Description: Shirane and Suzuki examine how the Japanese canon of "classics" (The Tale of Genji, The Tale of the Heike, Noh drama, Saikaku, Chikamatsu, and Basho) was constructed as part of the creation of Japan as a modern nation-state and as a result of Western influence.
Review Quotes: "The collection presents a truly significant contribution to the study of Japanese literature. . . . All the essays are solidly researched and lucidly written, and the volume is certain to be widely used and cited."--Journal of Asian Studies