Nobuo Kojima emerged as a significant voice in post-war Japanese literature, closely examining the profound psychological impact of Japan's defeat in World War II. Influenced by literary giants such as Gogol, Kafka, and Dostoevsky, his own fiction spans a wide range, from the experimental to the allegorical and symbolic. Beyond his creative writing, Kojima also served as a professor of English literature, dedicating himself to criticism and translating influential American authors, thereby bridging Japanese and Western literary traditions.
Kojima Nobuo's acclaimed novella, "The American School," showcases his evolution as a writer influenced by World War II and the postwar period. His sharp satire portrays the Japanese male as weak and subservient to societal and female pressures. Drawing inspiration from Russian literary giants like Gogol, Kojima's writing delves into the inner conflicts and uncertainties of his characters, creating a profound and immersive reading experience that highlights the complexities of their lives.
Roman
Die Ehefrau des Literaturprofessors Miwa Shunsuke hat ein kurzes Verhältnis mit einem jungen Amerikaner, wenig später erkrankt sie unheilbar. Ihr Mann müht sich, die Familie zusammenzuhalten, aber unbeholfen verirrt er sich im Labyrinth der eigenen Fluchten. Meisterhaft, mit subtilem Humor und rückhaltloser Selbstentblößung schildert dieser Roman die Reaktionen der japanischen Gesellschaft auf die Einflüsse aus dem westlichen Ausland. Ein Klassiker der japanischen Nachkriegsliteratur - ausgezeichnet mit dem Tanizaki Junichiro-Literaturpreis.