Three-Dimensional Reading : Stories of Time and Space in Japanese Modernist Fiction, 1911-1932

A 29th-century dystopian society seen through the eyes of a mutant-cum-romantic poet; a post-impressionist landscape of orbs and cubes experienced by a wandering underdog; an imaginary sick room generated entirely from sounds reaching the ears of an invalid: These and other haunting re-presentations of time and space constitute the Japanese modernist landscape depicted in this volume of stories from the 1910s to the 1930s. The fourteen stories selected for this anthology—by both relatively unknown and “must-read” authors—experiment with a protean modernist style in the vivacious period between the nation-building Meiji and the early years of Showa. The writers capture imaginary temporal and spatial dimensions that embody forms of futuristic urban space, colonial space, utopia, dystopia, and heterotopia. Their work invites readers to abandon the conventional naturalistic approach to spatial and temporal representations and explore how the physical and empirical experience of time and space is distorted and reconfigured through the prism of modernist Japanese prose. An introduction and prefatory materials provide historical and critical context for Japanese modernism, making Three-Dimensional Reading a valuable teaching text not only for the study of modern Japanese literature, but for world literature, global modernism, and utopian studies as well. The volume also includes drawings by contemporary artist Sakaguchi Ky?hei, whose ability to create a stunning visual reality beyond the borders of time and place is a testament to the power and reverberations of the modernist imagination. A 29th-century dystopian society seen through the eyes of a mutant-cum-romantic poet; a post-impressionist landscape of orbs and cubes experienced by a wandering underdog; an imaginary sick room generated entirely from sounds reaching the ears of an invalid: These and other haunting re-presentations of time and space constitute the Japanese modernist landscape depicted in this volume of stories from the 1910s to the 1930s. The fourteen stories selected for this anthology—by both relatively unknown and “must-read” authors—experiment with a protean modernist style in the vivacious period between the nation-building Meiji and the early years of Showa. The writers capture imaginary temporal and spatial dimensions that embody forms of futuristic urban space, colonial space, utopia, dystopia, and heterotopia. Their work invites readers to abandon the conventional naturalistic approach to spatial and temporal representations and explore how the physical and empirical experience of time and space is distorted and reconfigured through the prism of modernist Japanese prose.An introduction and prefatory materials provide historical and critical context for Japanese modernism, making Three-Dimensional Reading a valuable teaching text not only for the study of modern Japanese literature, but for world literature, global modernism, and utopian studies as well. The volume also includes drawings by contemporary artist Sakaguchi Kyōhei, whose ability to create a stunning visual reality beyond the borders of time and place is a testament to the power and reverberations of the modernist imagination. "A 29th-century dystopian society seen through the eyes of a mutant-cum-romantic poet; a post-impressionist landscape of orbs and cubes experienced by a wandering underdog; an imaginary sick room generated entirely from sounds reaching the ears of an invalid: These and other haunting re-presentations of time and space constitute the Japanese modernist landscape depicted in this volume of stories from the 1910s to the 1930s. The fourteen stories selected for this anthology - by both relatively unknown and "must-read" authors - experiment with a protean modernist style in the vivacious period between the nation-building Meiji and the early years of Showa. The writers capture imaginary temporal and spatial dimensions that embody forms of futuristic urban space, colonial space, utopia, dystopia, and heterotopia. Their work invites readers to abandon the conventional naturalistic approach to spatial and temporal representations and explore how the physical and empirical experience of time and space is distorted and reconfigured through the prism of modernist Japanese prose. An introduction and prefatory materials provide historical and critical context for Japanese modernism, making this book a valuable teaching text not only for the study of modern Japanese literature, but for world literature, global modernism, and utopian studies as well. The volume also includes drawings by contemporary artist Sakaguchi Kyōhei, who creates a visual reality beyond the borders of time and place is a testament to the power and reverberations of the modernist imagination." Provided by publisher Part I Scenes Of The Mind -- A Strange Sound (hen Na Oto, 1911) / Natsume Soseki Soseki, Natsume 29 -- The Law Student In The Garret (yaneura No Hogakushi, 1918) / Uno Koji Koji, Uno 37 -- Scenes Of The Mind (aru Kokoro No Fukei, 1926) / Kajii Motojiro Motojiro, Kajii 50 -- The Sound Of Footsteps (ningen No Ashioto, 1925) / Kawabata Yasunari Yasunari, Kawabata 62 -- Part Ii Time And Urban Space -- Astromania (tentai Shikosho, 1928) / Inagaki Taruho Taruho, Inagaki 69 -- Configuration (keitai, 1932) / Tamura Taijiro Taijiro, Tamura 85 -- The Underside Of Town (machi No Soko, 1925) / Yokomitsu Riichi Riichi, Yokomitsu 101 -- Aquarium (suizokukan, 1930) / Hori Tatsuo Tatsuo, Hori 109 -- Pavement Snapshots (peibumento Sunappu-yonaka Kara Asa Made, 1930) / Ryutanji Yu Yu, Ryutanji 123 -- Landscape With An Officer: A Sketch In 1923 (junsa No Iru Fukei, 1929) / Nakajima Atsushi Atsushi, Nakajima 143 -- Part Iii Utopia And Dystopia -- A Golden Death (konjiki No Shi, 1916) / Tanizaki Jun'ichiro Jun'ichiro, Tanizaki 161 -- Wonder Island (fushigi Na Shima, 1924) / Akutagawa Ryunosuke Ryunosuke, Akutagawa 201 -- A Record Of Nonchalant (nonsharan Kiroku, 1929) / Sato Haruo Haruo, Sato 211 -- Hell In A Bottle (binzume No Jigoku, 1928) / Yumeno Kyusaku Kyusaku, Yumeno 240. Edited By Angela Yiu. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.