Rape represents a recurring theme in Japanese women’s literature. Even the earliest works created by Japanese women tell of rape, though over time these stories have been usurped and reinterpreted as tales of seduction and eroticism. While this reflects an androcentric worldview that still shapes perceptions of rape, Japanese women writers have long offered criticism and counter-concepts. Since the 1980s, as the discussion about sexual violence against women began in Japan, women authors have used literature to challenge androcentric conceptualizations of rape by writing from a female rape survivor’s perspective, criticizing romanticized and eroticized depictions by male authors. They contribute to breaking the taboo surrounding rape in everyday life, offering insight into women’s experiences and survival. This presentation examines selected works by contemporary Japanese women writers since the 1980s, comparing depictions of rape, trauma, and societal responses to show changes in the perception of raped women. Details and registration here

Speaker: Marija Tomic, University of Vienna/DIJ Tokyo