Japanese literature

Japanese literature spans a period of almost two millennia of writing. Early work was heavily influenced by Chinese literature, but Japan quickly developed a style and quality of its own. When Japan reopened its ports to Western trading and diplomacy in the 19th century, Western Literature had a strong effect on Japanese writers, and this influence is still seen today.

Significant authors and works

Famous authors and literary works of significant stature are listed in chronological order below. For an exhaustive list of authors see List of Japanese authors:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Classical Literature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Sei Shonagon (c.~966 - c.10??): The Pillow Book
• Murasaki Shikibu (c.973 - c.1025): The Tale of Genji

Medieval Literature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The Tale of the Heike (1371)

Early-Modern Literature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Ihara Saikaku (1642 – 1693)
• Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694)
• Ueda Akinari (1734 - 1809)
• Santo Kyoden (1761 - 1816)
• Juppensha Ikku (1765 - 1831)
• Kyokutei Bakin (1767 - 1858)

Late-Modern Literature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Mori Ogai (1862 - 1922)
• Ozaki Koyo (1867 - 1903)
• Natsume Soseki (1867 - 1916)
• Izumi Kyoka (1873 - 1939)
• Shiga Naoya (1883 - 1971)
• Tanizaki Junichiro (1886 - 1965)
• Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892 - 1927)
• Eiji Yoshikawa (1892-1962)
• Kawabata Yasunari (1899 - 1972)
• Dazai Osamu (1909 - 1948)
• Endo Shusaku (1923 - 1996)
• Abe Kobo (1924 - 1993)
• Mishima Yukio (1925 - 1970)
• Oe Kenzaburo (1935)
• Murakami Haruki (1949)
• Murakami Ryu (1952)