Japanese Writers and the West

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgments......Page 9
Introduction......Page 10
Soseki’s possible experience of racial prejudice during his visit to London, as a backdrop to the novel I Am a Cat......Page 18
Soseki and his interpretation of Western individualism......Page 19
Soseki’s application of his theory of individualism in his work Kokoro (Mind)......Page 22
English influences on Soseki’s writing in Kokoro......Page 31
‘Individualism-plus’ – Henry James’s The Beast in the Jungle......Page 33
Hiroshi Yosano’s observations of Western individualism, and his adoration of it, despite his identification with the group: From Paris......Page 40
Akiko Yosano’s opinions on the status of French women in society, and on the French women’s movement; her feminism, and the importance of ‘home’......Page 48
Akiko Yosano’s indentification with feminine individualism, and its assimilation and acceptance by the Japanese public; its role in some of her tanka poetry......Page 50
3 Yukio Mishima (1925–70): His Love of Idiosyncracy and of ‘Failed Groupism’, in Parallel with His Romantic Escape into the Freedom of the Sea, Observed in His Work The Temple of the Golden Pavilion......Page 60
Mishima’s individualism......Page 63
John Haylock’s assessments of Mishima......Page 68
4 Traces of a Different Sort of ‘Groupism’ in Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (b. 1949)......Page 70
Endo’s love affair with Françoise......Page 84
Endo’s silence to Françoise about his marriage......Page 86
The significance of Françoise as a reminder of Endo’s Western experiences......Page 87
Junko Ogura’s reminiscence of Françoise Pastre......Page 89
Endo’s strong tendency to be extremely Japanese......Page 90
Endo’s advocacy of ‘sad’ aspects of Japanese Catholicism......Page 93
Endo’s evangelical activities depicted in his work......Page 96
Correspondence between Françoise Pastre and Shusaku Endo......Page 98
Geneviève Pastre......Page 100
Keiichi Tate, and the first meeting between Françoise Pastre and Endo......Page 101
Physical and cultural differences......Page 104
Endo’s misunderstanding of St. Peter’s denial of Christ, as an underlying theme in Rodrigues’ acknowledgment of Christ’s permission to him to step on his icon (fumie) in The Silence; and the problem of Japanese lack of consciousness of the passage of time as its possible cause......Page 105
Endo seen through Japanese eyes......Page 107
Peter Owen on Endo......Page 115
Introduction and commentary......Page 118
Françoise Pastre’s early life – her meeting with and parting from Endo – the devastating consequence of Endo’s marriage – individualism versus groupism......Page 119
Western individualism versus Japanese ‘groupism’......Page 123
Françoise’s discovery of Japan and its beauty – glimpses of happiness found in Japan – her work translating Endo’s The Silence, through which conflicts and a crisis between them arose – her views on teaching Japanese students, and her views on Japanese students, and her views on Janpanese life and mentality......Page 128
Françoise’s conviction that ‘He did love me’ – her ignorance of her terminal condition – her fervent desire to return to Japan shortly before her death – her posthumous recognition from Dokkyo University and her Japanese colleagues and friends – Geneviève Pastre's final thoughts......Page 134
Appendix 1: Geneviève Pastre’s article about Her sister Françoise: Original French Text......Page 142
Appendix 2: Geneviève Pastre’s article about Her sister Françoise: English Translation......Page 168
Epilogue......Page 196
Notes......Page 202
Glossary of Japanese Terms......Page 206
Bibliography......Page 210
Index......Page 214