Jasny 50:1

ABSTRACT

AARON P. JASNY
The Novelty of Nature: Kojima Usui and Hierarchies of Genre in Modern Japanese Literature

Kojima Usui’s (1873–1948) efforts to craft a Japanese mountain literature (sangaku bungaku) present a fascinating case study of the Meiji-period (1868–1912) creation of a national literature that could address the issues faced by individuals in modernizing Japan. Navigating a complex web of nascent modern genres and writing styles, Japan’s literary tradition, and international mountain literature, Usui deployed kikōbun (travel writing) to both align himself with and differentiate himself from existing traditions and trends. Usui’s idiosyncratic negotiation of traditional and modern provides a fresh look at the intricate innovations that took place in Meiji Japan.