Japanese Literature

Overview

The Department of Japanese Literature delves deep into comprehensive and specialized research of the language and literature of Japan.

Research into the literature of Japan includes works of every era, from ancient to modern, and covers a variety of genres, from the waka poems and various tales that are central to classical literature to the modern Japanese novel. Japanese literature at the Keio Graduate School of Letters is unique in that it covers a wide range of subjects including emaki picture scrolls and books that are traditionally placed in the realm of art history as well as Chinese-style prose and poetry (kanbun literature). Another feature that makes this department unique is the availability of specialists in bibliography at the Keio Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko), who assist in producing well-founded empirical research.

At many universities, studies of Japanese language fall into the classifications of theoretical studies, historical linguistics, and dialectology. We transcend these labels to employ both theoretical and empirical research to all studies of the Japanese language, from ancient to modern and even into current variants and dialects of the language.

Faculty

Name/Position

Department/Specialty/Research Interest/Publication

  • OGAWA, Takeo
    Professor

    Japanese Literature
    Medieval Literature, Waka Poetry (31-Syllable Verse)

    I'm studying the Japanese classics that cover the period from the 11th to 17th century. My main interest is Waka, a style of Japanese poetry with a 31-syllable verse, and Yusokukojitsu, principles and precedents on manners, rituals and costumes for the ancient and medieval Japanese Imperial court. In my study, I try to focus on the context and its background of where the works were composed.

    Publication
    • 『二条良基』,人物叢書302,328頁 ,吉川弘文館 ,2020年1月
    • 『「和歌所」の鎌倉時代—勅撰集はいかに編纂され、なぜ続いたか』,NHKブックス1285,320頁,NHK出版,2024年6月
    • 『中世和歌史の研究─撰歌と歌人社会』 ,722頁, 塙書房, 2017年5月
    • 『兼好法師—徒然草に記されなかった真実』, 中公新書2463,258頁 ,中央公論新社,2017年11月
    • 『足利義満—公武に君臨した室町将軍』, 中公新書2179,298頁 ,中央公論新社,2012年8月
  • ODAIRA, Maiko
    Professor

    Japanese Literature
    Japanese Modern Literature

    In order to explain how gender hierarchy had been constructed and justified in the modern Japanese literature, I am researching novels by female authors, literary works contributed to editorial magazines, discourses concerned with culture, and theater arts.

    Publication
    • 『なぞること、切り裂くこと 虚構のジェンダー』以文社,2023年3月
    • 編著『ジェンダー×小説 ガイドブック—日本近現代文学の読み方』ひつじ書房,2023年5月
    • 編著『『文藝首都』 公器としての同人誌』翰林書房, 2020年1月
    • 『小説は、わかってくればおもしろい 文学研究の基本15講』慶應義塾大学出版会, 2019年3月
    • 『夢みる教養 文系女性のための知的生き方史』河出書房新社, 2016年9月
  • GOYAMA, Rintaro
    Professor

    Japanese Literature
    Sinitic Literature (kanbun) in Early Modern and Modern Japan (17 – 19th Century)

    The purpose of my research is to explore dynamic movements in Sinitic literature (i.e. Classical Chinese literature), in early modern and modern Japan from various methodologies. In my monograph entitled Studies on Sinitic Prose and Poetry written by Japanese in Bakumatsu and Meiji Periods (2014), I have examined the changes in roles and representation of Sinitic literature during the course of political and cultural modernization of Japan. My most recent interest includes the formation of the canon of Sinitic poetry written by Japanese during Edo and Meiji periods and its relation with contemporary education.

    Publication
    • 『大沼枕山と永井荷風『下谷叢話』―新視点・新資料から考える幕末明治期の漢詩と近代―』汲古書院, 2023年3月, 編著）
    • 「五弓雪窓の見た明治初期東京漢詩壇─関西大学図書館蔵『晩香館日記』を手がかりに─」（佐々木孝浩・佐藤道生・高田信敬・中川博夫編『古典文学研究の対象と方法』, 花鳥社, 2024年3月, 論文）
    • 「植物の漢名と近世日本の漢詩―萩の花の呼称を例に―」（『藝文研究』123号第1分冊, 2022年12月, 論文）
    • 「王安石「山櫻」詩と近世日本におけるサクラについての議論」（東英寿編『唐宋八大家の探求』, 花書院, 2021年3月, 論文）