Constructing Post-war Japan in Literature

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific War’s end, reflection on sengo (post-war) – on its interpretation, construction, impact, and finally its ‘finishedness’ and ‘finishability’ – has become virulent again in Japan. This demonstrates that its influence on the contemporary world remains significant, although the post-war period (1945–1970), as predominantly defined in literary studies, is ever-receding as a part of our ‘lived and living memory,’ (Harrison/Schofield). It was shaped by fundamental transformations in all spheres of life and society and a longing for continuity within a tension-filled field of 'Self' and 'Other.' The resulting institutions, practices, and normative notions continue to exert influence on ongoing debates regarding the (self)perception of Japan.

The highly productive and heterogeneous literature of post-war Japan, which has from its beginning reflected on both the socio-cultural contexts it originated from and on itself, continues to resonate today. Being a privileged medium of discourse, this literature significantly contributed to constructions of post-war Japan: it inscribed – and occasionally revised, countered or subverted – narratives that shaped and were shaped by its time. Focusing on dominant narratives (behind which more diverse realities and nuanced debates existed) – such as progress through growth, homogeneity, and a history shared by all – and on their ramifications at the poetological level of writing, this project investigates how post-war Japan was discursively constructed and explores the role of literary works in these constructions. Thus, it aims to foster an understanding of the interplay between literary artifacts and the context in which they were created.