Research on the Reception, Translation and Influence of Maxim Gorky's Literature in Modern Japan

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H07179
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Japanese literature
• Research Institution: Jissen Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Bruna Lukas 実践女子大学, 文学部, 助教 (10780827)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-08-26 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: マキシム・ゴーリキー / 日本近代文学 / 自然主義 / 労働文学 / プロレタリア文学 / 石川啄木 / 宮嶋資夫 / 小林多喜二

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main focus of this research was to investigate the reception of one of the most prominent Russian novelists Maxim Gorky(Максим Горький, 1868-1936) in Japan in the first half of the 20th century, to analyse some of the most representative Japanese translations of his literary works and to elucidate the immense influence Gorky's literature had on modern Japanese writers. Based on thorough research and analysis of historical sources and literary texts this research was able to explain (among other aspects) how the reception of Gorky's literature evolved over the time or how his literary works were through the process of translation intentionally rewritten. Most importantly this research proved through comparative analysis that several literary works published in 1900s (e.g. T. Ishikawa's "Drifting"), working class literature in 1910s (e.g. S. Miyajima's "The Miner") or proletarian literature in 1920s (e.g. T. Kobayashi's early stories) were deeply influenced by Gorky.

Free Research Field

日本近代文学