Bibliography of Japanese Literature for the High School Classroom

by About Japan Editors Editor's Note:  This bibliography was compiled in 1998 by the Education Department at Japan Society.

Click here for a PDF of Japanese Literature in the High School Classroom.

Dear Educator,

Japan has a rich literary heritage that offers readers a doorway into Japanese history and culture. For high school readers Japanese literature can bring alive the historical characters they may meet in social studies class. Japan also offers a fascinating comparison to the literature of western or other Asian countries.  Japanese literature has always been closely related to the visual arts and offers countless subjects that can be transformed into a variety of art forms.

This annotated bibliography was prepared to help high school educators explore the world of Japanese literature that is appropriate for use in their classrooms. Because of the great breadth of subject matter in Japanese literature, it is often difficult to find works that fit into the interest and lives of young people. To make the search easier we offer this list of works that has been reviewed by a committee of high school educators.

The works span the literary spectrum from verse, drama, and essays to novels, diaries, and short stories.  Some of the works, such as 11th century The Tale of Genji, are well-known masterpieces of world literature. Other pieces, such as the 1989 short story, TV People, examine technology and its effect on contemporary urban society.

The reviewers were asked to rate the works according to their suitability in the high school classroom on a scale from 1 (not suitable) to 10 (very suitable). All of the works were well- known by those who follow the world of Japanese literature. It was the aim of this review, not to give an exhaustive listing of the great works of Japanese literature, but to offer only those works that are can be used with young adults.

In early 1998 a group of eighteen educators who teach social studies, literature, art, English-as-a-second language, as well as other disciplines, were asked to review forty-five works of Japanese literature. Each work was read by two to five reviewers. They then submitted written summaries, highlighted themes, and gave suggestions for classroom activities and discussions. The reviewers, as a whole group, met to discuss their final views on certain works.

We commend the reviewers on their excellent work. They offered thorough examinations and insightful comments on each of the works. We extend a special thanks to all of them for undertaking this task. The resulting bibliography is a compilation of the work of the reviewers that has been edited by the staff of the Educational Outreach Department at the Japan Society. The Educational Outreach Department takes full responsibility for any mistakes or omissions in this bibliography.