#discoverjapaneselit

Nov 12, 20222 min read

Lecture on “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima at Adelphi University

I’ve been blessed with a wonderful opportunity to conduct a class on Mishima featuring “Patriotism” as a guest lecturer at Adelphi...

Oct 10, 20221 min read

“What it is to Read in Japanese” by Minae Mizumura

I read essays of Mizumura, which is a sister book of “What it is to Write in Japanese”. As compared to the other one, this is in a way...

Sep 29, 20211 min read

“American Hijiki” by Akiyuki Nosaka

Nosaka is most noted for “Graves of the Fireflies”. He was versatile and multifaceted: writer, singer, lyricist, actor, and politician....

Sep 26, 20211 min read

“Earthlings” by Sayaka Murata

I have been fervently recommended to read this novel by my friends. This story poses a big question mark to our pre-conceived notions,...

Sep 22, 20212 min read

“Pink” by Tomoyuki Hoshino

“Pink” by Tomoyuki Hoshino (The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories) I deal with the theme of ‘post-war Japan’ this term, under which...

Sep 19, 20212 min read

“Hell Screen” by Ryunosuke Akutagawa

“Hell Screen” by Ryunosuke Akutagawa Ryunosuke Akutagawa is a genius writer. He committed suicide feeling “uncertain insecurity” at the...

Nov 23, 20201 min read

“American School” by Nobuo Kojima

“American School” by Nobuo Kojima Nobuo Kojima was born in 1915. He majored in English literature at Tokyo Imperial University. In 1942,...