A History of Meiji Literature and Other Essays

A literature that changes the world, a poet who speaks to the heart, a hero who awakens other heroes: Yamaji Aizan asks what writing and character can accomplish in modern Japan.

The central essay surveys Meiji intellectual life through figures including Taguchi Ukichi and Fukuzawa Yukichi. Aizan praises clarity and independence while challenging narrow materialism and abstract speculation. Elsewhere he disputes pantheistic and idealist tendencies, argues for exemplary lives, and considers why poets must understand both their age and their readers.

Two writings on Kitamura Tōkoku bring a different warmth to the collection. Their fierce disagreements coexist with affection, generous acts, remembered walks, and a lasting sense of loss.