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The ) were a group of dissolute writers who expressed the aimlessness and identity crisis of post-World War II Japan. While not comprising a true literary school, the Buraiha writers were linked together by a similar approach to subject matter and literary style. The main characters in works of the Buraiha feature anti-heroes that are dissolute and aimless.
Meaning of "burai"
The term "burai", which was bestowed on the group by conservative critics, literally meaning undependable, refers to someone whose behavior goes against traditional social conventions.
Lifestyle
They are sometimes referred to as the "decadents" in the west because of the decadent lifestyle they lead, spending time in bars, using narcotics, and having frequent sexual relationships. A prime example of this is Ango Sakaguchi, who shocked the Japanese public by his publication of an essay entitled . This, according to one critic, not only shocked the Japanese, but "allowed the Japanese people, especially the youth of Japan, to redeem its sense of self and begin life in the postwar period."
Literary work
Their work was based on criticism of the complete body of pre-war Japanese literature as well as American social values that were introduced into the Japanese society with the occupation. Their work did not appeal to any one particular group, and their range was not well defined.
Because of the subversive nature of their works, they were referred to as the after an Edo-era literary movement, but the terms was replaced as less irreverent works became popular.
Authors
The term mainly applied to Ango Sakaguchi, Osamu Dazai and Sakunosuke Oda, however, it also often referred to others, such as Jun Ishikawa, Itō Sei, Jun Takami, Tanaka Hidemitsu and Kazuo Dan. Further, according to Takeo Okuno, the group also included Miyoshi Jūrō and Taiko Hirabayashi.
References
- Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language Wikipedia article,無頼派 (retrieved April 3, 2006).
"Buraiha"