Fusion of Religion and Folklore in Literature:
A Reinterpretation of Miyazawa Kenji’s World View

Organizer: Pullattu Abraham GEORGE, Visiting Research Scholar

　The aim of this research project is to uncover the “Japanese feel” and “Japanese sentiments” manifested in Miyazawa Kenji’s works by re-examining and re-interpreting his poetry and children’s stories from the point of view of the religious teaching and folkloric beliefs evident in all his works. The fusion of religious teachings and folkloric beliefs is the essence or core of his works. Bringing these characteristics of Kenji’s works to light is the most important objective of this research. Outwardly, Kenji’s works appear to be mere fantasies derived from the hallucinative mind of a daydreamer, but actually they are not. Removing this misunderstanding from the minds of readers is essential, not only to true understanding of the writer, but also to changing his stereotypical image.

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