In this thesis I present prose works of contemporary Japanese women writers, who made their debut at the beginning of the 21st century. For a better understanding of the transition that a position of Japanese women and women authors has gone through - and how it prepared the way for their successors, I provide a summary of women's literature of the last two decades. To make the context clear, I also included an outline of significant changes within the realm of women's rights and the image of the role of women in society. Presentation of themes, that contemporary women writers focus on in their works and that reflect recent trends in modern Japanese society, follows. I also analyze aspects of language that are shared in works of young women writers. Lastly, considering the diverse range of critical reception of contemporary Japanese women writers, I would like to think about the future of Japanese modern literature. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This report includes my translation of the short story “Tread on a Snake” (Hebi o Fumu) by Kawakami Hiromi, which is presented here as a significant contribution to modern Japanese literature in translation. The story received the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1996, although support for it was not unanimous as seen in my translation of the judges’ comments offered here as well. Following the translation of the story itself is an essay that discusses my personal experiences translating the story. I discuss elements that may be unique to the experience of translating Kawakami’s works, but also many that are applicable more broadly to issues of translation that go beyond her works and even Japanese literature as well. Challenges included maintaining the author’s tone and voice, the appropriate use of notes to provide cultural background, and the deliberate use of non-translated terms in a translation. / text

The images of Japanese women in the Japanese contemporary literature (1935-1975) — Short-stories crowned with the Akutagawa Prize Japanese women carry with them the myth to be Japanese. But is it a reality? How were their lives before the Second World War, after it and during the economic growth until 1975? Were they unhappy submitted to this myth? I try to present the contemporary history of Japanese women through a research on the short-stories crowned with the Akutagawa Prize from 1935 to 1975. These short-stories are autobiographic, journalistic or documentary, and they are a true reflection of their time. Also, the female characters give witness of Japanese women’s lives in each period through literature, that is the most active, direct, touching and understandable form for the reader. Thus, I intend to contribute to a larger understanding of the Japanese society and culture. The first chapter is devoted to the period of war between 1935 and 1945. And the second chapter is about the period of rapid economic upturn, starting with the ruins and famine of the post-war years from 1945 to 1955. Indeed, the post-war years end in 1955 in Japan. Then, the third chapter is about the dazzling economic growth between 1955 and 1970. And finally in the fourth chapter, during the period going from 1970 to 1975, most Japanese people think they are now out of misery, being part of the middle class and happy about the situation. In total, I examine 57 short-stories : 18 in the first chapter, 10 in the second chapter, 21 in the third chapter, and 8 in the fourth chapter. Also, there are 112 female characters to analyse in all : 41 in the fist chapter, 18 in the second chapter, 33 in the third chapter and 20 in the fourth chapter. Through the evolution and changes along this period of time, the lives of our heroines change too. First, they are kept under the strict respect of social rules. And during the war, they suffer from poverty and misery. Then, the time comes for the share of tasks between women and men. From then on, women take mostly care of their homes. Besides, let us note that the importance of the education of girls is continuously stressed, even if the main aim is to make them “good wives and good mothers”. Finally, Japanese women’s morale stays intact during the period chosen for our research. A significant change seems to happen thereafter. / Images de femmes dans la littérature japonaise contemporaine (1935-1975) — cas des nouvelles couronnées par le prix Akutagawa Les Japonaises portent en elles le mythe de la Japonaise. Mais est-ce une réalité ? Quelle était leur vie pendant la période de l’avant-guerre, de l’après-guerre et de la croissance économique jusqu’en 1975 ? Étaient-elles malheureuses en étant soumises à ce mythe ? Nous avons tenté de transcrire l’histoire contemporaine des Japonaises à travers une recherche sur les nouvelles couronnées par le prix Akutagawa entre 1935 et 1975. Les œuvres sont autobiographiques, journalistiques ou documentaires, ancrées dans chaque époque et leurs personnages féminins témoignent des vies des Japonaises de leur temps sous forme littéraire, c’est-à-dire la forme la plus active, la plus directe, la plus touchante et la plus compréhensive pour le lecteur. Ainsi contribuons-nous à la compréhension de la société et de la culture japonaises. Le premier chapitre est consacré à la période de la guerre entre 1935 et 1945. Le deuxième chapitre concerne l’époque de la remontée économique rapide, partant des ruines et de la famine de l’après-guerre entre 1945 et 1955. En effet, 1955 marque la fin de l’après-guerre au Japon. Le troisième chapitre porte sur l’époque de la croissance économique fleurissante entre 1955 et 1970. Et le dernier et quatrième chapitre parcourt la période entre 1970 et 1975. C’est la période où quasiment tous les Japonais se croient sortis de la misère, ils se considèrent appartenir à la classe moyenne et ils s’en réjouissent. Quant au nombre de nouvelles, nous analysons en tout cinquante-sept nouvelles : dix-huit œuvres dans le premier chapitre, dix dans le deuxième, vingt-et-une dans le troisième et huit dans le quatrième. Et nous comptons au total cent-douze personnages féminins à étudier, soit quarante-et-un dans le premier chapitre, dix-huit dans le deuxième, trente-trois dans le troisième et vingt dans le quatrième. À travers l'évolution et les bouleversements dans le temps, les vies de nos héroïnes se modifient. D’abord, elles vivent dans la stricte obéissance de la règle sociale. Ensuite, elles tombent dans la pauvreté et la misère à cause de la guerre. Et puis arrive le temps du partage des tâches entre les hommes et les femmes et ces dernières se retirent presque complètement dans leur foyer. Néanmoins, l’éducation des filles est renforcée régulièrement, même si la raison principale est d'en faire de « bonnes épouses et bonnes mères ». Nous remarquons que la morale des Japonaises ne se transforme pas pendant la période concernée par notre recherche. Un changement significatif semble intervenir par la suite.

The images of Japanese women in the Japanese contemporary literature (1935-1975) — Short-stories crowned with the Akutagawa Prize<p><p>\ / Doctorat en sciences sociales, Orientation sociologie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished