From Romanticism to Junshi

Each country is associated with one or more dominant, stereotypical, and superficial physical representations of its people. When considering Japan, certain recurring stereotypical images often come to mind among those who are not well informed about the country. For women, it is often the graceful and refined figure of a geisha, draped in a silk kimono. For men, the imagery is often associated with samurai, brandishing their swords, ready to defend honour or face their own fate. As the poet and novelist Itō Hiromi (伊藤比呂美1955) recounts, in her experience the most common question she was asked during her time in America was about seppuku (切腹) as though it were a common practice shared by all Japanese people. This led her to explore the topic further, beginning with how the practice is portrayed in the literature of Mori Ōgai (森鷗外 1862-1922). In this regard, she discusses it in her book, Seppuku kō. Ōgai sensei to watashi (Reflections on seppuku. Professor Ōgai and I).