Japanese Christian Lit: Endo

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Often called the “Graham Greene of Japan,” Endō Shūsaku (1923-1996) is one of the best of modern Japanese writers and certainly its most famous and consequential Christian novelist. He may be best known today for the 2016 movie Silence, Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Endō’s novel of that name. His narratives are searching stories of personal identity that explore the meaning of self as lived experience, particularly as a member of the Christian minority in Japan. Endō’s writings cover a wide range of genres and themes, from his best known historical fiction (Silence, The Samurai) to light comedic stories (Wonderful Fool) and poignant stories set in contemporary period (The Girl I Left Behind, Volcano). In this class, we will read and discuss Endō’s theological fiction, following the development of his writing in chronological order, culminating in his last work, the highly acclaimed Deep River that is set in India and explores inter-religious and inter-cultural questions. Endō was awarded an honorary Ph.D. by Georgetown University in 1987.