I Novel

I-Novel (私小説, Watakushi shōsetsu, or Shishōsetsu) is a literary genre in Japanese literature used to describe writing about oneself. This genre was founded based on the Japanese reception of Naturalism during the Taishō period. The form reflected greater individuality and a less constrained method of writing.

The first "I-Novels" are believed to be "Hakai" ("Broken Commandment"), written in 1906 by Shimazaki Toson, and "Futon" ("Quilt") written by Tayama Katai in 1907. In "Hakai", Toson described a male who was born a member of a discriminated segment of the population (burakumin), and how he decided to violate his father's commandment not to reveal his community of birth. In "Futon", Tayama confessed his affection for a female pupil. From its beginnings, the "I-Novel" was a genre that exposed the dark side of society or the dark side of the author's life.

There are several general rules for the creation of an "I-Novel". The story must remain in a natural realm and must be completely realistic. The idea was to prove that language is not transparent and that a real experience can be completely portrayed with language. The formula of the protagonist must be author = protagonist = hero; therefore the author must be the protagonist of the story. The story should also express a great knowledge of literature and reference as many works as possible in relation to a character's feelings. The writing should also not be too elaborate.

Major writers included Dazai Osamu and others."Scandal" by Shusaku Endo is one of the recent examples of an "I-Novel"

References

Hijiya-Kirschnereit, Irmela: "Rituals of Self-Revelation: Shishosetsu as Literary Genre and Socio-Cultural Phenomenon"; Harvard University Press: 1996

Fowler, Edward:"The Rhetoric of Confession - Shishosetsu in Early Twentieth-Century Japanese Fiction"; London: 1988

Suzuki, Tomi: "Narrating the Self - Fictions of Japanese Modernity"; Stanford:1996