I have been wondering this even before we started reading the book.
What differences would there be in the book if it was still written in Japan but by a foreigner instead of a Japanese author?
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Well, if it was written by a foreigner, they probably wouldn't be able to make comments about the fact that Japan seems to have gone from war to war. But this is in fact mentioned in the book. Only people from a country can comfortably criticize it since it is their own.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a foreigner wouldn't really care that the country is losing its identity through rapid urbanization, but this is one of the main themes in the book.
I don't think the book would be that different. Of course, it would all depend on how much research the author had done, but it would likely be the same. If the author hadn't spent time in Japan, then perhaps some pieces of culture that can't be picked up through reading wouldn't be the same. I agree with Athena that a foreigner might not know/ care as much about the loss of culture through urbanization. That is something that you can sort of learn about in books, but it's not the same as if you have lived there.
ReplyDeleteEven if it's not that different if it had another author, what gives someone the right to critique a culture? I don't think a person can fully understand the effects of a culture unless they grew up under it, and what people don't know about, they shouldn't publish books about.
ReplyDeleteSo in other words, because this book sometimes discusses Japan, it is irrefutably Japanese in it's setting and meaning.
Keep in mind that I'm not saying that a foreigner can't talk about Japan or say what they feel about it, but they should always keep in mind that they are just an outsider looking in.
I agree with Athena's first comment. I mean, who are we to say anything about someone else's culture? It's like the anticipation guide we did in class. From this authentic Japanese author's view we can truly see things that we otherwise wouldn't be able to see.
ReplyDeleteI think that if an author thinks of himself as a true Japanese citizen the book would not change that much but if he was critical of Japan without knowing all the details the book would not be the same.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it would make much of a difference because the focus of this book seems to be the personal journey of the main character, not the setting, and not much of the book is really specific to Japan.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Reed, however since we've kind of reached a dead end with the main character, could there be another unique reason the novel was written?
ReplyDeleteWe have definitely reached a dead end with the main character. If I were the author, I would write to teach people about my culture. I doubt that that would be the main reason that this book was written, but perhaps it was one of the factors?
ReplyDeleteI think that the book would be very different. Foreigners often have preset thoughts about certain places and unless the author did alot of research, those would come out through the writing. I think that the book wouldn't seem as authentic or sincere if it was not written by a Japanese author.
ReplyDeleteThe book would be very similar to other stories of a personal journey without the Japanese culture. However, the story itself could be placed anywhere, but the Japanese culture gives it a little more flair. Other than the slight uniqueness of the Japanese culture and the fact that the author is Japanese, I don't think that the culture was a factor.
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