View CartPatience Berkman
September 2003
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Contents
Using literature to teach Japan in the secondary school classroom can dispel myths, sharpen understanding of differences and commonalities, and add color and depth to a student’s experience of the world. Excellent historical literature provides authenticity, a compelling entrée into a historical era, complex characters, images of common landscapes, exposure to customs of daily life and traditional values, an introduction to culture and the arts, and political and/or religious themes. This Japan Digest will focus on literature from Japan which represents historical eras emphasized in the National World History Standards, specifically the medieval period, the World War II era, and contemporary Japan. The works reviewed here are appropriate for middle and high school students and provide connections to a variety of disciplines.
Medieval Period
The Tale of the Heike is a classic account of bitter clan wars that shook Japan in the twelfth century. Sometimes compared to The Odyssey and The Song of Roland, this epic is based on ballads and oral traditions that were compiled by the mid-thirteenth century. The stories portray acts of heroism, ambition, pragmatism, and pathos. Excerpts included in Donald Keene’s invaluable Anthology of Japanese Literature shed light on traditional values. “The Death of Atsumori” captures a dramatic moment in these wars when, after a disastrous defeat, a victorious Genji warrior challenges a retreating Heike of high rank. “Quickly hurling him to the ground, he sprang upon him and tore off his helmet to cut off his head, when he beheld the face of a youth of sixteen or seventeen….just about the age of his own son.” (180) The Genji warrier realizes he has made a “good capture,” yet, impressed with the youth’s dauntless courage in the face of death, and with the image of his own young son in mind, decides to spare the youth. He realizes the futility of this wish, however, when he notes “the whole countryside swarms with our men and you cannot escape them. If you must die, let it be by my hand, and I will see that prayers are said for your rebirth in Paradise.” Herein lies a tragic dilemma for the samurai warrior steeped in the bushido code of honor, courage, and loyalty. “Only because I was born of a warrior family must I suffer this affliction! How lamentable it is to do such cruel deeds.” (181) “Dannoura,” another story from The Tale of the Heike included in Keene’s anthology, portrays the Heike clan in the agony of their final defeat, as courageous women of the clan leap into the sea to avoid the shame of capture. These two stories from this epic tale convey the value placed on Buddhist faith, fine poetry, and music--softer but essential elements in the bushido code.
This convulsive civil war witnesses the establishment of the first shogunate. The Tale of the Heike thus portrays a significant turning point as Japan evolved from a centralized state under the rule of an emperor to a more fragmented, “feudal” system of local clans competing for power. Putting students in touch with a compelling primary source such as “The Death of Atsumori” will bring the history alive by providing a dramatic reference point for discussion. Study of this civil war also provides fruitful ground for a comparative study of “feudalism” in its Japanese and European contexts; samurai warriors invite comparison with European knights, though teachers should bear in mind Diana Marston Woods’ cautionary notes in her article on “feudalism.” The Keene anthology also includes excerpts from earlier Japanese literature, The Pillow Book, and The Tale of Genji, with brief, illuminating introductory remarks.
While the Kamakura shogunate, established in 1185, brings temporary stability, the “great peace” is not established until the Tokugawa shoguns assume power in 1600. Whether considered late medieval or pre-modern, excellent literature from the Tokugawa era abounds. Many world history textbooks make reference to this dramatic period in Japan’s history. Chushingura: A Treasury of Loyal Retainers, a bunraku puppet play, celebrates loyalty and samurai ethics; it is a classic revenge tale sometimes compared to Hamlet and described by Keene as “the most famous and popular work in the entire Japanese theatrical repertory.” A Haiku Journey: Basho’s Narrow Road to a Far Province, is a poetic memoir of a journey through northern Japan by one of the most esteemed traditional haiku poets. This classic is a precious and underutilized resource from this period. A favorite children’s book enjoyed by readers of all ages is Grass Sandals: The Travels of Basho, a simple, charmingly illustrated biography of Basho, with haiku interspersed, written in both Japanese characters and English, giving a picture of Japan 300 years ago. On less classical themes, students enjoy and are intrigued by The Doctor’s Wife, a provocative historical novel by Sawako Ariyoshi which is based on the life of a doctor/researcher who pushes the limits of experimentation, and the two strong-willed women who compete for his affection.
World War II
From the World War II era, The Girl with the White Flag, by Tomiko Higa, belongs on every reading list. This short, autobiographical account appeals to all ages, including the most reluctant readers. Set during the Battle of Okinawa when the local population was caught in the crossfire of the American campaign to conquer one of the last outposts of Japanese control, this survival story recounts the traumatic experiences of the author, then seven years old. Ms. Higa lost all but two members of her family during terrifying weeks of hiding and encounters with death, despair, and ultimately love.
One of my students wrote of this remarkable memoir: “We often hear about World War II and the military tactics involved, but not much about how it affected people. This book shows the harsh reality of war. The author shows this by the small supply of food, the image of people killing themselves to escape this cruel world, and the description of traveling around with dead corpses wherever you look. This history is part of the story…and it truly shows how civilians are affected by war…”
Other literature from the period that works well in the classroom includes the autobiography Barefoot Gen, a manga, or cartoon story, by Keiji Nakazawa, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima. The author/artist portrays his family living in Hiroshima prior to the dropping of the atomic bomb, depicting some characters opposed to the Japanese war effort. Discussion utilizing overhead transparencies of individual scenes will underscore the horrific impact of the bombing. So Far from the Bamboo Grove allows the reader to feel the terror of the Japanese in defeat in another setting, as author Yoko Kawashima Watkins, along with her mother and sister, flee southwards from North Korea amidst post war anarchy. My Brother, My Sister, and I recounts her family’s continuing hardships under the American occupation. Two superb books which portray the oppression of Koreans under Japanese occupation are Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi, and Lost Names, by Richard Kim. Both provide a striking historical counterpoint to Watkins’ account.
For advanced readers, Black Rain, by Masuji Ibuse, eloquently written, deals with the impact of the bombing of Hiroshima. A young woman’s marriage plans are changed by radiation sickness after she is contaminated by the soot-filled “black rain” that fell after the bombing. One student wrote, ”It was interesting to finally read a book from the Japanese perspective on World War II, particularly about Hiroshima…Not only was the history new information, but the story was enthralling and enjoyable.” Also for the sophisticated reader, Obasan by Joy Kogawa, has earned a niche in the canon of some advanced English and World Literature courses, with its moving portrayal of Japanese-Canadian internment, family secrets, and memories of the homeland.
Totto-chan, by Tetsuko Kuroyonagi, one of the foremost television personalities in Japan, tells the story of a precocious young girl’s nonconformity in a traditional Japanese school from which she is expelled, and her delight in an unusual private school headed by an imaginative headmaster who fosters individuality. World War II is a relatively quiet backdrop as Kuroyonagi is safely evacuated to the countryside when the fire-bombing of Tokyo commences in the spring of 1945. Using children’s picture books such as Hiroshima no Pika and Faithful Elephants with older students encourages examination of the impact of war on the innocent, and prompts ethical questions about whether and how to present such horrifying events as the bombings of Hiroshima and Tokyo to young children. Finally, a very short story from Kawabata’s remarkable Palm-of-the-Hand Stories, “Bamboo Leaf Boats,” captures a personal tragedy in the aftermath of Japan’s defeat, when a young woman’s fiancé fails to return from the war.
Memories of the Pacific War and textbooks tend to fixate on two shocking events, the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor and atomic bombing of Hiroshima. These events left a legacy of betrayal and mistrust on both sides of the Pacific, and it is crucial for students to probe behind the headlines to explore the causes and meaning of these destructive events, and the tragic war which stretched between them. The works listed above will help students move to a deeper level of understanding of these historic events.
Contemporary Times
Finding translated literature on contemporary themes for adolescents remains a challenge. There is, however, a powerful coming of age novel which captures student interest. The semi-autobiographical Shizuko’s Daughter, by Kyoko Mori, depicts the fiercely determined quest of the protagonist Yuki for affirmation and hope after the suicide of her mother. The novel traces her anguish both at home and at school despite notable artistic and athletic accomplishments.
Like her mother, Yuki is an artist, and her art becomes a healing force. “Yuki began making colored-pencil drawings of the clothes her mother had sewn and embroidered for her.” The color and warmth of life with her mother contrast starkly with the bleak, mechanized household and emotional distance she experiences with her father and his new wife. There is an especially chilling scene where the stepmother gathers Yuki’s old clothes, lovingly sewn by her mother, and casts them out, and deep sadness when a blossoming friendship with a fellow runner comes to an end. Yuki’s bravery and resilience astound the reader as she pushes forward from the “empty spaces,” learns more about her mother, and ultimately asserts her independence. Both students and adults will find this coming of age novel compelling, realistic, and ultimately affirming. Shizuko’s Daughter could be used in modern cultures, Asian studies, or world history courses, or in literature units dealing with loss, family relationships, or personal courage.
Points and Lines, by Seicho Matsumoto, is a challenging “whodunit” mystery that opens with a young man and woman dead on a beach, a senior government official tainted with scandal, and a determined detective.
There are excellent anthologies with contemporary themes. “Swallowtails,” in New Japanese Voices, warmly portrays the father-son relationship when a second-grader is accused of theft, and critiques many aspects of urban development in Japan. “The Mole” in Modern Japanese Literature, Volume II of Keene’s anthology, focuses on the psychological in chronicling the slow disintegration of a marriage.
References and Resources:
Ariyoshi, Sawako. The Doctor’s Wife. Tokyo: Kodansha International. 1992.
Basho, Matsuo. A Haiku Journey: Basho’s Narrow Road to a Far Province. Dorothy Britton, Translator. Tokyo: Kodansha International. 2002.
Bernson, Mary Hammond. “Fiction About Japan in the Elementary Curriculum.” Japan Digest. Bloomington, IN: National Clearinghouse for U.S.-Japan Studies. September, 1997.
Burleson, Patricia. “The History and Artistry of Haiku.” Japan Digest. Bloomington, IN: National Clearinghouse for U.S.-Japan Studies. October 1998.
Chalk, Alan, Kathleen Woods Masalski, Jonathan Lipman. Imperial Japan: A Humanities Approach. Boulder, Colorado: Social Studies Education Consortium (SSEC). 1995.
Choi, Sook Nyul. Year of Impossible Goodbyes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 1991.
Cook, Haruko and Theodore. Japan at War: An Oral History. New York: The New Press. 1992.
Higa, Tomiko. The Girl with the White Flag. Tokyo: Kodansha International. 1991.
Ibuse, Masuji. Black Rain. Tokyo: Kodansha International. 1969.
Kawabata, Yasunari. Palm-of-the-Hand Stories. New York: North Point Press. 1996.
Kamo, Chomi. The Ten-Foot Hut and the Tale of the Heike. Boston: Tuttle Publishers. 1971.
Keene, Donald, Editor. Anthology of Japanese Literature, Volumes I and II. New York: Grove Press. 1955.
Kim, Richard. Lost Names. New York: Universe Books. 1988.
Kuroyonagi, Tetsuko. Totto-chan. Tokyo: Kodansha International. 1982.
Kushida, June. “Growing Up In Japan.” Education About Asia. Spring 2001, 15.
Makoto, Shiina. “Swallowtails.” New Japanese Voices: The Best Contemporary Fiction from Japan, Helen Mitsios, Editor. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press. 1991.
Matsumoto, Seicho. Points and Lines. Tokyo: Kondansha International. 1970.
Mori, Kyoko. Shizuko’s Daughter. New York : Fawcett Juniper. 1994
Nakazawa, Keiji. Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers. 1987. Note: Barefoot Gen: The Day After and two other volumes round out the story of the bombing.
Parisi, Lynn, Sara Thompson, Patterson Williams. Tokugawa Japan: The Great Peace and the Development of Urban Culture. Boulder, CO: Social Science Education Consortium. 1995. (Note: A wonderfully rich resource for history, literature, and art of the period.)
Spivak, Dawnine. Grass Sandals: The Travels of Basho. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1997.
Takedo, Izuma. Chushingura: A Treasury of Loyal Retainers. New York, Columbia University Press. 1971.
Watkins, Yoko Kawashima. So Far from the Bamboo Grove. New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard. 1986.
Watkins, Yoko Kawashima. My Brother, My Sister, and I. New York : Simon & Schuster. 1994.
Wood, Diana Marston. “Using the Concept ‘Feudalism’ to Compare Japan with Europe.” Education About Asia, Winter, 2000. Also see Berkman/Wood materials on the Japan Studies Leadership Program’s curriculum outlines Web site: http://www.smith.edu/fcceas/curriculum/berkwood.htm
Patience Berkman, chair of the History Department at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Newton, Massachusetts, is humanities winner of the U.S.-Japan Foundation’s 2002 Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award for her work to further mutual understanding between Americans and Japanese. She has served as a National Consortium for Teaching about Asia seminar leader.
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