Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III – Central Luzon
Tarlac City Schools Division
MALIWALO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
TarlacCity,Tarlac

JAPAN
(A Written Report)
21st CENTURY LITEARTURE

By:
Saira C. Canlas
Maricar V. Melegrito
Veronica Aguilar

12- SHAKESPEARE
Humanities and Social Sciences

Prepared for:

CHRISTIAN PAUL SUNGA

21st CENTURY LITEARTURE
 A. History
Japanese literature is one of the major literatures of the world, similar to English
literature in age and variety. The earliest full-length novel, The Tale of Genji was written in Japan
in the early 11th century. In addition to novels, poetry, and drama, other genres such as
travelogues, personal diaries and collections of random thoughts and impressions, are
prominent in Japanese literature. In addition to works in the Japanese language, Japanese writers
produced a large body of writing in classical Chinese.
Japanese Literature is generally divided into three main periods:
 Ancient

 Medieval

 Modern

Ancient Literature (until 894)

Before the introduction of kanji from China, there was no writing system in Japan. At
first, Chinese characters were used in Japanese formats, and the literary language was classical
Chinese; resulting in sentences that looked like Chinese but were phonetically read as Japanese.
Chinese characters were used, not for their meanings, but because they had a phonetic sound
which resembled a Japanese word. Modification of the normal usage of Chinese characters to
accommodate Japanese names and expressions is already evident in the oldest known inscription,
on a sword dating from about 440 C.E.. The use of Chinese characters initiated a centuries-long
association of literary composition with the art of calligraphy.
Chinese characters were later adapted to write Japanese speech, creating what is known as the
man'yōgana, the earliest form of kana, or syllabic writing. The earliest works were created in the
Nara Period. These include
Kojiki - a work recording Japanese mythology and legendary history.
Nihonshoki - a chronicle with a slightly more solid foundation in historical records than Kojiki.
Man'yōshū (Ten Thousand Leaves) - an anthology of poetry.
More than 120 songs in the Kojiki and Nihonshoki were written in phonetic transcription, and
parts of the Kojiki contain a mixture of Chinese characters used to represent their Chinese
meanings, and Chinese characters used to represent a phonetic sound.
Classical Literature (894 - 1194; the Heian period)
Classical Japanese literature generally refers to literature produced during the Heian
Period, what some would consider a golden era of art and literature.
Works of Murasaki Shikibu
The Tale of Genji (early 11th century) - is considered the pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian
fiction and an early example of a work of fiction in the form of a novel.
Kokin Wakashū (905, waka poetry anthology)
The Pillow Book (990s), an essay about the life, loves, and pastimes of nobles in the Emperor's
court.
Medieval Literature (1195 - 1600)
Medieval Japanese Literature is marked by the strong influence of Zen Buddhism , and
many writers were priests, travelers, or ascetic poets. Also during this period, Japan experienced
many civil wars which led to the development of a warrior class, and a widespread interest in
war tales, histories, and related stories.
Work from this period is notable for its insights into life and death, simple lifestyles,
and redemption through killing.
A representative work is:
The Tale of the Heike (1371) - an epic account of the struggle between the Minamoto and Taira
clans for control of Japan at the end of the twelfth century.
Other important tales of the period include Kamo no Chōmei 's Hōjōki (1212) and Yoshida
Kenko 's Tsurezuregusa (1331).
Other notable genres in this period were renga, or linked verse, and Noh theater. Both were
rapidly developed in the middle of the fourteenth century, during the early Muromachi period .
Early-Modern Literature (1600-1868)
The literature of this time was written during the generally peaceful Tokugawa Period
(commonly referred to as the Edo Period ). Due in large part to the rise of the working and
middle classes in the new capital of Edo (modern Tokyo ), forms of popular drama developed
which would later evolve into kabuki. The joruri and kabuki dramatist Chikamatsu Monzaemon
became popular at the end of the seventeenth century.
Matsuo Bashō wrote Oku no Hosomichi (奥の細道, 1702) - a travel diary.
Hokusai - Japan's most famous woodblock print artist, also illustrated fiction as well as his
famous 36 Views of Mount Fuji.
Many genres of literature made their début during the Edo Period , inspired by a rising literacy
rate among the growing population of townspeople, as well as the development of lending
libraries. Although there was a minor Western influence trickling into the country from the Dutch
settlement at Nagasaki, it was the importation of Chinese vernacular fiction that proved the
greatest outside influence on the development of early modern Japanese fiction. Ihara Saikaku
might be said to have given birth to the modern consciousness of the novel in Japan, mixing
vernacular dialogue into his humorous and cautionary tales of the pleasure quarters.
Tōkaidōchū hizakurige ( 東 海 道 中 膝 栗 毛 ) by Jippensha Ikku ( 十 返 舎 一 九 ) - a mix of
travelogue and comedy.
Tsuga Teisho, Takebe Ayatari, and Okajima Kanzan were instrumental in developing the
yomihon, which were historical romances almost entirely in prose, influenced by Chinese
vernacular novels such as Three Kingdoms and Shui hu zhuan.
Kyokutei Bakin wrote the extremely popular fantasy and historical romance, Nansō Satomi
Hakkenden (南総里見八犬伝), in addition to other yomihon.
Santō Kyōden wrote yomihon mostly set in the gay quarters until the Kansei edicts banned such
works, and he turned to comedic kibyōshi.
New genres included horror, crime stories, morality stories, and comedy, often accompanied
by colorful woodcut prints.
Meiji, Taisho, and Early Showa literature (1868-1945)
The Meiji era marked the re-opening of Japan to the West, and a period of rapid
industrialization. Young Japanese prose writers and dramatists struggled with a whole galaxy of
new ideas and artistic schools, but novelists were the first to successfully assimilate some of
these concepts.
 In the early Meiji era (1868-1880s), Fukuzawa Yukichi and Nakae Chomin authored
Enlightenment literature, while pre-modern popular books depicted the quickly changing
country.
In the mid-Meiji (late 1880s - early 1890s) Realism was introduced by Tsubouchi Shoyo
and Futabatei Shimei, while the Classicism of Ozaki Koyo, Yamada Bimyo and Koda Rohan
gained popularity.
Higuchi Ichiyo - a rare woman writer in this era, wrote short stories on powerless women of this
age in a simple style, between literary and colloquial.
Izumi Kyoka - a favored disciple of Ozaki, pursued a flowing and elegant style and wrote early
novels such as The Operating Room (1895) in literary style and later ones including The Holy
Man of Mount Koya (1900) in colloquial language.
Mori Ogai introduced Romanticism to Japan with his anthology of translated poems (1889), and
it was carried to its height by Shimazaki Toson and his contemporaries and by the magazines
Myōjō and Bungaku-kai in the early 1900s. Mori also wrote some modern novels including The
Dancing Girl (1890), Wild Geese (1911), and later wrote historical novels. A new colloquial
literature developed centering on the “I” novel,
Watakushi-shôsetu - a form of fiction that describes the world from the author’s point of view
and depicts his own mental states. This style incorporated some unusual protagonists such as the
cat narrator of Natsume Soseki 's humorous and satirical Wagahai wa neko de aru (“I Am a Cat,”
1905).
Natsume Soseki - who is often compared with Mori Ogai, also wrote the famous novels Botchan
(1906) and Sanshirô (1908), depicting the freshness and purity of youth. He eventually pursued
transcendence of human emotions and egoism in his later works including Kokoro (1914), and
his last unfinished novel Light and Darkness (1916). Shiga Naoya, the so called "god of the
novel," wrote in an autobiographical style, depicting his states of his mind, that is also classified
as “I” novel.
Shimazaki shifted from Romanticism to Naturalism , which was established with the publication
of The Broken Commandment (1906) and Katai Tayama's Futon (1907). Naturalism led to the
“I” novel.
Neo-romanticism came out of anti-naturalism and was led by Nagai Kafu, Junichiro Tanizaki ,
Kotaro Takamura, Kitahara Hakushu and others during the early 1910s. Mushanokoji Saneatsu,
Shiga Naoya and others founded a magazine, Shirakaba, in 1910 to promote Humanism.
Ryunosuke Akutagawa, who was highly praised by Soseki, represented Neo-realism in the mid-
1910s and wrote intellectual, analytical short stories including Rashômon (1915).
During the 1920s and early 1930s the proletarian literary movement, comprising such writers as
Kobayashi Takiji, Kuroshima Denji, Miyamoto Yuriko, and Sata Ineko, produced a
politically radical literature depicting the harsh lives of workers, peasants, women, and other
downtrodden members of society, and their struggles for change.
War-time Japan saw the début of several authors best known for the beauty of their language and
their tales of love and sensuality, notably
Tanizaki Junichiro Japan's first winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Kawabata Yasunari , a
master of psychological fiction.
Hino Ashihei wrote lyrical bestsellers glorifying the war, while Ishikawa Tatsuzo attempted to
publish a disturbingly realistic account of the advance on Nanjing. Writers who opposed the war
include Kuroshima Denji, Kaneko Mitsuharu, Oguma Hideo, and Ishikawa Jun.
Modern Themes
Although modern Japanese writers covered a wide variety of subjects, one particularly
Japanese approach stressed their subjects' inner lives, widening the earlier novel's preoccupation
with the narrator's consciousness. In Japanese fiction, plot development and action have often
been of secondary interest to emotional issues. In keeping with the general trend toward
reaffirming national characteristics, many old themes re-emerged in modern literature, and some
authors turned consciously to the past. Strikingly, Buddhist attitudes about the importance of
knowing oneself and the poignant impermanence of things formed an undercurrent of sharp
social criticism of modern materialism. There was a growing emphasis on women's roles, the
Japanese persona in the modern world, and the malaise of common people lost in the
complexities of urban culture.
Contemporary Literature
Popular fiction, non-fiction, and children's literature all flourished in urban Japan during
the 1980s. Many popular works fell between "pure literature" and pulp novels, including all sorts
of historical serials, information-packed docudramas, science fiction, mysteries, detective fiction,
business stories, war journals, and animal stories. Non-fiction covered everything from crime to
politics. Although factual journalism predominated, many of these works were interpretive,
reflecting a high degree of individualism. Children's works re-emerged in the 1950s, and the
newer entrants into this field, many of them younger women, brought new vitality to it in the
1980s.
Manga (comic books) have penetrated almost every sector of the popular market. They include
virtually every field of human interest, such as a multi volume high-school history of Japan and,
for the adult market, a manga introduction to economics, and pornography. At the end of the
1980s, manga represented between twenty and thirty percent of total annual publications in
Japan, representing sales of some four hundred billion yen annually. In contemporary Japan,
there is a debate over whether the rise in popular forms of entertainment such as manga and
anime has caused a decline in the quality of literature in Japan.
Famous authors and literary works of significant stature are listed in chronological order
below.
Classical literature
Ōtomo no Yakamochi (c.717 - 785):
Man'yōshū
Sei Shonagon (c.~966 - c.10??): The Pillow Book
Murasaki Shikibu (c.973 - c.1025): The Tale of Genji
Medieval literature
Yoshida Kenkō (c.1283–1352):
Tsurezuregusa
The Tale of Genji also known as The Tale of the Heike (1371)
Early-modern literature
Ihara Saikaku (1642 - 1693)
Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694)
Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653 - 1725)
Ueda Akinari (1734 - 1809)
Santo Kyoden (1761 - 1816)
Jippensha Ikku (1765 - 1831)
Kyokutei Bakin (1767 - 1848)
Edo Meisho Zue (travelogue, 1834)
Hokuetsu Seppu (work of human geography, 1837)
Modern literature
Mori Ogai (1862 - 1922)
Ozaki Koyo (1867 - 1903)
Natsume Soseki (1867 - 1916)
Izumi Kyoka (1873 - 1939)
Shiga Naoya (1883 - 1971)
Ishikawa Takuboku (1886 - 1912)
Tanizaki Junichiro (1886 - 1965)
Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892 - 1927)
Eiji Yoshikawa (1892 - 1962)
Kaneko Mitsuharu (1895 - 1975)
Miyazawa Kenji (1896 - 1933)
Kuroshima Denji (1898 - 1943)
Tsuboi Shigeji (1898 - 1975)
Ishikawa Jun (1899 - 1987)
Kawabata Yasunari (1899 - 1972)
Miyamoto Yuriko (1899 - 1951)
Tsuboi Sakae (1900 - 1967)
Oguma Hideo (1901 - 1940)
Kobayashi Takiji (1903 - 1933)
Ishikawa Tatsuzo (1905-1985)
Dazai Osamu (1909 - 1948)
Endo Shusaku (1923 - 1996)
Abe Kobo (1924 - 1993)
Mishima Yukio (1925 - 1970)
Inoue Hisashi (1933 -)
Oe Kenzaburo (1935 -)
Yamamoto Michiko (1936 -)
Nakagami Kenji (1946 - 1992)
Murakami Haruki (1949 -)
Murakami Ryu (1952 -)
Banana Yoshimoto/Yoshimoto Mahoko (1964 - )

B. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTRY’S LITERATURE

J - aw dropping and hardly exaggerated.

A - bundant and ranks as one of the major literatures of the world.
P - resent an extraordinary variety of styles which cannot be explained merely in terms of natural
evolution of the language.
A - mbiguity style has always favoured.
N - oble.

C. Classics and 21st Century Works

Japan’s ancient history has imbued it with a diverse literary heritage largely ignored by
American literati and professors, save for a few notable exceptions. Anyone wanting to further
explore the full range of the country’s written works should consider this list a primer of the
highlights to hit before moving on to other poems, novels, plays, comics and short stories. Plenty
of amazing writers and narratives exist beyond these, of course, and anyone who digs for them
will dredge up a slew of literary treasures.

Kokin Wakashu (circa 905) by Various: Emperor Uda and his scion and successor,
Emperor Daigo, ordered this collection of royal waka to celebrate Japan’s rich creative heritage.
Spanning 21 collections and roughly 1,111 poems, it was compiled by court poets Mibu no
Tadamine, Ki no Tsurayuki, Ki no Tomonori and Oshikochi Mitsune and included works by Ono
no Komachi, Ariwara no Narihira and Fujiwara no Okikaze Henjo as well as the editors
themselves.
Taketori Monogatari (10th Century) by Unknown: Known alternately as “The Tale of the
Bamboo-Cutter” and “The Old Bamboo-Hewer’s Story,” folklorists believe this narrative is quite
possibly the oldest in Japan. Because of the bizarre content, including glowing stalks of the
eponymous plant, some even think of the story as one of the earliest science-fiction stories as
well.
The Tale of Genji (early 11th Century) by Murasaki Shikibu: Many, if not most, literary
critics and aficionados consider The Tale of Genji humanity’s first novel. At least in the format
familiar today, anyways. Featuring over 400 characters, though focusing on the life of only one,
it provides history buffs a glimpse into Japanese life under the feudal system. In spite of this epic
scope, Murasaki Shikibu masterfully maintains internal consistency.

Konjaku Monogatarishu (circa 12th Century) by Various: Only 28 of the original 31

volumes of Konjaku Monogatarishu survive today. Thousands of folk stories from across Asia,
including India and China, come together thanks to the efforts of a currently unknown compiler.
Many believe it was a Buddhist monk’s doing, and the exact date of its inception is unknown,
too.
The Tale of the Heike (13th Century) by Various: Like many medieval literary works, this
epic poem was less the efforts of one rather than a collaboration from many. It depicts the
histories of the Minamoto and Taira tribes and their mutual struggle for dominance during the
Genpei War. The history trickled its way down to the contributors thanks to Japan’s ancient oral
tradition.
The Complete Haiku (17th Century) Matsuo Basho: Anyone critical of haiku thanks to
their contemporary comedic applications should pick up Matsuo Basho’s work. Many literary
types consider him amongst the greatest — if not the absolute greatest — Japanese poets of all
time. With elegant simplicity, he expounds on everything from nature to daily existence.
Takekurabe (1895-1896) by Higuchi Ichiyo: Taking place in the Yoshiwara district, this
short novel traces the life spans of several children as they come of age in close proximity to
licensed prostitution. Much time is spent mourning the loss of youthful freedom and imagination
as the years and responsibilities pile on.

I am a Cat (1905-1906) by Natsume Soseki: One of Japan’s finest satires, I am a Cat

deconstructs Meiji politics and social constructs, particularly those liberally borrowing from the
“West.” The narrator itself is a little housecat watching the neighborhood’s day-to-day doings
and relating them back with detachment and irony.
A Dark Night’s Passing (1921-1937) by Shiga Naoya: As with many of the literary works listed
here, this novel began life as a serial printed in a magazine rather than a full manuscript. Shiga
Naoya went with the highly popular slice-of-life format to relay the story of an unmarried man
and the many misadventures he bumbles into regularly.
Thousand Cranes (1952) by Yasunari Kawabata: Yasunari Kawabata was the very first
Japanese writer to ever earn the Novel Prize in Literature, and the nomination committees
specifically mentioned Thousand Cranes as one of the major factors in their decision-making
process. A war orphan seeks the companionship of his father’s mistress in order to forge some
semblance of family in his life. Things quickly fall apart.
Fires on the Plain (1954) by Ooka Shohei: World War II understandably left an indelible
impact on the Japanese creative sphere, and Fires on the Plain perfectly encapsulates the
emotions and experiences of soldiers towards the end. Private Tomura, the protagonist, finds
himself stranded in the Filipino jungle after being booted from his company. What results is an
encroaching delirium with some sickening consequences.
Temple of the Golden Pavilion (1956) by Yukio Mishima: The titular temple is an actual
location in Kyoto, and the true story of a wayward monk resorting to arson inspired one of
Japan’s most famous (and infamous) authors to fictionalize it in one of his celebrated novels.
Only loosely based on reality, Mishima’s masterpiece dives into the mind of the perpetrator
himself. An overwhelming obsession with beauty and perfection eventually drives the narrator
mad and prompts him to burn the beloved shrine.
A Personal Matter (1964) by Kenzaburo Oe: Author Kenzaburo Oe was the second Japanese
writer to ever earn the Novel Prize in Literature, and this novel undoubtedly solidified his place
amongst the literary canon. Here, he pulls from his own life experiences and expresses the
myriad virulent emotions that come with fathering a brain-damaged child.
The Woman in the Dunes (1964) by Hiroshi Teshigahara: This deeply existential novel
concerns an entomologist lost to the toils of a sandy little village, where a widow is tasked with
perpetually keeping the dunes from encroaching. The two become lovers, and the newcomer
eventually succumbs to the same daily drudgery. Fans of the postmodern and avant-garde should
pick up The Woman in the Dunes when exploring the full range of Japanese literature.
Phoenix (1967-1988) by Osamu Tezuka: Manga in Japan enjoys far more popularity and
mainstream acceptance than comic books do in America, hence why the country views Osamu
Tezuka’s beautiful, complex works national treasures. Although Phoenix remained unfinished
after his death, each of the 12 self-contained volumes sports a standalone story reflecting a
broader theme. This masterpiece dissects existential and Buddhist philosophies for a thoroughly
provocative reading experience.
Almost Transparent Blue (1976) by Ryu Murakami: In spite (or because) of a life packed with
the usual sex, drugs, rock and roll and few responsibilities, the protagonists meander through
their various narratives with little enthusiasm or motivation. The looming specter of an American
military base punctures the largely plotless novel with a distinctly foreign presence.
The Remains of the Day (1989) by Kazuo Ishiguro: Kazu Ishiguro earned a Booker Prize for
his third novel, garnering him considerable attention in Britain (where he is a citizen) and Japan
alike. Here, a staid English butler contemplates his station in life along with a feisty housekeeper,
but allows his stuffiness to ruin many chances at having nice things.
Akira (1982-1990): Both Akira‘s art and story are brutal, kinetic and highly visceral, but unwind
a thoroughly provocative narrative about child abuse and exploitation. Science fiction fans or
literary critics unafraid to explore genre fare will appreciate how deeply it impacted the
cyberpunk movement and many subsequent writers and artists.
Kitchen (1988) by Banana Yoshimoto: A young woman learns some important lessons about
life and love thanks to her culinary experience. Food is always somehow present no matter where
she is, and a curious assortment of individuals open up their hearts to help assuage the pain from
her grandmother’s death.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994-1995) by Haruki Murakami: Haruki Murakami’s oeuvre
abounds with essential reads, but The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle continues to enjoy the most
international renown decades later. After protagonist Toru Okada’s cat runs away, he finds
himself embroiled in a plot that unravels his boring little life and reveals the puzzles underneath.
This haunting, twisted work earned the author multiple awards and a place as one of the literary
world’s preeminent postmodern novelists.

D. EXPLANATION OF THE SHARED TRADITION/ART/PRACTICE?

DANCE/LANGUAGE/TUTORIAL.ETC.
 Language Tutorial – we will teach them some Japanese words and phrases and share
some trivia about the language in Japan.
 Beliefs – we will share some Japanese beliefs and tradition .
 We will make them feel the touch of Japan and for them to gain knowledge about the
interesting culture and literature in Japan.
 The Spider’s Thread by Ryunosuke Akutagawa

One day, the Buddha was strolling along the brink of the lotus pond of Paradise. His eyes fell on
a man named Kandata who was squirming with the other sinners in the bottom of hell. This
Kandata had done so many evil things his lifeline but he had to his credit one good action. Once,
while on his way through a deep forest, he had noticed a little spider creeping along beside the
road. He was about to trample it to death when he suddenly changed his mind and spared the
spider’s life.

Now, as he looked down into hell, the Buddha remembered this good deed and thought he would
like to deliver Kandata out of hell. Looking around he saw a spider of Paradise spinning a
beautiful silvery thread on the lotus leaves. The Buddha took up the spider’s thread in his hand
and let it straight down to the bottom of hell which held Kandata securely with the other sinners
in the Pool of Blood on the floor of hell.

On this day, Kandata lifted his head by chance and saw a silver spider’s thread slipping down
toward him from the high heavens. Kandata grasped the thread tightly in his two hands and
began to climb up and up with all his might.

After climbing for a while, he was finally exhausted and could not ascend an inch higher. He
stopped to rest and looked below him. What he saw filled him with fear. For, below on the
thread, countless sinners were climbing eagerly after him up and up, like a procession of ants.

Kandata blinked his eyes at them with his big mouth hanging foolishly open in surprise and
terror. How could that slender spider spider’s thread which seemed as if it must break with him
alone, ever support the weight of all those people? If it would break in mid air, even he himself
would have to fall headlong back to Hell.

So Kandata cried out in loud voice. “Hey, you sinners! This thread is mine. Who gave you
permission to come up it? Get down! Get down!”

At that moment, the spider’s thread broke with a snap t the point where Kandata was hanging.
Without even time to utter a cry, Kandata shot down and fell headlong into the darkness,
spinning swiftly around and around like a top.