Japanese culture is intensively introspective which makes it hard to calibrate to the outside world. It yo-yos from intense pride (Mishima and pre WW2 genyosha peaks) to emasculation.
The more interesting time was the immediate postwar period where Japan quickly integrated with the outside world and had self-confidence without the deadly arrogance.
After the bubble crash, Japan has just been stagnant and they’re trying to figure out their identity in a world that’s starting to leave them behind. Depending on how they integrate would determine the face of masculinity moving forward
Amina, this is just great! A really fun and provocative piece. Suddenly, I felt like I was in Japanese literature class again. I dislike both these authors although I do enjoy Mishima's writing--Dazai, much less so. The thing about Dazai is that he also got other people killed--the young women that went along with his romantic 無理心中 . He lived; they died. That makes him a narcissistic serial killer. Two women died during Osamu Dazai's suicide pacts: Tanabe Shimeko in 1930 and Yamazaki Tomie in 1948.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment Jake! About Dazai, I think it's strange that people say that the woman at the end "convinced him" to commit suicide. It seems that he had a pattern of convincing women to kill themselves with him(lulz)!
I enjoyed reading No Longer Human, but it also felt so sophomoric and annoying. I think Mishima's response to this attitude makes a great deal of sense. But he also turned out to be quite the odd one as well, haha.
It would be exciting to make a sort of literary version of Street Fighter, where Japanese literary icons duked it out with special powers. Mishima could have a sword and Dazai could drown his opponents. They were both odd fellows indeed!
Good take on those two writers. However I don’t think Japan is on the forefront with the toxic masculinity phenomenon. If anything, the neo far right movement is behind compared to the west, plus the west has the alpha males and men going their own way.
"even a touchstone for some Western reactionaries."
i move in reactionary circles. many of them love him. read his translated works like they're scripture. (i've never read)
Japanese culture is intensively introspective which makes it hard to calibrate to the outside world. It yo-yos from intense pride (Mishima and pre WW2 genyosha peaks) to emasculation.
The more interesting time was the immediate postwar period where Japan quickly integrated with the outside world and had self-confidence without the deadly arrogance.
After the bubble crash, Japan has just been stagnant and they’re trying to figure out their identity in a world that’s starting to leave them behind. Depending on how they integrate would determine the face of masculinity moving forward
Amina, this is just great! A really fun and provocative piece. Suddenly, I felt like I was in Japanese literature class again. I dislike both these authors although I do enjoy Mishima's writing--Dazai, much less so. The thing about Dazai is that he also got other people killed--the young women that went along with his romantic 無理心中 . He lived; they died. That makes him a narcissistic serial killer. Two women died during Osamu Dazai's suicide pacts: Tanabe Shimeko in 1930 and Yamazaki Tomie in 1948.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment Jake! About Dazai, I think it's strange that people say that the woman at the end "convinced him" to commit suicide. It seems that he had a pattern of convincing women to kill themselves with him(lulz)!
I enjoyed reading No Longer Human, but it also felt so sophomoric and annoying. I think Mishima's response to this attitude makes a great deal of sense. But he also turned out to be quite the odd one as well, haha.
It would be exciting to make a sort of literary version of Street Fighter, where Japanese literary icons duked it out with special powers. Mishima could have a sword and Dazai could drown his opponents. They were both odd fellows indeed!
More of whatever genre of post you’d call this, pls
Thank you :D I’m happy you enjoyed it
Good take on those two writers. However I don’t think Japan is on the forefront with the toxic masculinity phenomenon. If anything, the neo far right movement is behind compared to the west, plus the west has the alpha males and men going their own way.
Not even getting into white male terrorism.