Studies in the Comic Spirit in Modern Japanese Fiction

Unlike traditional Japanese literature, which has a rich tradition of comedy, modern Japanese literature (or at least the parts of it studied by literary critics) is commonly associated with a high seriousness of purpose. In this study, Joel R. Cohn analyzes works by three writers - Ibuse Masuji (1898-1993), Dazai Osamu (1909-1948), and Inoue Hisashi (1934- ), whose works constitute a relentless assault on the notion that comedy cannot be part of serious literature.