Exploration of Doubts in Showa-Era Japanese Literature History: Focusing on the Historical Evaluation of Yokomitsu Riichi

Abstract

The current Showa literature history views the "New Sensation School" as the beginning of Showa literature. The "New Sensation School" and "new psychologism literature," represented by Riichi Yokomitsu, are seen as exemplars of modernist literature in Japan. This narrative of Showa literature history is widely accepted as a fundamental premise in research. However, this interpretation of Showa literature history was essentially constructed by Sei Itoh and others around 1950. Through the analysis in this paper of statements made by individuals such as Riichi Yokomitsu, it becomes clear that Yokomitsu did not acknowledge the "New Sensation School" as an independent literary movement and had a definitive opposition to "new psychologism literature" and modernist literature. After Yokomitsu's death in 1947, Sei Itoh, the founder of "new psychologism literature," reshaped Yokomitsu's image, positioning him as a representative of "new psychologism literature." This repositioning elevated Itoh's own status in Showa literature history, an influence that persists to this day.