Atomic Bomb Literature

Japanese: 原爆文学 - げんばくぶんがく

Literature that deals with the various tragic events that occurred as a result of the dropping of the atomic bomb. Representative works include Summer Flowers (1947) and From the Ruins (1947) by Hara Tamiki, a writer who was a survivor of the atomic bomb, City of Corpses (1948) and Human Rags (1951) by Ota Yoko, and Atomic Bomb Poetry Collection by Toge Sankichi. Other notable works by writers who were not survivors of the atomic bomb include Judgment (1954) by Hotta Yoshie, The Herd of the Earth (1955) by Inoue Mitsuharu, and Black Rain (1956) by Ibuse Masuji. A six-volume collection of Japanese Atomic Bomb Literature has also been published. The issue of "atomic bombs = nuclear" has remained a global issue since the end of World War II, as it was at the core of the Cold War structure that appeared to be established on the basis of a balance of military power. In 1982, against the backdrop of a worldwide rise in the anti-nuclear movement, 361 literary figures, led by writer Koji Nakano as representative organizer, launched a "Statement by Writers on the Danger of Nuclear War" and began a signature campaign. However, there were a series of objections to the wording of the statement and criticism of the way the movement was being carried out, sparking a debate in the literary world that became known as the "anti-nuclear debate." Rather than being a sincere question about how literary figures should behave in a "nuclear situation," the debate itself seems to have degenerated into an exchange of accusations between those who defended the "Statement" and those who were critical.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

原子爆弾の投下によって生じたさまざまな悲惨な出来事を題材とする文学。被爆作家である原民喜の『夏の花』 (1947年) ，『廃虚から』 (47年) ，大田洋子の『屍の街』 (48年) ，『人間襤褸』 (51年) ，峠三吉『原爆詩集』などが代表的である。また，非被爆作家のものとしては，堀田善衛『審判』，井上光晴『地の群れ』，井伏鱒二『黒い雨』などが注目される。全6巻の『日本の原爆文学』も刊行されている。「原爆＝核」の問題は，軍事力の均衡の上で成立しているかに見える第2次世界大戦以後の冷戦構造の根幹にあるものとして世界共通の問題であり続けた。反核運動の世界的高まりを背景に，1982年，作家中野孝次を世話人代表とする文学者 361人が発起人となり「核戦争の危機を訴える文学者の声明」を発表，署名運動を開始した。しかし，この声明の文言に対する異論，運動の展開の仕方そのものへの批判が相次ぎ，「反核論争」と呼ばれる論議を文壇に引き起こした。論争そのものは「核状況下」での文学者のあるべき姿を真摯 (しんし) に問うというより，「声明」擁護派と批判派との非難の応酬に堕した感がある。

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