JAPANESE LITERATURE

Early Japanese Literature

Nara and Heian Periods

Medieval Literature

Kamakura & Muromachi Periods

Early Modern Lit

Edo Period

Modern Lit

Meiji to Pre-War

Kojiki

"The record of ancient matters" by O NO YASUMARO, a collection of Japanese narratives, including myths of the origin of the world and Japan

Ninon Shoki

Chronicles of Japan

Man'yoshu

"Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves"

Japan's Oldest Anthology of Poetry

Kakinomoto no Hitomaro

Saint of Poetry

The Tale of Genji

written by Lady Murasaki; first novel in any languange; relates life history of prominent and amorous son of the Japanese emperor's son; evidence for mannered style of the Japanese society.

The Pillow Book

"Makura no Soshi, book written by Sei Shonagon; talked about court life

The Tale of the Heike

tells the story of the fall of the Taira family and the rise of the Minamoto clan

Essays in Idleness

"Tsurezuregusa", is a book by Yoshida Kenko.

Through his appreciation of the world around him and his keen understanding of historical events, Kenkō conveys the essence of Buddhist philosophy and its subtle teachings for all readers.

Noh Drama

ZEAI MOTOKIYO; a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles

Matsuo Basho

Master of haiku, influenced by Zen Buddhism.

Narrow Road to the Deep North

Oku no Hosomichi - Basho

The Life of An Amorous Man

Ihara Saikaku

Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Kabuki's greatest playwright ; Known for Love suicides (Amijima)

Kokoro, I am a Cat

Natsume Soseki

The Dancing Girl

Mori Ogai

Shimazaki Toson

Pioneer of Naturalism; The Ten Commandment

Akutagawa Ryunosuke

Father of the Japanese Short Story

Rashomon, In a Grove

No Longer Human

Osamu Dazai

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Yukio Mishima

Yasunari Kawabata

He is a Japanese poet who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1968.

Snow Country, Thousand Cranes

Kawabata

Kenzaburo Oe

A Personal Matter, Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids, The Silent Cry

Kenzaburo Oe

Nobel Prize (1994)

Haruki Murakami

popular Japanese author of "A Wild Sheep Chase"

Norwegian Wood

Kafka in the Shore

1Q84

Banana Yoshimoto

author of Kitchen

Hiromi Kawakami

The Briefcase (Strange Weather in Tokyo)

Sayaka Murata

Convenience Store Woman