Session 05—Tu, Jan 31: Nagai Kafū and his “The Peony Garden” (1909) • Tanizaki Jun’ichirō and his “The Tattooer” (1910) • Shiga Naoya and his “The Razor” (1910) & “Seibei’s Gourds” (1913)

Topics for this session

❖ Nagai Kafū—biography
❖ Nagai Kafū—"The Peony Garden" (short story, 1909)
❖ Tanizaki Jun'ichirō—"The Tattooer" (short story, 1910)
❖ Shiga Naoya—biography
❖ Shiga Naoya—"The Razor" (1910)
◊ Shiga Naoya—"Seibei's Gourds" (1913)

Thoughts*

We will read more Tanizaki later so don't blast through this one. Please read now the important note about Tanizaki reading assignments (Naomi, Makioka Sisters) several sessions below, at the point where we have our first class devoted to his writings.

Shiga is considered one of the very best short fiction writers of his day. I love the stress levels expressed in "Razor". "Seibei" is a sweet story, I think, even if sad.

It is interesting to compare the sharp things in Tanizaki's story with the sharp things in Shiga's story.

"Spider Lilies" (Zero Chou, 2007) is an interesting Taiwanese film that explores a concept similar to Tanizaki's story, Namely, the power of a tattoo to impart character or spirit onto or into a person. For extra credit, you can submit a RJE that compares the two, if you figure out film access on your own, then write a good, strong submission on cultural differences. (Note: this film includes lesbian themes.) Assignment tag: RJE02A, keyword: spider, with the deadline two weeks from today.

Required—to be completed for today's session

✓ Read "The Peony Garden" [bSpace, PDF]
✓ Read "The Tattooer" [bSpace, PDF]
✓ Read "The Razor" [bSpace, PDF]
(✓) Optional: Read the very short "Seibei's Gourds" [bSpace, PDF]

Texts, multimedia notes, links*

❖ Nagai Kafū [bSpace, PPT]
❖ Shiga Naoya [bSpace, PPT]
❖ Shiga Naoya graphics [bSpace, PDF]
◊ J-Tattoo and Britain in Meiji [bSpace, PDF ]

Other*

NOTE: Students will soon need to select between the regular Tanizaki reading assignment (see an upcoming session's details), Naomi, and the extra credit reading assignment, The Makioka Sisters. Go here for details: Naomi or Makioka Sisters?

*THOUGHTS: Reading before class probably helps follow session content, reading afterwards might help consolidate notes, revisiting for tests is recommended. Content might be added before class or anytime up until about 24 hours ahead of a midterm.

*TEXTS, MULTIMEDIA NOTES, LINKS: If I have read from something, shown something or presented audio, I usually include that information here. If I consider it testable material, it will definitely be listed here. Miscellaneous material that I show may or may not be listed. I often add material at the last minute and hope to have time later to note it, but often cannot.

*OTHER: When possible I note here names, places, and other details that I have mentioned in a lecture that would otherwise not be accessible in the assigned materials or easily located on your own. As with "TEXTS ..." this is usually sometime after class and, again, I might not be able to get around to doing it.