LTJP 390 Special Topics: “Japanese Novels” in the fall!

LTJP 390 ST: “Japanese Novels” in the fall!

We will read several Japanese novels that are widely considered masterpieces in Japan. The novels we will read are:

Kokoro (1914) by Sôseki Natsume (1867-1916)
The Makioka Sisters (1943-48) by Jun’ichrô Tanizaki(1886-1965)
No Longer Human (1948) by Osamu Dazai (1909-48)
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (1952) by Yukio Mishima (1925-70)
Fires on the Plain (1955) by Shôhei Ôoka(1909-88)
The Woman in the Dunes (1962) by Kôbô Abe (1924-93)
Black Rain (1966) by Masuji Ibuse(1898-1993)
The Silent Cry (1967) by Kenzaburô Ôe (1935- )

There’s no prerequisite, and it will count towards the requirements for the Humanities section of the General Education, the Japanese Studies minor or the Asia Concentration of the International Studies major. The assignments will consist of submitting discussion questions, keeping a response journal, and writing three short analysis papers. There will also be midterm and final exams, which are in the short essay format. It’s a discussion class. I hope many of you will take it!