Buraiha

'The Buraiha or Decadent School (無頼派 buraiha, the school of irresponsibility and decadence) 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. 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.'

Has anyone heard of/know of any works that I should look at to familiarise myself with this pseudo-movement? The formidable Google falls flat on this.

- Alex

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Comments

[Martin Dean]

Not certain if he's 100% Buraiha, but from that description it sounds like Yukio Mishima might be worth a look - certainly deals with identity crises and aimlessness, but direct action and decisiveness occur, cataclysmically, as the death throes of a definite spiritual and national identity.

[Alex]

Cheers Martin, I'll check it out.