Banana and the Bubble

08/23/22 • 45 min

Read Japanese Literature

In this episode, we’re talking about Japan’s bubble economy of the 1980s and the work of Banana Yoshimoto.

Runaway consumer spending.

Everything kawaii.

A Nobel laureate’s contempt.

And a young author whose career challenged the publishings powers that be.

Content warning: This episode addresses transphobia as well as hate crimes against Asian Americans and trans women.

Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

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In this episode, we’re talking about Japan’s bubble economy of the 1980s and the work of Banana Yoshimoto.

Runaway consumer spending.

Everything kawaii.

A Nobel laureate’s contempt.

And a young author whose career challenged the publishings powers that be.

Content warning: This episode addresses transphobia as well as hate crimes against Asian Americans and trans women.

Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Previous Episode

Literature of Change in the 1960s—Mishima and Oe

Today, we’re talking about the literature of change in the 1960s—how writers took on questions about what it meant to be Japanese in the post-war era and what was the continuing role of Japanese tradition.

We’re looking especially at Yukio Mishima and Kenzaburo Oe.
*This episode incorrectly states that Kenzaburo Oe was born in 1925. He was born in 1935.

Content warning: This episode addresses fascism and suicide.
Notes and sources at the podcast episode page.

Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

Next Episode

Translating Japanese Women

In all our episodes so far, we’ve talked almost exclusively about what Japanese literature looks like in Japan.

But we’re English-speakers and English-readers on an English-language podcast about Japanese literature in English.

In honor of Women in Translation Month, we’re talking about why there is such a wealth of contemporary books by Japanese women available in English.

Notes and sources at the podcast episode website.
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Let RJL know what you think! (Contact us through the website if you want a response.)

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