In Volume 2 of Columbia's comprehensive anthology of modern
Japanese literature, thoughtfully selected and carefully translated
readings portray the vast changes that have transformed Japanese
culture since the end of the Pacific War. Beginning with the Allied
Occupation in 1945 and concluding with the early twenty-first
century, these stories, poems, plays, and essays reflect Japan's
heady transition from poverty to prosperity, its struggle with
conflicting ideologies and political beliefs, and the growing
influence of popular culture on the country's artistic and
intellectual traditions.
Organized chronologically and by genre within each period,
readings include fiction by Hayashi Fumiko and Oe Kenzaburo; poems
by Ayukawa Nobuo, Katsura Nobuko, and Saito Fumi; plays by Mishima
Yukio and Shimizu Kunio; and a number of essays, among them Eto Jun
on Natsume Soseki and his brilliant novel "Kokoro" ( "The Heart of
Things"), and Kawabata Yasunari on the shape of his literary career
and the enduring influence of classical Japanese literature.
Some authors train a keen eye on the contemporary world, while
others address the historical past and its relationship to modern
culture. Some adopt an even broader scope and turn to European
models for inspiration, while others look inward, exploring
psychological and sexual terrain in new, often daring ways.
Spanning almost six decades, this anthology provides a thorough
introduction to a profound period of creative activity.
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