WMBM3102 Study of Modern Japanese Literature B

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program

Lecture Code WMBM3102 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 日本近現代文学注釈研究Ｂ

Subject Name
（Katakana）ニホンキンゲンダイブンガクチュウシャクケンキュウB

Subject Name in
English Study of Modern Japanese Literature B

Instructor DALMI KATALIN

Instructor
(Katakana) ダルミ　カタリン

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  Second Semester,  Second Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Tues3-4：LET B253

Lesson Style Seminar Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 6 : Graduate Advanced

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 05 : Literature

Eligible Students

Keywords Contemporary literature, SF, Abe Kobo, Mishima Yukio, Komatsu Sakyo

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In 1959, SF Magazine, Japan’s first specialized science fiction journal, was launched. During the 1960s and 1970s, writers known as the “Three Greats” of Japanese SF—Sakyo Komatsu, Shinichi Hoshi, and Yasutaka Tsutsui—emerged and played a central role in establishing Japanese science fiction. At the same time, the growing popularity of science fiction influenced so-called “pure literature” writers such as Kobo Abe and Yukio Mishima.
This course examines the literary and intellectual history of Japanese science fiction, while closely reading works by Kobo Abe, Yukio Mishima, and Sakyo Komatsu, a leading figure in Japanese SF. Through these readings, students will consider the place of science fiction within modern Japanese literature and develop skills in textual analysis, including annotation and close reading.

Class Schedule Session 1 Orientation and Assignment of Presentation Topics

Session 2 Guidance (1): What Is Science Fiction?

Session 3 Guidance (2): The History of Japanese Science Fiction

Session 4 Reading Critical Essays and Research  Papers (1)

Session 5 Reading Critical Essays and Research  Papers (2)

Session 6 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Inter Ice Age 4 (1)

Session 7 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Inter Ice Age 4 (2)

Session 8 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Exactly Like a Human Being (1)

Session 9 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Exactly Like a Human Being (2)

Session 10 Student Presentations — Yukio Mishima, Beautiful Star (1)

Session 11 Student Presentations — Yukio Mishima, Beautiful Star (2)

Session 12 Student Presentations — Sakyo Komatsu, Japan Sinks (1)

Session 13 Student Presentations — Sakyo Komatsu, Japan Sinks (2)

Session 14 Student Presentations — Sakyo Komatsu, Japan Sinks (3)

Session 15 Conclusion

Presenters must upload their presentation materials to Microsoft Teams by 12:00 noon on the day before their presentation.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Textbook:
Abe Kōbō, Daiyon Kampyōki (Shinchō Bunko), Shinchōsha, 1970.
Abe Kōbō, Ningen Sokkuri (Shinchō Bunko), Shinchōsha, 1976.
Mishima Yukio, Utsukushii Hoshi (Shinchō Bunko), Shinchōsha, 2003.
Komatsu Sakyō, Nihon Chinbotsu (Jō / Ge) (Kadokawa Bunko), KADOKAWA, 2020.

Reference book:
Toyota Aritsune, Nihon SF Tanjō — Kūsō to Kagaku no Sakkatachi, Bensei Shuppan, 2019.
Tatsumi Takayuki, Nihon SF Ronsōshi, Keisō Shobō, 2000.
Aramaki Yoshio and Tatsumi Takayuki (hen), SF Hyōron Nyūmon, Takanashi Shobō, 2024.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams

(More Details) Course materials will be distributed via Microsoft Teams; therefore, please bring a laptop computer to class.

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review As we will be working with full-length novels, students are strongly encouraged to begin the readings well in advance.

Requirements

Grading Method Evaluation will be based on the quality of the presentation (70%) and class participation (30%).

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other As this course is conducted in Japanese, sufficient Japanese proficiency (equivalent to JLPT N1 level) is required.

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program
Lecture Code	WMBM3102	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	日本近現代文学注釈研究Ｂ
Subject Name （Katakana）	ニホンキンゲンダイブンガクチュウシャクケンキュウB
Subject Name in English	Study of Modern Japanese Literature B
Instructor	DALMI KATALIN
Instructor (Katakana)	ダルミ　カタリン
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Tues3-4：LET B253
Lesson Style	Seminar	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	6 : Graduate Advanced
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	05 : Literature
Eligible Students
Keywords	Contemporary literature, SF, Abe Kobo, Mishima Yukio, Komatsu Sakyo
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In 1959, SF Magazine, Japan’s first specialized science fiction journal, was launched. During the 1960s and 1970s, writers known as the “Three Greats” of Japanese SF—Sakyo Komatsu, Shinichi Hoshi, and Yasutaka Tsutsui—emerged and played a central role in establishing Japanese science fiction. At the same time, the growing popularity of science fiction influenced so-called “pure literature” writers such as Kobo Abe and Yukio Mishima. This course examines the literary and intellectual history of Japanese science fiction, while closely reading works by Kobo Abe, Yukio Mishima, and Sakyo Komatsu, a leading figure in Japanese SF. Through these readings, students will consider the place of science fiction within modern Japanese literature and develop skills in textual analysis, including annotation and close reading.
Class Schedule	Session 1 Orientation and Assignment of Presentation Topics Session 2 Guidance (1): What Is Science Fiction? Session 3 Guidance (2): The History of Japanese Science Fiction Session 4 Reading Critical Essays and Research Papers (1) Session 5 Reading Critical Essays and Research Papers (2) Session 6 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Inter Ice Age 4 (1) Session 7 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Inter Ice Age 4 (2) Session 8 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Exactly Like a Human Being (1) Session 9 Student Presentations — Kobo Abe, Exactly Like a Human Being (2) Session 10 Student Presentations — Yukio Mishima, Beautiful Star (1) Session 11 Student Presentations — Yukio Mishima, Beautiful Star (2) Session 12 Student Presentations — Sakyo Komatsu, Japan Sinks (1) Session 13 Student Presentations — Sakyo Komatsu, Japan Sinks (2) Session 14 Student Presentations — Sakyo Komatsu, Japan Sinks (3) Session 15 Conclusion Presenters must upload their presentation materials to Microsoft Teams by 12:00 noon on the day before their presentation.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Textbook: Abe Kōbō, Daiyon Kampyōki (Shinchō Bunko), Shinchōsha, 1970. Abe Kōbō, Ningen Sokkuri (Shinchō Bunko), Shinchōsha, 1976. Mishima Yukio, Utsukushii Hoshi (Shinchō Bunko), Shinchōsha, 2003. Komatsu Sakyō, Nihon Chinbotsu (Jō / Ge) (Kadokawa Bunko), KADOKAWA, 2020. Reference book: Toyota Aritsune, Nihon SF Tanjō — Kūsō to Kagaku no Sakkatachi, Bensei Shuppan, 2019. Tatsumi Takayuki, Nihon SF Ronsōshi, Keisō Shobō, 2000. Aramaki Yoshio and Tatsumi Takayuki (hen), SF Hyōron Nyūmon, Takanashi Shobō, 2024.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams
(More Details)	Course materials will be distributed via Microsoft Teams; therefore, please bring a laptop computer to class.
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	As we will be working with full-length novels, students are strongly encouraged to begin the readings well in advance.
Requirements
Grading Method	Evaluation will be based on the quality of the presentation (70%) and class participation (30%).
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other	As this course is conducted in Japanese, sufficient Japanese proficiency (equivalent to JLPT N1 level) is required.
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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