Abstract:
Shisha no sho (The Book of the Dead), completed in 1943 by Orikuchi Shinobu, is a modern Japanese classic that has inspired many adaptations, including an animated film and a manga. Inspired by the ancient Egyptian tale of Isis and Osiris, the novel is a sweeping, gothic tale about a strange affair between an inquisitive noblewoman and a ghost in the eighth century. Not only is the story unforgettable, the book is also a remarkable artifact, produced in the midst of the fervent nationalism and intense censorship of World War II. In this talk, Angles will untangle the novel’s complex history, reveal some of Orikuchi’s influences, and discuss the hidden political dimensions of the work. In particular, he investigates the parallels between earliest origins of the Japanese nation when the novel is set, and the rise of the Japanese empire in the twentieth century.