##arison Of Japanese Characterism In Yuukio Mishima's The Sound Of Waves

The term ‘Bushido’ has over the years developed from the traditional translation of ‘the Way of the Warrior’ towards the more modern notion of a “national spirit of Japan, especially the military spirit.” This paper will analyse the impacts that various religious traditions such as Shintoism, Buddhism and Confucianism have had on shaping the classical ideals of the bushido code and the influences that the bushido code played on the actions of the kamikaze fighter pilots during World War II.

Although Murasaki Shikibu parodies the idealness of Genji’s character by showing even though he is ideal he is still not perfect, by having Genji admired by the majority of the other characters in the story she is acknowledging that Genji is an ideal man (or at least as close as one can get in the Heian Court). “His [Genji’s] many flaws are balanced by his charm, taste, generosity, humor, and sensitivity.”

The entire Japanese culture is based on honor. Honor extends to the nation, the family, and the individual. The samurai are no exception to a code of honor. The samurai follow the code of bushido. Bushido is closer to the western term of chivalry. Bushido places emphasis on courage, benevolence, justice, politeness, truthfulness, honor, loyalty, and most importantly is self-control. The samurai's primary religion is Zen. The samurai adapted Zen easily due to the philosophy that fits closely to Buddhism. Samurai may act in the extreme when it comes to honor. They will kill anyone who may dishonor them or their lord. Nothing is worse to a samurai than to have corrupt dealings. Some of the warriors believed, "Honor is the power of deciding upon certain course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering … to die when it is right to die, to strike when to strike is right." Other warriors believed that "Honor is the bone that gives firmness and stature. As without bones the head cannot rest on top of the spine, nor hands move, nor feet stand, so without honor neither talent nor learning can make of a human frame a

First off, Mishima illustrated the importance of the social class within the lives of the Japanese people, and Japan in general. For example, Shinji said, “It’s all because I’m poor (113).” Social ranks played a huge part in Japan. When one

As we read further into the book, into Part II: “The War in Western Eyes”, it allows us to recognize the different types of natures. The kill or be killed, the down-home styled, and the different types of behaviors. It tells about the punishments through prisoners and the freed and even makes the reference of how “for many Japanese-Americans, the verbal stripping of their humanity was accompanied by humiliating treatment” These people were treated with disrespect and as if they were part of a cluster of cattle. Part three of the novel explains and explores the culture of the Japanese to determine racial outlook.

Written by Mishima Yukio, ‘Onnagata’ is a short story not so common among Japanese literature. It uncovered love relationships between three male characters: Masuyama, Mangiku and Kawasaki. Besides the story, Mishima was a controversial influencer given his ‘homosexual past’, and there were a lot of debates regarding the homosexual contents as well as their influences in Japanese literatures. Although his sexual orientation remained as a myth even until today, but he indeed tried to hide his sentiments toward homosexual relationship in two different layers inside this story. The upper layer is the conflicts between Japanese and western influences and the bottom layer is our human nature—fear.

ukio Mishima, a Japanese rebel who wanted his government to bring back imperial power and samurai traditions back to Japan soon after the ending of world war 2. As past traditions had been overrun by more westernized influences which Mishima had believed lacked courage and principles. All resulting in Mishima committing ritual suicide in the commander’s office soon after taking the commander hostage and addressing the local garrison from the commander’s balcony. Although Mishima had took his life, he had done it with honor; he had rather commit suicide than accept his country’s way of governing. In “Patriotism,” Yukio Mishima explains how this kind of suicide is an honorable act rather than a cowardice one through his fictional character, Lieutenant

In Giles Milton’s novel, Samurai William, the reader is taken to the other side of the globe to experience the history of old world Japan. Though out the book, Milton provides reason for complex historical events and actions, while still communicating the subtleties and mysterious customs of the Japanese. The novel also closely examines the wide range of relationships between different groups of Europeans and Asians, predominantly revolving around the protagonist, William Adams. The book documents the successes and failures that occur between the two civilizations, then links them back to either the positive or negative relationship they have. As the book goes on, the correlation is obvious. Milton shows us the extreme role that religion,

Beating had long been an acceptable and routine method of discipline within the Japanese Army. Soldiers could strike subordinates with no questions asked and no explanation warranted. The slightest distinction between ranks was of critical importance because it meant the difference between who could inflict blows, and who could expect to receive them. This sort of institutionalized brutality had a tendency to work its way down the ranks to the lowliest private. One can imagine what would happen when an enlisted man, hardened by this psychology of top-down violence, found himself suddenly thrown into a foreign and not altogether distasteful situation in which he was the superior, in charge of a group of helpless prisoners. For some, the temptation to beat proved irresistible. For others, beating was only the beginning." (Hampton 91-92)

Tomi’s Life In the “House of the Red Fish” by Graham Salisbury, there were three main characters, Tomi, Billy, and Keet. The book talks about the life of an average Japanese-American during World War 2 and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The story takes place on the island of Hawaii on Oahu in 1943.

The samurai were a warrior class in feudal Japan who served the lords of clans in Japanese feudal society. They were highly respected elite warriors in both grand military strategy and individual martial arts. The warrior code that they embodied and the myth of the samurai warrior are still alive in modern Japan today. In his book American Samurai: Myth and Imagination in the Conduct of Battle in the First Marine Division 1941-1951, Craig Cameron draws parallels between the United States Marine Corps and the feudal Japanese samurai. Writing from a post-Vietnam view, Cameron

Heike Monogatari, with its multitude of battles and skirmishes, provides a wonderful chance to analyze the way of the warrior in ancient Japan. There aren't a great number of surviving works from this period that show in such great detail both the brute and the compassion of the Japanese warriors. They followed carefully a distinct set of principles which made up the well-rounded warrior. Loyalty to one's master, bravery and glory in any situation, strength, martial skills, compassion, and interest in the arts were all held with the highest esteem. Few warriors could become well known without possessing each of these skills. Religious beliefs shaped a warrior's behavior tremendously.

The theme of religion is very important in the novel and the roles of mysterious spirits that can be found throughout the novel. The character of Lady Rokuju can be used as a prime example for how spirits contribute to novel’s plot and help it progress. Her relationship with Genji goes on a downward spiral as the novel progress; therefore she begins to have feelings which Genji finds unwanting. She began to show distasteful feelings such as being ill-tempered and difficult to deal with. Genji becomes annonyed and tries to distance himself from this relationship by forming a new relationship with a youthful female named Yugao. They soon have a secret affair and Genji is dazzled

The Japanese people, although of different classes, are united by a fierce pride for self and culture. Although many of the samurai are starving and poor, they are too proud to beg for food, or even accept it as payment for services rendered. Some of the samurai who refuse to help the village do so because they are too proud to work for such a lowly cause. The farmers’ pride in their village is seen through their efforts to defend their village and livelihood in the face of the bandits. This pride is even more evident as those farmers who live outside the protective wall built around the village for the battle attempt to mutiny against the samurai and defend only their homes.

To start, In chapter 2 of The Tale of Genji, Tō no Chūjō, the “Chief Left Equerry”, the “Fujiwara Aide of Ceremonies”, and Genji have a conversation about the “ideal” woman and the several kinds of women