The Poetic Artistry of José Watanabe: Separating the Craft from the Discourse (Historical and Cultural Interconnections between Latin America and Asia)

Connecting multiple academic areas, this book addresses three aspects of the poetry of José Watanabe: 1) the construction of "Japaneseness" in the poetic works and public figure of the poet, 2) the skillful manipulation of literary devices characteristic of his poetry, 3) the unique sensibilities and moods of ephemerality and ineffableness prevalent in his poetic works. The trans/interdisciplinary nature of the book intends to promote a dialogue and exchange of ideas across academic fields neglected in most studies on the Peruvian poet. Written by researchers based in Japan, it offers a unique perspective of Japanese cultural phenomenon unavailable in previous studies. The goal of the book is to shed light on how Japan continues to be seen by the West through essentialist notions and stereotypical representations, as well as to highlight the fact that the literary quality of Watanabe’s poetic artistry does not reside in it being “Japanese” and can be appreciated without resorting to essentialist categorizations based on positive Japanese stereotypes. Connecting multiple academic areas, this book addresses three aspects of the poetry of José Watanabe: 1) the construction of "Japaneseness" in the poetic works and public figure of the poet, 2) the skillful manipulation of literary devices characteristic of his poetry, 3) the unique sensibilities and moods of ephemerality and ineffableness prevalent in his poetic works. The trans/interdisciplinary nature of the book intends to promote a dialogue and exchange of ideas across academic fields neglected in most studies on the Peruvian poet. Written by researchers based in Japan, it offers a unique perspective of Japanese cultural phenomenon unavailable in previous studies. The goal of the book is to shed light on how Japan continues to be seen by the West through essentialist notions and stereotypical representations, as well as to highlight the fact that the literary quality of Watanabe's poetic artistry does not reside in it being "Japanese" and can be appreciated without resorting to essentialist categorizations based on positive Japanese stereotypes. Randy Muth (Ph.D.) is Associate Professor of Language and Culture at Kio University in Nara, Japan, where he has resided since 1994. His published works include numerous books and articles on José Watanabe. His research interests include Latin American and Japanese Literatures, literature and identity and Narrative Theory. He is author of José Watanabe: el ojo que nos descubre (2009). Alfredo López-Pasarín Basabe (Ph.D.) is Professor in the School of Politics and Economic Sciences at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, where he has resided since 1989. He is the author of numerous works on contemporary Spanish poetry, especially on the Generation of '50. His most important work is Theory and Practice of the Analysis of Poetic texts (2016). Shigeko Mato (Ph.D.) is Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature and Culture at the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, Japan. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on contemporary Japanese Peruvian literature. She is the author of Las voces que entrecruzan el Perú y Japón (2021) Foreword by Teresa and Enrique Watanabe Acknowledgments Introduction Notes Contents 1 Poetry, Identity and Being “Japanese” “Japaneseness” and Nihonjinron Identity and Poetry José Watanabe and Being “Japanese” Haiku and Nihonjinron The “Spirit” of Haiku in Watanabe Conclusion 2 Rhetorical Approaches to the Poetry of José Watanabe Semantic Analysis and Figurative Language Metaphor Visionary Image Vision Simile Comparison Symbol Homogeneous Symbols Heterogeneous Symbols Conclusions Metapoetic Approaches Meter and Rhythm Conclusion 3 José Watanabe’s Poetic Capacity and Energy Beyond Critique for Critique’s Sake Introduction Attunement Between Watanabe’s Poetic Vision and “Postcritical Reading” “Prayer Before My Mother’s Cadaver:” Not Just a Dead Body? What Does “Prayer Before My Mother’s Cadaver” Do? “Laughing and Clouded:” Proof of the Living Around the Dead Feel the Vitality of “Laughing and Clouded”! “Flags Behind the Fog:” Walking and Pausing “Visceral Forces”41 in “Flags Behind the Fog” “The Algarrobo:” “Hooked on”44 a Tree in a Dessert Entangled “Visceral Forces”48 in “The Algarrobo” Conclusion: Starting to Walk, See, and Cuddle Conclusion Bibliography Index