A Study of the Formation of Japanese Language Literature in Colonial Korea: Japanese Magazines, Japanese Translations of Joseon Literature, and Traditional Japanese Poetry

Abstract

This study aims to examine Japanese language literature in Korea since the early 1900s through the relationship between Japanese language literature and Japanese magazines, Japanese translations of Joseon literature, traditional Japanese poetry, which were the major areas of Japanese literature during the Japanese colonial era. The literature analyzed in this research had not previously been included in the study of Japanese literature or even colonial Japanese language literature. Even before the Japanese annexation of Korea, Japanese language newspapers and magazines had already been launched in major Japanese communities in Joseon. It is apparent that Japanese language literature in the early twentieth century was formed around the literary columns in these medias. These Japanese language literary activities in Joseon were carried out with a close connection with the both domestic and international literary worlds, such as those of Manchuria and Taiwan. After the 1930s, the development of Japanese language literature became complex due to diverse literary and cultural phenomena, and because of its sensitive response to local issues.