Japanese women novelists in the 20th century

Since the late 1980s, Japanese literature has entered a new era of women´s writing, with female authors winning many prestigious literary prizes. In the 1910s, self-awakened women had struggled against the patriarchy and imperial authority to gain equal access to literary enterprise. Since World War II the social obstacles have diminished and the present generation of writers are enjoying prominence and popularity.

Despite a number of recent translations, the work of Japanese women writers is still little known in the West and information on such literature is not readily accessible.

This book contains brief profiles of the 104 prizewinners from 1900-1993. Also a record of selected work and lists of translations to European languages after each biography. The book caters for readers within literature, womens´ studies, history and sociology.