showed few signs of foreign influence until about 1879, when translations of European novels began to make their appearance. The first of these was Lord Lytton's Ernest Maltravers. It produced a profound sensation, and was followed during the next few years by a number of others.[1] A pronounced reaction against the methods and principles of the Bakin school of fiction was the consequence. Tsuboüchi Yūzō was the principal promoter of the new movement. In a work entitled Shōsetstu Shinzui ("Spirit of Fiction") he denounced the artificial morality of Bakin's writings. More recently he became editor of a literary magazine called Waseda Bungaku, the organ of the newer school of criticism, which derives its principles and standards entirely from European sources. In his Shosei Katagi ("Types of Students"), 1887, Tsuboüchi has given an example of a realistic novel. It is well written, and contains some graphic and humorous sketches of modern student life viewed from the seamy side, but has little plot, portraiture of character, or dramatic incident. Tsuboüchi has also tried his hand at drama. I have not seen his Julius Cæsar, which Dr. Florenz describes as a version of Shakespeare's drama thrown into the form of Jōruri, that is, with a thread of poetical narrative and description woven into it; but I have before me two others of his plays, the Maki no Kata (1897), and the Kiku to Kiri (1898).
The Maki no Kata is in the Kyakubon style, that is, it depends almost wholly on dialogue. The small element
- ↑ Among European writers of fiction whose works have been translated into Japanese may be mentioned Dumas (Trois Mousquetaires), Cervantes, Rider Haggard, and Jules Verne. Télémaque and Robinson Crusoe (commended for its excellent moral teaching) have also been translated.
