose its identity due to influence from other cultures, which may lead to a slight modification of the culture.
Age in the American and the Japanese Cultures In the Japanese environment, elderly people are respected and appreciated, whereas in the environment of American society, old people are viewed as dead weight.
American vs. Japanese Cultures as Adaptive Systems Since the analysis of these cultures will be done from the perspective of the cultural theory, the paper will also examine how each culture influences the development of people, identity, and personality within it.
Japanese National and Organizational Cultures So it is mandatory for the organization to work out modalities of avoiding the feeling of one culture domineering the organization while making the other cultures seem inferior by promoting intercultural bonding and communicating the […]
Zen Buddhism Religion in Japanese Culture The uniqueness of Zen is in rejecting the importance of doctrines and emphasizing the role of the spiritual growth of the person through the practice of meditation.
Daoism Philosophy in the Cultures of the Koreans, Japanese and Chinese Besides, the treatise explores the orientations of the Daoist tradition and the concepts of sages, deities, hell and heaven, and Confucian discourse.
General Aspects of Japanese Corporate Culture Analysing the corporate culture in Japan, the essay will classify the companies into two: the large and small companies The Japanese culture of management stands out clearly in large corporations.
Japanese Culture Analysis: Values and Traditions For a manager working with a person from the Japanese culture, understanding how the cultural dimensions apply to the culture will help the manager to work well with the other individuals.
Diversity Management and Japanese Culture This is because it requires a comprehensive understanding of the cultural values of both the native country and also that of the foreign country in which you are supposed to carry out your business activities.
An Aspect of Politics and Culture of Meiji in Japan In mid 1880’s there was a financial crisis in Japan due to the huge expenses on industrialization. The Sino-Japanese war between 1894and 1895 was due to divergence of interests in Korea involving China and Japan.
Whaling in Japan: Justifiable by Culture? The gap in reasoning when it comes to utilizing the concept of “scientific research” as a means of justifying the hunting of various whale species by Japanese whalers is the obvious fact that you do […]
Analysis of “Yuri” Manga as a Peculiarity of Japanese Popular Culture Conclusions of the analysis indicate that yuri manga is not limited to lesbian culture, moreover, it is a significant element of Japanese popular culture.
Japanese Fascist Ideology and Culture In a fascist authority, the issue of taking control over the people is of great significance and fascist leaders know that for them to control the naivety of the people well then they have to […]
Traditional Culture No Longer Is Prevalent in Japanese Society However with the phasing of the government policies in to the adoption of the 1870s epoch, it was aimed to enhance the exports of lacquerware to Western countries.
Cross-Cultural Management: Japanese Culture and Its Workplace Practices This is one of the strategies that can be adopted. This is one of the pitfalls that should be avoided.
Cultural Evaluation of Japan: Beliefs and Behavior Generally, the culture of Japan is characterized by collectiveness where individualism is not usually a key concept in various practices in different sectors of the economy such as the education system, health care, and politics.
Influence of the Consumption Phenomenon on Japan’s Social Culture The present society in Japan is founded on the concepts of bettering the welfare of people. Another vital aspect that is worth noting is that the Japanese society is exceptional in because of the presence […]
Political Economy and Culture in Japan A strong work ethic and management culture in the commerce and manufacturing industry has ensured the prosperity of the Japanese economy. A good example of the interaction of political economics and culture is the case […]
Issues of Japanese Cultural Identity The other way the anime productions deal with the issues of the Japanese and their cultural identity is by presenting the aspects and ideas that define the people of Japan.
The Japanese Culture of Ukiyo-E and Ikebana Two areas of the Japanese culture that Mori talks about is Ukiyo-e and Ikebana which are Japanese words that are common to the pre-Meiji artistic works of the Japanese people.
Japanese Culture vs. Chinese Culture: The Loss of Patriotism
Anime and Its Effects on Japanese Culture
Impact of Buddhism on the Japanese Culture
Chinese and Japanese Culture Comparison and Analysis
Cultural Globalisation Through Japanese Culture
Did the Samurai Have a Significant Impact on Japanese Culture?
Differences Between Korean and Japanese Culture
Eating Disorders and Self-Harm in Japanese Culture
Gender Roles in the Japanese Culture
Hip-Hop Impact on the Japanese Culture
How Does Sushi Reflect Japanese Culture?
Overview of Japanese Culture and Communication Features
Japanese Culture Views on Homosexuality
How Japanese Culture Has Become So Popular
Japanese Culture and Its Relation to Buddhism
How Japanese Culture Affects the Economy
The Parallels Between Japanese Culture and Military Conflict History
The Relationships Between Japanese Culture and Politics
How Reliance Will Get Fit Into the Japanese Culture
Linking Japanese and South African Culture
Japanese Culture and the Misconceptions Associated With It
American Culture and Japanese Culture: Comparative Analysis
Japanese Culture and Western Influence on It
The Role of Sexuality in the Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture: Art, History, and Society
Japanese Culture and Role of Women in It
Communication Guide Between America Business Culture and Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture Factors Influenced the Disclosure of Financial Information
The Link Between Religions and Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture: From Ancient to Modern Times
Social and Geographical Aspects of the Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture Places High Value on Privacy
The Gender Problems in the Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture: Producing Japan in the World
Key Similarities and Differences Between the Japanese and the American Cultures
Japanese Culture That Reflects Through Their Writing and Art Forms
Motivation and Organizational Japanese Culture
The Odd and Fascinating Japanese Culture
Tracing Back the Japanese Culture to 10,000 BC
Understanding the Japanese Culture Through the Warrior Codes of Bushido
What Is the Influence of Anime on Japanese Culture?
Are Chinese and Japanese Cultures Similar?
How Is Cultural Globalization Through Japanese Culture?
Did the Samurai Have a Significant Impact on Japanese Culture and Historical?
What Are the Differences Between Korean and Japanese Cultures?
Are Eating Disorders and Self-Harm Inherent in Japanese Culture?
What Is the Cultural Assessment of Japanese Culture?
What Are the Gender Roles in Japanese Culture?
How Has Japanese Culture Become So Popular?
How Dose Japanese Culture Affects the Economy Cultural?
What Is the Attitude Towards Homosexuality in Japanese Culture?
What Are the Features of Communication in Japanese Culture?
How Reliance Will Get Fit Into the Japanese Culture?
How Does Japanese Culture Affect Japanese Business?
What Are Some Misconceptions About Japanese Culture?
What Is the Place of Women in Japanese Culture?
What Do You Need to Know About Japanese Culture Before Going to Japan?
How Did Japanese Culture Change From Ancient Times to Modern Times?
How Is Japan’s Culture Reflected in Their Writing and Art Forms?
What Are the Differences Between American and Japanese Cultures?
How Is Sexuality Interpreted in Japanese Culture?
How Does Japanese Culture Spread Abroad?
What Is the Place of Religion in Japanese Culture?
What Are the Socio-Geographical Aspects of Japanese Culture?
What Is the Place of Food in Japanese Culture?
How Can Japanese Culture Be Understood Through the Warrior Codes of Bushido?
What Is the Uniqueness of Japanese Culture?
How Does the West Respond to Japanese Culture?
What Is the Role of Buddhism in Japanese Culture?
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Japanese literature
The "pure" Japanese language, untainted and unfertilized by Chinese influence, contained remarkably few words of an abstract nature. Just as English borrowed words such as morality, honesty, justice, and the like from the Continent, the Japanese borrowed these terms from China; but if the Japanese language was lacking in the vocabulary appropriate to a Confucian essay, it could express ...
Japanese Literature: A Very Short Introduction
Japanese literature birthed other genres no less important than poetry and narrative, among them the literary diary, the free-flowing essay, drama, the picture book, and the literary treatise. As steeped as it is in the beautiful literary rendering of the world, Japanese literature has also been deeply responsive to history and violence ...
Japanese literature
Japanese literature. Japanese literature spans a period of almost two millennia and comprises one of the major literatures in the world, comparable to English literature in age and scope. It comprises a number of genres, including novels, poetry, and drama, travelogues, personal diaries and collections of random thoughts and impressions.
5 Things You Should Know About Japanese Literature
This is inspired by opposing views on narratives, time, and endings. This different approach to telling a love story or a family drama feels new and fresh to Western audiences. 2. Themes in Japanese Literature. Beyond narrative structure, there are also the themes of Japanese literature.
Japanese literature
Japanese literature throughout most of its history has been influenced by cultural contact with neighboring Asian literatures, most notably China and its literature.Early texts were often written in pure Classical Chinese or lit. ' Chinese writing ' (漢文, kanbun), a Chinese-Japanese creole language. Indian literature also had an influence through the spread of Buddhism in Japan.
Why I Love Reading Japanese Literature
Why I Love Reading Japanese Literature. Anukrti Upadhyay. July 20, 2020. During one of my first visits to Japan, we were lunching at a tempura restaurant in Tokyo. Through the open shoji door, we could see a pretty wilderness - scattered shrubs and dwarf trees, a slim, silvery stream with irises on its bank and a willow leaning over a rock to ...
Resource Guide for Japanese Language Students: Essays
A collection of essays by Murakami Haruki who is a best-selling contemporary Japanese writer. Each essay, originally published in a women's magazine "an-an" from 2000 to 2001, is approx. 4-8 pages. No furiganas are provided. (added 4/8/2014) To see a sample text in a new tab, please click on the cover image or the title.
Contemporary Japanese Literature: A Foreigner's View
Contemporary Japanese Literature: A Foreigner's View the general fondness for essays is a sign of a period at the end of its cycle. This last is good proletarian criticism. Of the books listed above, not one is by a proletarian, whereas just before the Manchurian campaign, the outstanding books were nearly all by Marxist writers,
Routledge Handbook of Modern Japanese Literature
The Routledge Handbook of Modern Japanese Literature draws from an international array of established experts in the field as well as promising young researchers. It represents a wide variety of critical approaches, giving the study a broad range of perspectives. This handbook will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian Studies ...
Literature
Here is a short list of useful articles databases for classical Japanese literary studies. Note that many of these sources only index to journal articles -- they don't actually have the full text. Use the gold "UC-eLinks" button to do an automated search to find the full text or citation linker, or search for the journal title in the UCLA Library Catalog.
Essays on Japan
Essays on Japan is a compilation of Professor Michael F. Marra's essays written in the past ten years on the topics of Japanese literature, Japanese aesthetics, and the space between the two subjects. Marra is one of the leading scholars in the field of Japanese aesthetics and hermeneutics and has published extensively on medieval and early modern Japanese literature, thought, and the arts.
PDF Japanese Literature for the High School Classroom
Japanese literature, it is often difficult to find works that fit into the interest and lives of young people. ... The works span the literary spectrum from verse, drama, and essays to novels, diaries, and short stories. Some of the works, such as 11th century The Tale of Genji, are well-known masterpieces of world literature. Other pieces ...
20 Authors of Japanese Literature
20 Authors of Japanese Literature *Note: The following list follows the traditional Japanese order of writing full names with surname first followed by given name without comma. ... Kenko is the author of one of three iconic zuihitsu (a genre in Japanese literature of loosely connected personal essays) from the Kamakura period (1185-1333). His ...
65 Best Japanese Books of All Time
Told from the cat protagonist's perspective as it wanders the neighborhood eavesdropping on gossiping residents, Soseki created a quintessentially Japanese work of literature that has rightly stood the tough test of time. I Am a Cat - Available at Amazon. 3. The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura.
PDF LITERATURE
A long, rich history and exciting present. The written literature of Japan forms one of the richest of Oriental traditions. It has received foreign influences since its beginning in the 8th century. Before the middle of the 19th century, the source of influence was the culture of China. After the middle of the 19th century, the impact of modern ...
PDF JAPN 110: Introduction to Japanese Literature Part 1: Course Information
Japanese folklore essay (Urashima Taro) (10%) Write an essay on Japanese folklore in Japanese. Use Genkoo Yoshi (at least 2 pages). Your essay can be one of the following styles: descriptive essay, expository essay, or creative writing. 4. Chapter summary and recording (20%) Summarize each chapter (Chapter 1 - 10) in Japanese (approximately
Traditional Japanese Literature
Traditional Japanese Literature features a rich array of works dating from the very beginnings of the Japanese written language through the evolution of Japan's noted aristocratic court and warrior cultures. It contains stunning new translations of such canonical texts as The Tales of the Heike as well as works and genres previously ignored by scholars and unknown to general readers.
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Haniya Yutaka (1909-1997) was one of the leading figures in postwar Japanese literature and avant-garde art movements, chiefly remembered today for his unfinished metaphysical novel Dead Souls ...
Introduction to Japanese Literature
There is more to it than this. Japanese culture has long history of literature which has been handed down from generation to generation since the 8th century (there are some people who even say ...
Japanese Literature cultural features
Writing in Tokyo. With the rise of a literate middle class in 17th- and 18th-century Tokyo, new forms of writing, including kabuki plays, travel diaries and illustrated fiction arose, many of them influenced by China. Japanese authors were first exposed to Western influences in the mid-19th century, resulting in the first prose novels.
Japanese Literature
Their writing is artfully worded and structured, and it has always been characterized by its lyrical beauty. In this essay, we will look at how Japanese literature has evolved over the years, beginning at the first complete works, and moving on through time to today's great Japanese writers. Japanese literature began around the year 700.
147 Japanese Culture Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
Tea Ceremony in Japanese Culture. The Beauty of Japanese Gardens. The Art of Japanese Floral Arrangement. Festivals and Matsuri in Japanese Culture. The Code of Bushido and Its Influence on Society. Pop Culture Phenomena of J-Pop and Kawaii. Sushi, Ramen, and Other Culinary Delights of Japan.
Japanese essay Archives
Writing an essay expressing gratitude in Japanese Hello everyone! In this post, Learn Japanese Daily will introduce to you the. Japanese essay.