JAPANESE CULTURAL WESTERNIZATION in the 1920S AS REFLECTED THROUGH the MAIN CHARACTERS in JUNICHIRO TANIZAKI’S NAOMI

JAPANESE CULTURAL WESTERNIZATION IN THE 1920s AS REFLECTED THROUGH THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN JUNICHIRO TANIZAKI’S NAOMI

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

FRANCISCA NUGRAHENI ROSARI WULAN Student Number: 064214056

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2010

JAPANESE CULTURAL WESTERNIZATION IN THE 1920s AS REFLECTED THROUGH THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN JUNICHIRO TANIZAKI’S NAOMI

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

FRANCISCA NUGRAHENI ROSARI WULAN Student Number: 064214056

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2010

“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”

(Orison Swett Marden )

This Undergraduate Thesis is dedicated to: Jesus Christ and Mother Mary My Beloved Parents, Fx. Rustamanto & My. Sri Utami My sister, Maria Ika Widiyawati My brother, Timotius Dudik My brother, Andreas Novianto Heru Utomo My nephews and nieces: Marcell, Monic, Ave, Samuel My beloved boyfriend, Dian Saputra

ACKNOWLEDMENTS

First of all I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Jesus Christ and mother Mary. Without all the guidance, opportunities and blessings, I will not be able to finish my thesis. Secondly, I want to thank my advisor Ni Luh Putu

Rosiandani, S.S, M. Hum and my co-advisor Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M. Hum, for all their advise and guidance.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my beloved parents (Fx.

Rustamanto and My. Sri Utami) for the love, prayers, support, both financial and spiritual. For my older sister and brothers; Ika, Dudik and Antok, thanks for the love, support and help. Next, I thank Dian Saputra who always loves and supports me.

I would also like to thank all my best friends: Gaby, Tuwik, Kethut,

Sukma, Ratri, Asthy, Gentur, Handoko, Yuni, Aan, Nining, Lusi, Kurni; all my friends in English Letters; all my friends in Gondang church; and all my friends in

Voces Angelorum Choir, for their support.

The next gratitude goes to all secretariat staff members in the English

Letters and all the library staffs of Sanata Dharma University. I thank them for their good services.

Francisca Nugraheni Rosari Wulan

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………… …. i APPROVAL PAGE …………………………………………………………. ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ……………………………………………………… iii MOTTO PAGE ……………………………………………………...... …. iv DEDICATION PAGE ……………………………………………...... v Lembar Pernyataan Persetujuan Publikasi Karya Ilmiah ………...... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………...... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………...... viii ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………...... ix ABSTRAK ………………………………………………..……………...... x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ………………………..……………...... 1 A. Background of the Study……………………………………...... 1 B. Problem Formulation…………………………………………….. 3 C. Objectives of the Study…………………………………………... 3 D. Definition of Terms………………………………………………. 4 CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW……………………...... 5 A. Review of Related Studies……………………………………….. 5 B. Review of Related Theories…………………………………...... 7 1. Theory of Character……………………………...... 7 2. Theory of Characterization………………………………...... 8 3. Theory of Literature and Society…………………...... 12 C. Review of Japanese Society after the Arrival of European Countries…………………………………………………………. 13 1. Edo or Tokugawa Period (100-1868)……………………...... 13 2. Meiji Period (1868-1912)………………………...... 14 3. The Changes of Japanese Society in 1920s…………………… 17 D. Theoretical Framework…………………………………………… 23 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ………………………………………… 24 A. Object of the Study……………………………………………….. 24 B. Approach of the Study…………………………….……...... 25 C. Method of the Study……………………….……………………... 26 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ……………………………………………...... 27 A. The Description of the Main Characters………………...... 27 1. The Description of Kawai Joji……………………...... 27 2. The Description of Naomi………………...………………….. 36 B. The 1920s Japanese Cultural Westernization of the Main Characters …………………………………………………………………..... 47 1. The Japanese Cultural Westernization of Kawai Joji...………. 48 2. The Japanese Cultural Westernization of Naomi……………... 58

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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION …………………………………………….. 67 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………...... 70 APPENDIX: Summary of Junichiro Tanizaki’s Naomi ………………….. 73

ABSTRACT

FRANSISCA NUGRAHENI ROSARI WULAN. Japanese Cultural Westernization in the 1920s as Reflected through the Main Characters in Junichiro Tanizaki’s Naomi . Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2010.

This undergraduate thesis focuses on the novel Naomi written by Junichiro Tanizaki. This novel reflects the real condition of Japanese society in 1920s as the impact of Westernization. The main characters in the novel Naomi reflect the cultural Westernization in 1920s Japanese society. There are two objectives that the writer wants to achieve in this study. First is to find out the description of the main characters: Kawai Joji and Naomi; second is to find out the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s of the main characters. To analyze the text, the writer uses the library research method. The review of related studies, theories, and the review of Japanese society after the arrival of European countries needed in this study were gathered from library research and online sites. The writer considered that the socio-cultural historical approach was appropriate to be applied in this study because the novel tells about the Japanese society in the twentieth century. By applying this approach, the writer can reveal the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s. In the analysis, the writer finds that Kawai Joji is characterized as being modern and traditional. He is described as a modern man because he refuses several traditional principles of Japanese society. He is described as a traditional man because he still holds a certain traditional Japanese principle. Naomi is described as a Japanese woman who changes from being traditional into being modern. The characterizations of Kawai Joji and Naomi reflect the 1920s’ Japan cultural Westernization. The cultural Westernization of 1920s Japanese society is seen from the changes of traditional ideas of life, the traditional custom of Japan, and the changes of Japanese’s behavior in the social life. The cultural Westernization is seen from the new ideas from the Western country which are held by Joji and Naomi. The new ideas are about the perception of Westerners and high class society; the new concept of marriage which is based on love; the idea that women should be as equal as men; and the idea that women should be modern as well as traditional. The cultural Westernization is also seen from the changes of Naomi’s appearance and behavior.

ABSTRAK

FRANSISCA NUGRAHENI ROSARI WULAN. Japanese Cultural Westernization in the 1920s as Reflected through the Main Characters in Junichiro Tanizaki’s Naomi . Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2010.

Skripsi ini berfokus pada novel Naomi yang ditulis oleh Junichiro Tanizaki. Novel tersebut menggambarkan keadaan Masyarakat Jepang pada abad 20 sebagai dampak dari Westernisasi. Karakter utama dalam novel Naomi menggambarkan Westernisasi budaya masyarakat Jepang di abad 20. Ada dua tujuan yang ingin dicapai oleh penulis dalam analisis ini. Pertama adalah menemukan sifat karakter-karakter utama, yang diperankan oleh Kawai Joji dan Naomi; yang ke dua adalah menjelaskan bagaimana karakter utama menggambarkan Westernisasi budaya pada masyarakat Jepang di tahun 1920an. Untuk menganalisis teks ini, penulis mnggunakan metode penelitian perpustakaan. Tinjauan pustaka, teori-teori, dan sejarah masyarakat Jepang setelah kedatangan bangsa Eropa yang dibutuhkan dalam skripsi ini diperoleh dari penelitian buku-buku di perpustakaan dan situs-situs internet. Penulis memutuskan bahwa pendekatan sosiokultural-historis baik untuk diterapkan dalam skripsi ini karena novel tersebut menggambarkan tentang kondisi masyarakat Jepang di abad 20. Dengan menerapkan pendekatan ini, penulis dapat mengungkapkan Westernisasi budaya masyarakat Jepang in tahun 1920an. Dalam analisis, penulis menemukan bahwa Kawai Joji digambarkan sebagai pria Jepang yang modern dan tradisional. Dia digambarkan sebagai pria yang modern karena dia menolak beberapa prinsip tradisional masyarakat Jepang. Dia juga digambarkan sebagai pria yang tradisional karena masih memegang prinsip tradisional tertentu mengenai masyarakat Jepang. Naomi digambarkan sebagai wanita Jepang yang mengalami perubahan dari wanita yang tradisional menjadi wanita yang moderen. Karakterisasi Kawai Joji dan Naomi menggambarkan Westernisasi budaya masyarakat Jepang di tahun 1920an. Westernisasi budaya masyarakat Jepang di tahun 1920an terlihat dari perubahan gagasan-gagasan tradisional mengenai kehidupan, adat-istiadat Jepang, dan perubahan tingkah laku masyarakat Jepang dalam kehidupan sosial. Westernisasi budaya terlihat dari gagasan-gagasan baru dari bangsa Barat yang dipegang oleh Joji dan Naomi. Gagasan-gagasan baru tersebut adalah mengenai konsep baru tentang pernikahan yang berlandaskan cinta; gagasan mengenai persamaan wanita dan pria; gagasan bahwa wanita harus modern dan tradisional. Westernisasi budaya juga terlihat pada perubahan penampilan Naomi dan tingkah lakunya.

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Japan is an island country that is the part of East Asia located in the Pacific

Ocean. The geographical condition is the factor of the isolation of Japan in the past (Reischauer, 1956:3-5). Because of its location, there are many people from the nearby lands visit Japan and civilize it. The Japanese are considered as

“Borrowers” and “Imitators” because most of the cultures are influenced by other countries, especially China and Europe. Although Japan applies some cultures from another country, it has struggled to establish its own independent culture

(Reischauer, 1956:6-8).

The Japanese has a strong consciousness of its history and they see themselves in historical perspective to understand what happened in the present day (Reischauer, 1978: 41). Japan has experienced many civilizations from some countries that make some progressions of the country.

Edward Seidensticker in his book Life World Library Japan says

Japan before the 19 th century was a country uniquely free from foreign wars. Through the centuries the Japanese people were free to develop an independent nation and to borrow ideas and institutions from neighboring peoples. In the seventh and eighth centuries the Japanese were willing borrowers from china; a second period of borrowing from china reached a climax in the 15 th century (1966: 25-26).

Japan was civilized by China until the fifteenth century and the Japanese borrowed the Chinese cultures during the centuries. Seidensticker explains when

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the West arrived in the 19 th century, almost of Japan’s life began to change in all aspects and the Japanese adapted with the Western patterns. Throughout their history they had taken techniques from abroad and shaped them to the native spirit, and it was not hard for them to adopt new techniques and customs from the west as they had once assimilated new ways from china (1956: 5-8).

China civilization has great influences in Japanese culture, but the Western culture is more significant in the early twentieth century. The First World War, the great earthquake and fire of September 1, 1923 has changed Japanese society and culture. The rural areas and small towns are modernized and a new social structure and life appear in the city of Tokyo which is the capital and the great city of Japan. The great earthquake and fire of September 1, 1923, has cleared almost all old modes of life in Tokyo and Yokohama. It has changed the old city into a new one. Japan rebuilds the city by applying Western concepts.

The modernization of Japan has influenced many authors to create literary works that reflect the Westernization of the Japanese social life during the 1920s.

One of the authors is Junichiro Tanizaki. Junichiro Tanizaki is one of Japan’s finest modern writers. He was born in Tokyo and lived there until the earthquake of September 1923. The earthquake has given many advantages to him. After the earthquake he moves to Osaka and remains there until Tokyo and Yokohama rebuilds. He stays in Western-Japan residence. The new environment has influenced him to write everything which focuses on Western culture. He writes about the condition of Japan in the Westernization. One of his famous novels that shows the Westernization in Japan is Naomi . 3

Naomi is one of Tanizaki‘s best works which is remembered in Japan.

“The novel is, among other things, a vivid evocation of popular culture in Tokyo between World War I and the earthquake: the “operas,” reviews, and movies theatres of Asakusa; sea bathing at Kamakura; and, above all, the cafes of

Asakusa and dance halls of Ginza (Chambers, 1986: vi).” It is one of the novels that reflect the changes of Japanese society in the 1920s. The significant point that is implied in the story of Naomi is the characterization of Naomi and Kawai Joji who are obsessed with Western culture which are very opposite with the traditional culture.

Naomi is a novel that depicts the life of twentieth century Japanese society that is westernized. The main characters are the reflection of the Westernization in the twentieth century Japanese society. What happens to the characters in the novel Naomi interests the writer to analyze the cultural Westernization of them.

B. Problem Formulation

1. How are the main characters described?

2. How is the Japanese Cultural Westernization in the 1920s reflected through

the main characters?

C. Objectives of the Study

Based on the problem formulation above, there are two objectives of the study. The first is to find out the characterization of the main characters, Naomi 4

and Kawai Joji. The second is to find out the cultural Westernization of the main characters in the novel Naomi.

D. Definition of Terms

There are some explanations about terms which are provided to avoid the misunderstanding among the readers and to make this thesis more clearly.

1. Westernization

The word “Westernize” in The New Oxford American Dictionary means cause (a country, person, or system) to adopt or be influenced by the cultural, economic, or political systems of Europe and North America. The word

“Westernization” means be in the process of adopting or being influenced by the cultural, economic, or political systems of the west (2005: 1908).

2. Cultural Westernization

According to The New Oxford American Dictionary , the word “cultural” means relating to the ideas, customs and social behavior of a society. Idea means the image in the society’s mind what something should be like. Custom means a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place or time. Social behavior means the way in which one acts in the social life (2005: 412).

It has been defined that the meaning of Westernization is the process of adopting or being influenced by the cultural, economic, or political systems of the

West. The cultural Westernization can be defined as the process of adopting or being influenced by the ideas, customs and social behavior of Western countries.

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

This part presents related studies that contain the readers’ opinion about the novel Naomi by Junichiro Tanizaki. The readers’ opinions about the novel

Naomi help the writer to get more information about this novel. From the novel

Naomi , Tanizaki says

As Japan grows increasingly cosmopolitan, Japanese and foreigners are eagerly mingling with one another; all sorts of new doctrines and philosophies are being introduced; and both men and women are adopting up-to-date Western fashions. No doubt, the times being what they are, the sort of marital relationship that we've had, unheard of until now, will begin to turn up on all sides (1985: 3).

Based on the quoted paragraph above, it is clear that Tanizaki wants to depict what happened in Japanese society. Naomi was written in 1924, just after the

Tokyo earthquake had forced Tanizaki to move West to the Osaka region (from which he never returned), but it is a Tokyo novel, reflecting the appeal of that

Westernized world (http://www.washburn.edu/reference/bridge24/Tanizaki.html).

Naomi is a Tokyo novel and it reflects the Westernized world. The statement supports the sentence which is written by Tanizaki in his novel that

“and both men and women are adopting up-to-date Western fashions (1985: 3)”. It implies that there is Westernization in Tokyo that can be seen in the characters of the novel “and both men and women are adopting up-to-date Western fashions.

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No doubt, the times being what they are, the sort of marital relationship that we've had, unheard of until now, will begin to turn up on all sides (1985: 3).”

Varley in his book Japanese Culture explains

Another central theme in Tanizaki’s work is the familiar conflict between East and West. For other Japanese, this was a conflict of philosophies or of an Eastern spiritualism as set against a Western materialism; but for Tanizaki it seems to have been primarily aesthetic. In his earlier writings he was, as he himself later lamented, excessively infatuated with the west and its modernity (1983: 249). The quoted paragraph above means that Tanizaki’s work is the reflection of the real condition in Japan as the result of conflicting between East and West cultures.

Varley wants to ensure the readers that the Japanese were in an era when the two different cultures (East-West) were fighting and it evoked the spirit of Japanese society to fight against Western culture. On the other hand, Tanizaki was trapped into Western delight and at the end he returned back to the traditional Japan.

Another review from internet source says “The novel is, among other things, a vivid evocation of popular culture in Tokyo between World War I and the earthquake: the "operas," reviews, and movie theaters of Asakusa; sea bathing at Kamakura; and, above all, the cafes of Asakusa and dance halls of Ginza

(http://www.sdss.jhu.edu/~szgyula/szabolcs/literat.htm).” It clarifies that there is a new culture from outside world. This review makes clear Varley’s review that there is Westernization which is caused by the importation of outside world culture.

A review written by Doctor M explains that Naomi is a scathing satire of

Japan in the early 1920s. He stresses the influence of the Western culture

obsession through the characterization of Kawai Joji who wanted to make Naomi

(his wife) to be modern woman and finally it causes great problems in Joji’s life.

He considers the novel as a cultural fantasy that reflects the real condition of

Japan in 1920s.

(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34462.Naomi_A_Novel?page=2).

Doctor M’s review is also supported by Massimiliano that says the story of

Naomi is the satire story of Japan in 1920s. The Joji’s dream of making Naomi as a splendid woman of which standard is Western woman has caused her being so far as what has been expected. She becomes a vulgar woman who is like a prostitute. He clarifies that the story of Naomi reflects the cultural confusion of refined Japan as the result of the aftermaths of abrupt Meiji Westernization. He also says that Naomi which original title is “Chijin no ai" is a pleasant, curious and interesting novel with full of contradictions, but diabolically fascinating

(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34462.Naomi_A_Novel?page=2).

All the reviews focus on the Westernization in Japan during the 1920s.

The significant thing that is going to be discussed in this thesis is the cultural

Westernization that is reflected through the main characters in the novel Naomi .

B. Review of Related theories

1. Theory of Character

Richard Gill in his book Mastering English Literature explains that a character is a person in a literary work. The person has some sort of identity

which is made up by appearance, conversation, action, name and (possible) thoughts going in the head (1995: 127).

Robert Stanton in his book An Introduction to Fiction elaborates Gill’s theory by stating two ideas of character. The first idea is it refers to the individuals who appear in the story and the second is it refers to the mixtures of interest, desires, emotions, and moral principles that shape the individuals. He explains that the way to understand character can be seen through the character’s name, author’s explicit description and comment upon the characters, the character’s own dialogue and behavior (1956: 17).

In addition, Abrams in his A Glossary of Literary Terms also defines that

‘The character is the name of a literary genre; it is a short, and usually witty, sketch in prose of a distinctive type of person.’ It means the character can be seen from their inner qualities that distinguishes a character from the other character.

He also explains that the characters in a dramatic or narrative work are endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue- and by what they do- the action. It is also explained that a character may change from the beginning to the end of the work or it may be unchanged (1985: 23).

2. Theory of Characterization

There are some theories on characterization from some experts which are used in this thesis.

Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature (1986: 81-82) explain that in characterizing there is a process which the author tries to reveal the characters of imaginary persons in order to make them seem real to the readers.

There are three fundamental methods of characterization: a. Giving the explicit presentation of the characters through direct exposition

which is illustrated by action. b. The author does not give explicit comment to the action of the characters, in

the expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of the actor

from the actions. c. The representation from within a character, without comment on the character

by the author, of the impact of actions and emotions of the character’s inner

self, with the expectation that the reader will come to a clear understanding of

the attributes of the character.

Abrams in his sixth edition of A Glossary of Literary Terms explain that there are two methods of characterizing the persons in narrative: showing and telling . In showing , the characters talking and acting are presented and it gives the chance for the reader to infer what motives or dispositions lay behind what they say and do. Abrams’ first method supports Holman’s and Harmon’s theory of characterizing the persons from the actions that they do without any comment of the author in order to make the reader infer the motives behind the action. The second method of characterizing persons is telling . This method is different from

Holman’ and Harmon’s method of characterizing. In telling , the author gives his

own opinion about the motives and dispositional qualities of the characters (1985:

24).

Abrams’ theory is supported by Richard Gill. In his book Mastering

English Literature (1995: 133-134); he explains that there are two ways of presenting characters: telling and showing . In addition, he says that telling is more efficient way of informing the readers, but many readers much more like showing method because the author treats the readers as intelligent in that they are trusted to see things.

In addition, Murphy in his Understanding Unseen (1972: 161-173) explain that there are nine methods of characterizing persons: a. Personal description

The author describes a person’s appearance and even the person’s clothes

clearly to make the readers understand the physical appearance of the

characters. b. Characters as seen by another

The author describes a character through the eyes and opinions of another

character, and then the readers can get a reflected image.

c. Speech

The author reveals the person’s character through what that person says. The

characterization of a person can be seen from what he says, whenever he

says and converses with another character and whenever he gives his

opinion. It will help the readers in seeing his characters. d. Past life

The author gives the description about the past life of a character that shape a

person’s character. This can be done by direct comment from the author

through the person’s thought, his conversation or the medium of another

person. e. Conversation of others

The conversations of other people and the things they say about a person gives

clue to person’s character. f. Reactions

A person’s character can be seen through the way the person reacts to various

situations and events. g. Direct comment

The character of a person can be seen through the author’s own statement.

h. Thoughts

The author gives us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about;

therefore the readers are in a privileged position to understand what a person is

thinking about. i. Mannerism

The author describes a person’s mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies which

tell about his character.

3. Literature and Society

In Theory of Literature, Rene Wellek and Austin Warren say that

‘Literature is a social institution, using as its medium language, a social creation’, it represents ‘life’. ‘Life’ means the social reality which becomes its object (1956:

94). In addition, Wellek and Warren elaborately explain the relation between

Literature and Society by using De Bonald’s theory ‘Literature is an expression of

Society’, of which means that an author should be aware of specific social situations or he should share a specific attitude and ideology of the critic. This explains that an author is the ‘representative’ of his age and society. What the author experiences in certain time and place is expressed in the story which he creates. (1956: 95).

Elizabeth Langland in Society in the Novel says that a writer is a member of the society where and when he lives. A writer of literary works creates a work based on the reality or social condition in his society. Because he is the member of

the society itself, he will not be so difficult in giving detail information about the reality and the social condition (1984: 19).

C. Review of Japanese Society after the Arrival of European Countries

Edward Seidensticker in Life World Library Japan says that Japanese history is divided into some major periods: Archaic (Before A.D. 552), Asuka

(552-710), Nara (710-794), Heian (794-1185), Kamakura (1185-1333),

Muromachi or Ashikaga (1333-1568), Azuchi-Momoyama (1568-1600), Edo or

Tokugawa (1600-1868), Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho and Showa (1912- ). (1966:

27).

The novel Naomi is the reflection of Japanese history during the 1920s, the period of Japan modernization, but the period when the Western countries first time came to Japan was in Tokugawa period. Therefore this thesis will discuss the history of Japan from the Tokugawa because the west culture first came to Japan from the Edo or Tokugawa period (1600-1868).

1. Edo or Tokugawa Period (1600-1868)

Tokugawa Japan was divided into four distinct classes: samurai, farmers, craftspeople, and merchants. The samurai were the warrior class, at the top was the shogun himself, and beneath him were the daimyo, local lords who controlled large amounts of land. The symbol of social hierarchy of farmer was rice that bonded the society. Merchants were in a position of wealthy groups, but they were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Several other groups of people existed

outside this class system, including actors and entertainers, priests, and the eta

(http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/TOKJAPAN/SHOGUN.HTM).

Reischauer in his book Japan Past and Present explains that Japan first encountered with the West was in Tokugawa period. The first European in Japan was Portuguese mariners in 1542 to 1551. Trade relation developed between the

Portuguese and the feudal Lords of Western Kyushu, who learned the use of firearms from the European traders.

From 1549-1551, St. Francis Xavier (Jesuit missionary) and his followers came to Japan, began to introduce Christianity. The Buddhist considered it as a dangerous rival. Most of the Japanese began to embrace the new faith. Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu saw it as a threat to their rule. Ieyasu followed Hideyoshi’s policy of persecuting Christianity.

All the missionaries were either killed or forced to leave Japan and thousands of Japanese Christians either apostatized or suffered the death of martyrs. Tokugawa did not allow the trading with foreigners because it would be dangerous if Christian idea influenced Japanese. There was limitation for native merchant marines for coastal commerce. The way that Tokugawa took for the stability of the politic was successful. There was nothing disturbed Tokugawa’s rule (1956: 88-95).

2. Meiji Period (1868-1912)

The political stability of early Tokugawa could be disrupted by European, who came not only from Europe but also from their newer homes in America. The

Americans, English and Russians in the first half of the nineteenth century repeatedly sent expeditions to Japan in efforts to persuade Japanese to open their ports to foreign ships, but they refused. American government sent a considerable naval force under Commodore Matthew C. Perry to make Japan opened the ports.

Perry sailed to Tokyo bay in 1853 to deliver a letter from the president of the United States, demanding the opening of trade relations. Under the threatening guns of the American ships, the Tokugawa had no choice but to sign a treaty with the United States opening two ports to American ships and permitting a certain amount of closely regulated trade. Townsend Harris, the first American consul general, arrived in Japan in 1856 to negotiate a full commercial treaty. The door was now opened to foreigners (Reischauer, 1956: 108-112) .

The foreigners were now free to come in Japan because their existence was protected by the treaty. The leadership of Tokugawa shogun was stopped because of their decision to surrender to foreign. The anti-Tokugawa shogun made new rule that returned the power to the emperor. The court was moved from

Kyoto to Tokyo, where a centralized administration was created

(http://www.questia.com/library/history/japan-Meiji-period.jsp).

Richard Bowring and Petter Kornicki in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of

Japan state that Meiji period (1868-1912) was an era of sweeping changes. The reason was the expansion of European and US interests in Asia and the Pacific.

The Meiji leaders at first considered that a powerful military army could safeguard the nation’s independence, but they finally realized that a strong industrial and economic base that could safeguard the independence. There

emerged a slogan “fukoku-kyohei” which meant “rich country, strong army”

(1993: 78).

The government adopted many policies to create a modern economy and society. Students were sent to Europe and the United States to study modern science and technology, while foreign experts were hired to help establish factories and educational institutions.

According to Mikiso Hane in Modern Japan: A Historical Survey , there was great industrialization in Japan. Many factories emerged. The Japanese’s standard of living was increased. The traditional attitudes about social status and family disappeared and were replaced by standards of wealthy and poverty. (1986:

148-149). From the past experiences, the Japanese realizes that education is very important in their life. Formal education had also taken the place of class and birth in determining which organizations and career patterns one qualifies for. The high class of society began to be determined by wealth and education. (Resichauer,

1980: 167).

In 1889 the Meiji Constitution was adopted. In the late Meiji years, Japan won the Sino–Japanese war in 1895, defeated Russia in 1905, abolished the treaties with the West, and became a world power

(http://www.questia.com/library/history/japan-Meiji-period.jsp).

The First World War gave Japan another chance to expand the territory.

Japan declared war on Germany in August 1914. Japan was successful in occupying some territories in German. With its Western allies, Japan strengthened its position in China by presenting “Twenty-one demands,” which made China a

colony of Japan. In 1919, Japan became one of the “Big Five” powers at the

Versailles Peace Conference (Reischauer, 1956: 140-141).

3. The Changes of Japanese Society in the 1920s

The economic and political aspects of Japanese society had been changed by the Western systems. There were also more startling changes of Japanese’s culture in 1920s. The rural areas and small towns were modernized and new social structure and life were beginning to appear in the city. Tokyo was both the capital and the greatest city of Japan that took lead of the changes. The great earthquake and fire which occurred on September 1, 1923 fastened the social changes in the

Tokyo area. It gave a good opportunity for Western countries to apply all of their cultures in Japan.

The earthquake and the fire had cleared the old, outworn modes of life and gave a new culture which was brought by Western countries. There were many changes in the society that were Westernized in the 1920s, such as: a. The Standard of the Japanese’s Living

Cities were the centers of Japan’s modern cultural transformation. During the 1870s and 1880s material signs of the new times appeared first in Tokyo:

Horse-drawn streetcars, gas lamps, meatshops selling beef, Western style buildings, barbershops offering a nonsamurai cut, Western dress, and the new schools and colleges. By the end of World War I and the earthquake, the changes in the city life had become more conspicuous (Reischauer and Craig, 1989: 206).

1. Japanese’s Way of Clothing

Dorothy Perkins in Encyclopedia of Japan: Japanese History and Culture, from Abacus to Zori explains that the native Japanese clothing was called as

“kimono.” Both Japanese men and women wore kimono. The kimono was practical for the traditional Japanese life-style, where people knelt on straw floor mats (tatami). (1991: 52). In the Tokugawa period, traditional Japanese cloth called “kimono” was the basic dress to wear both men and women. At that time the citizens were ranked based on their class. During the Edo period, kimono was worn to define the status of social life.

(http://www.japanesekimono.com/links.htm ).

The coiffure of Japanese men and women in pre-modern Japan was also different from the modern Japan. Men’s hairstyle was samurai haircut. Women’s hairstyle had been just about decided by a social position, an occupation, and a married woman, etc. (http://www.japan-hopper.com/2006/09/29_09271.php ).

Susan B. Hanley in Everyday things in premodern Japan: the hidden legacy of material culture explains that the great industrialization in the Meiji era emerged many factories which produce Western-style clothes. The government elite began to wear Western suits early in the Meiji period. The emperor mandated high officials to wear Western clothes. From that time, almost all people were interested in wearing Western-style clothes although the traditional kimono was still worn. After Tokyo suffered a devastating earthquake, many of the old kimonos were lost. (1999: 166-168).

Seidensticker says that the loosening of the old restraints brought Japan to a flapper era; an era of “modern girl” in 1920s or in Reischauer’s book it was called as “moga” and the male counterpart of the moga was called “mobo”. They tried to look and act like a Hollywood star (1966: 32). They wore Western-style clothes and cut their hair in Western hairstyle. They also had habits of strolling on the Ginza of Tokyo or the main thoroughfares of Osaka. (Reischauer and Craig,

1989: 206). The Ginza is Tokyo's most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, night clubs and cafes (http://www.japan- guide.com/e/e3005.html).

2. Japanese’s Lifestyle

Reischauer and Craig explain that by the end of the World War I, the standards of livings had arisen; workers drank beer and soft drinks; weekly magazines, movie houses, bars, restaurants, and other manifestations of popular culture had appeared. Boys wore Harold Llyod glasses and girls drank, smoked, and read literature (1989: 206).

In addition, Reischauer gives some examples of the Western influences which did not exist before and were vogue in Japan at that time, such as: i. Moving pictures, either from Hollywood or made in Japan on Hollywood

patterns. ii. American jazz and Western social dancing which were popular. iii. Taxi-dance hall appeared; all-girl musical comedy which rivaled the

popularity of the movies.

iv. Western style and Chinese style restaurants developed. v. The “cafes” appeared which was combined with “beer joints”, when the young

men enjoyed the American jazz with the company of waitresses of doubtful

morals (1956: 153-155).

The Japanese society followed Western-style in everything. They tried to resemble Western movie actors and actresses; they often went to some entertainment places such as: cafes, Movie Theater, dance hall. The

Westernization in the city had influenced their behavior in the social life. Men and

Women smoked, drank and competed with each other to resemble Westerners. b. The Japanese’s Way of Thinking

Japan was influenced by the Christian belief and German Idealistic philosophy. German philosophy provided an abstract humanistic ideal and

Christianity made this concrete and gave it life. To realize democracy thoroughly, humanistic must function as a living concept (Reischauer, 1989: 221).

It influenced the Japanese mind that democracy was very important and it caused the cultural changes during the 1920s. i. The Equality between Men and Women

Caroline Chung Simpson in An absent presence: Japanese Americans in postwar culture, 1945-1960 , says that in Japanese culture attitudes toward authority were almost exclusively focus on male domination (2001: 67). Male were more superior in the old Japan.

The Japanese had developed a new moral system and a strong sense of loyalty to the group. The lineage of the family was holy. It was given to the eldest

son of the family. The marriage was only for the purpose of obtaining heirs for the

“house”. The position of the daughter-in-law was partly defined by the saying,

“The womb is borrowed”. (http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch10-japan2.htm).

In pre-modern Japan, the women should in youth obey their parents and after marriage should obey their husbands. The Japanese women are considered to be meek and long-suffering in their dealings with their menfolk, and girls hide shyly behind a screen of simpering. They could not express their felling whether they are happy or angry. Married-women did not have the right to make broader social life and they are not allowed to go to entertainment places. Otherwise, men were allowed to make extra social life. (Reischauer: 1980: 204-208).

Family solidarity, paternal authority and male dominance remained the significant features in Japan, but the young generation began to criticize the old customs of Japan (Reischauer, 1956: 154). The growth of economy had encouraged many people moved to urban areas to find many kinds of jobs. Many of the family sons spent their whole time in working places. Finally, they neglected the rules of paternal authority and followed the stream of modernization.

Under the Western influence, many middle class Japanese men began to treat their wives almost as social equals (Reischauer, 1956: 154). All stressed the ideal of equality between the sexes (Reischauer and Craig, 1989: 203). ii. The Images of Japanese Women

Dina Lowy in Review of Sato, Barbara, The New Japanese Women:

Modernity, Media, and Women in Interwar Japan says that in the twentieth

century, Japanese women had three kinds of images in the modern nation: the modern girl, self-motivated middle class housewife, and the professional working woman which defied the image of traditional Japanese women who were submissive to men.

The media at that time portrayed the modern girl as trendy, self-indulgent, superficial, and promiscuous. She often went to the department stores, cafes, and dance halls. She had a freedom to open sexuality. She was also Self-motivated middle class housewife who meant she not only became a good mother and a good wife but also a woman who had the rights to follow the new fashions, trends, technology, and gave her own ideas. The professional working woman was defined as someone who graduated from a four-year women’s higher school and they became active women outside of the home. In other words, the Japanese women were considered going to be more active in modern time (http://www.h- net.org/reviews/showpdf.php?id=10973). iii. The Concept of Marriage

In the feudal system, marriages were often used as political and diplomatic approaches to maintaining peace and unity among feudal lords. Thus the personal will of men and women for marriage was ignored in the face of family interests and the social intercourse of unmarried persons was denied. Marriages came to be arranged by and for families and the role of “Nakodo” go-between became very important in Japan.

(http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/culture/marriage_history.html)

College students began to embrace the freer social concepts of the west and there was a growing demand to be allowed to make marriages of ‘love’ rather than marriages arranged by families through go-betweens.

D. Theoretical Framework

This part explains the contributions of the theories and reviews in solving the two problems. The theory of character and characterization are used to answer the first problem of describing the main characters in the novel.

The second problem is to explain the Japanese cultural Westernization of the main characters. Before understanding the cultural Westernization of the main characters, the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s is described. To describe the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s, the review of Japanese society after the arrival of European countries is used. After that, the review of related studies and the theory of literature and society are used to relate the main characters in the novel with the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of this analysis focuses on the novel Naomi . Naomi is a

Japanese novel which is written by a Japanese author, Junichiro Tanizaki. Its original title is ‘Chijin no Ai’ which has often been translated as “A Fool’s Love”.

It is one of the two or three Tanizaki’s best remembered novels in Japan.

Naomi is a serialized novel which was first serialized on March 1924 in the Osaka Asahi newspaper, but it is no longer continued because the government warnings and some conservative readers who are not pleased with the content of the novel. Finally, the next serialization is published by Josei magazine and is completed. This edition is published in 1986 by Tuttle Publishing and translated into English by Anthony H. Chambers. The novel consists of 237 pages and is divided into 28 chapters.

Naomi is a story set in Japan in the early 1920s in Tokyo. It is narrated by a male engineer named Joji. At the start of the work he is 27. The story reflects the real situation of Japan in 1920s. It is reflected through the main characters,

Kawai Joji and Naomi. Kawai Joji is interested in Naomi at the first time he meets

Naomi in a café. He is interested in Naomi’s physical appearance that resembles an American actress, Mary Pickford. After joji marries Naomi and they share the obsession of Western things, the life is getting worse.

24 25

Naomi is both a hilarious story of one man's obsession and torment, and a brilliant evocation of a nation's cultural confusion. It is a story of the corruption of a traditional culture by an outside force (the Western culture).

B. Approach of the Study

Junichiro Tanizaki’s Naomi is a novel that reflects the Japanese society in

1920s. The real situation in Japan has been proved by the characters in the novel.

From the characters, the Westernization of the era is seen very clearly. The

Western culture has replaced the traditional culture in Japan.

As in Theory of Literature, Rene Wellek and Austin Warren say that

Literature represents ‘life’. ‘Life’ means the social reality which becomes its object (1956: 94). It means that the problem which exists in a certain society is brought to the story of a novel.

Concerning the above reasons, the socio-cultural historical approach is used to analyze this thesis. Rohrberger in Reading and Writing about Literature explains that the socio-cultural historical approach is the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it. The word

“civilization” means the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people and point out that literature takes these attitudes and actions as its subject matter.

Therefore, it is necessary that the critic investigate the social milieu in which a work was created and what possibility it reflects (1971: 9).

The socio-cultural historical approach is used to answer the problem formulations which are related to the society, culture and history reflected through the story Naomi . By this approach, the cultural Westernization of the Japanese society after the arrival of Western countries can be seen from the main characters in the novel.

C. Method of the Study

The library research was used as a method of collecting sources to this study. The primary source was Junichiro Tanizaki’s Naomi and the secondary sources were taken from some books related to theories of literature, theory of critical approaches of literature, the history of Japan after the arrival of Western country.

There were five steps in analyzing this novel. The first step was reading the primary source, the novel Naomi , for many times in order to understand about the detail of the story and to focus on a certain idea of the story. The second was determining the problem formulations from a certain idea that is going to be focus on. Third, reading the secondary sources from some books related to principle theories and from internet sources which supported the analysis of the novel. The fourth step was applying the theories and review of related studies to the analysis of the problem formulations, and the last was drawing the conclusion based on the analysis.

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the description of the main characters and the 1920s

Japanese cultural Westernization of the main characters in Junichiro Tanizaki’s

Naomi will be analyzed. The first problem to be analyzed is the description of the main characters in the novel by using the theory of character and characterization which are stated by several experts.

A. Description of the Main Characters

The focus of this study is the main characters of the novel Naomi who are a Japanese man named Kawai Joji and a Japanese woman named Naomi. They are the main characters who will be analyzed in this part. The main characters show the Westernization in the 1920s Japanese society. It is shown by the way Joji defies several traditional principles of Japanese society and the way Naomi changes from being traditional into modern.

1. Description of Kawai Joji

The focus of this analysis is to describe the characterization of Kawai Joji.

Joji is described as a Japanese man who comes from countryside. He moves to the city of Tokyo to study and to work. The modern life in the city of Tokyo has influenced Joji’s mind. There are contradictory characteristics of Kawai Joji which describe him as both modern and traditional Japanese man.

27 28

a. Kawai Joji as a Modern Man

There are many evidences which show the characterization of Kawai Joji as a modern Japanese man. Kawai Joji is described as a Japanese man who wants to be free from the strict patterns of Japanese society such as: the traditional concepts of marriage, the equality between men and women, the image of

Japanese women, perception of Westerners and high class society. i. Kawai Joji’s Perception of Traditional Japanese Marriage

Kawai Joji is described as a Japanese man who refuses the idea of traditional Japanese marriage.

In that case, why didn’t I find a bride from a respectable family and set up a proper household? The answer is that I simply lacked the courage to marry. This requires a detailed explanation (Tanizaki, 1986: 6).

He considers that the traditional Japanese marriage is too complicated. The marriage is arranged by the parents and there are several principles that have to be done such as: bridge-maker, miai, giving engagement gifts, carrying the trousseau to the groom’s house, the bridal procession, the honeymoon trip, and the bride’s ceremonial to visit her parents. The personal will of marriage is not allowed. Joji wants to marry a woman whom he loves, not a woman whom his parents choose.

He also wants to do the marriage in a simpler manner and based on his own choice which shows that he wants to take control of his own life. “If I’m going to marry, I thought, I’d to do it in a simpler, freer manner (Tanizaki, 1986: 7).” Here, it is clear that Joji refuses the traditional Japanese rule which does not allow the personal will of marriage. 29

ii. Kawai Joji’s Perception of the Equality between Men and Women

Joji’s perception of the equality between men and women also proves that he refuses the old principle of Japan. He considers that women should be as equal as men.

“Thank you, Naomi, thank you. You understood. I’ll be completely honest now. I never thought that you would come this close to my ideal woman. I’m so lucky. I’ll always love you … only you … I won’t mistreat you the way so many husbands do. I live for your sake. Go on studying and grow up as a fine young woman, and I’ll give you whatever you want.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 34).

From the quotation above, Joji gives the statement that he loves Naomi and will not mistreat her like the other husbands do. The traditional Japanese society considers that the women are under the men’s control. Therefore, there are many husbands who treat their wives unequally and limit their wives’ freedom.

Otherwise, Joji does not want to underestimate Naomi. He gives chance for

Naomi to grow up as a fine woman. He believes that women can be as equal as men. Joji’s statement shows his refusal of the traditional Japanese principle that stresses on the inequality between men and women. From the statement, it is clear that Joji wants to consider a woman is as equal as a man. iii. Kawai Joji’s Perception of Japanese Women

Joji’s perception of a Japanese woman is a woman who can follow the stream of modernity in the city. A modern Japanese woman should be different from a traditional Japanese woman and she can be presented in high class society. 30

Joji considers that a modern woman has to be like a Western woman who is beautiful. One of the reasons why he is interested in Naomi is from her appearance. “In fact, Naomi resembled the motion-picture actress Mary Pickford: there was definitely something Western about her appearance (Tanizaki, 1986:

4).” From the quotation, Joji wants to explain that a woman should be like a

Western woman who is interesting in her appearance.

The way Joji considers a Japanese woman to be Western-like has encouraged him to make-over Naomi’s appearance.

“Anyway, you’re different from other Japanese, and ordinary Japanese clothes don’t do anything for you. How would it be if you wore Western clothes? Or Japanese clothes in some new style?” (Tanizaki, 1986: 36).

Joji’s advice to Naomi shows that he does not like the ordinary Japanese clothes because the pattern of traditional Japanese clothes is not appropriate to a modern woman. The Western clothes styles are vogue in the city. The women in Japan try to be like Westerners by wearing luxurious clothes which show their wealth.

Therefore, he tries to change Naomi’s appearance by advising her to wear the

Western clothes or Japanese clothes in some new styles. It emphasizes that a modern woman should be as fashionable as Western ladies.

Besides the appearance, Joji considers that a modern woman who can be presented in high class society is an educated woman.

“Naomi, would you like to study? If so, I can help you.” She still said nothing, and so I added in a more cheerful tone, “Speak up, now. What do you want to do? What would you like to study?” “I want to study English.” “English and … anything else?” “Music.” “Well, then, you ought to go to school. I’ll pay your tuition.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 13). 31

The quoted paragraph above is Joji’s response to Naomi’s desire of studying

English and music. Joji intends to make Naomi as a splendid woman who is educated. He is very pleased to hear that Naomi wants to study and he offers his help to fulfill her desire. From the response, it can be concluded that a modern woman should be educated.

Joji’s perception of Japanese women is opposite with the traditional

Japanese perception of women. The traditional perception of Japanese women stresses on the limitation of women’s freedom. The women are submissive to men. The married women do not get the chance to develop themselves as what their husbands get. They have to be at home all the time and can not express themselves. Joji states that women are going to be more active in the society; therefore they should get the education and be up-to-date with the city life. iv. Kawai Joji’s Perception of Westerners and High Class Society

Joji considers that Westerners are superior. He feels inferior in front of

Western ladies. “Not only that- like most Japanese, I tended to feel helpless when

I came into contact with Westerners and lost the courage to state my opinions clearly (Tanizaki, 1986: 43).” Here, Joji gives his statement that he lacks self- confidence in facing Naomi’s English teacher. He does not believe that Naomi’s capability in English lesson has improved and he asks the truth from her teacher.

What Joji can do is to believe her teacher’s saying because she is a Westerner.

From the way Joji faces Westerners shows that he considers Westerners are more superior to Japanese. There are many Westerners in the city of Tokyo. The 32

Japanese life is influenced by the Westerners life. The Japanese considers that the standard of modernity is the Westerners. They are obsessed to be like Westerners and do not accept their position as Japanese. Therefore, Joji’s mind is influenced by the real condition of the Japanese society. He begins to think that Westerners are more superior. The perception of Westerners influences Joji’s mind that the high class society refers to the Western life.

Joji considers that high class society is based on the wealth. He thinks that

Western life is luxurious. It is clearly stated by Joji in comparing Naomi with women in the train.

As it was summer, of course the women couldn’t have been particularly dressed up. But when I compared them to Naomi, I sensed an unmistakably difference in refinement between those who are born to the higher classes of society and those who aren’t. (Tanizaki, 1986: 26).

Here, Joji wants to describe what kind of people who are from the higher classes of society and who are not from the higher classes of society. He considers that

Naomi is not from the higher class society.

How pitiful it looked now, that muslin kimono with the grape design, that had made her so stylish. Some of the women sitting around us were wearing simple summer robes, but their fingers glittered with gemstones and their luggage was luxurious; everything bespoke their wealth and station, while Naomi had nothing to show but her velvety skin. (Tanizaki, 1986: 26). The quoted paragraph above shows how Joji judges a person is from a high class of society. In the modern city of Tokyo, there are many women show off their wealth by wearing expensive clothes, luggage, gemstones, etc. The women do it in order to be as equal as Westerners. It influences his mind that wealth can show the status of a person in high class of society. 33

Joji also considers that high class of society is depended on the education.

He thinks that Western life is related to the quality of human resource. Therefore, he gives Naomi some educations to make her as a fine woman.

In the past, a woman could get along without an analytical mind; but not anymore. A woman who wanted to be “the equal of Westerners” and a “fine woman” wasn’t very promising if she had no aptitude for systematic thinking and analysis. (Tanizaki, 1986: 44). The quotation above explains that Joji considers a modern woman who can be equal with Westerners and presented in high class society is a woman who is educated. Joji considers that women are going to be more active in the future.

They have to mix with the society. In order to make Naomi as equal in a high class society, education is needed. It can be concluded that the status of a person who is from high class of society is based on the education.

Joji’s perception of high class society is the influence of the new life in the city. In the modern city, the high class is not determined by the hereditary authority as what in the traditional Japanese society. The new perception of high class society refers to the Westerners’ life. The Westerners’ life is identical with knowledge and luxurious life. Therefore, Joji considers that high class society is determined by wealth and education. Here, it is clear that Joji refuses the traditional perception of high class society which determines the status of a person from the hereditary authority.

From the way Joji defies the traditional principles of Japanese society shows that he is a modern man. He embraces several new concepts of life which are introduced by Western countries. He compares his own traditional principles 34

of Japanese society with the Western principles of society. Joji considers that

Western principles are the standard of modernity. He prefers the Western principles of life. b. Kawai Joji as a Traditional Man

The description of Kawai Joji as a modern Japanese man shows that he defies the traditional Japanese rules. His perception of marriage, the equality between sexes, the modern woman, the high class society and Westerners are very different from the old principles of Japan.

The novel also shows the contradiction of Joji’s characterization. Although

Joji considers that a Japanese woman should be modern, he also thinks that a married-woman should be a good wife who keep their behavior and do the household jobs. The Japanese traditional principle obliges the women to be good wives. This principle is still held by Kawai Joji. It is clear that Joji is also described as a traditional Japanese man. i. A Wife should Keep Her Behavior

Joji considers that a wife should keep her manner. Joji’s obsession to present Naomi in a high class society has been successful. Naomi changes into a beautiful and modern woman. There are many people praise her beauty, but it causes her arrogance.

“Couldn’t she just have refused?” “But that’s what’s so funny-she couldn’t refuse because he’s a Westerner! What an idiot! She’s a disgrace!” “But you shouldn’t be so harsh. It makes me uncomfortable to hear you talk like that.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 91). 35

The quotation above is the conversation between Naomi and Joji in a dance party.

When Joji asks Naomi about a woman in the party who does not refuse a

Westerner’s offer to dance, Naomi’s answer is rude. Joji’s advice shows that he hopes Naomi keeps the way she speaks. He feels uncomfortable to hear Naomi’s saying. From Joji’s response, it is clear that he hopes Naomi keeps her manner of speaking.

Joji considers that a wife has to limit her social life with men. Therefore, he is so surprised when he knows Naomi has many male friends.

“I know. It’s just that it was unpleasant to have people say that sort of thing to me.” “Then what do you want to do about it? Are you saying that we give up dancing?” “We don’t need to give it up, but you ought to be careful so that people won’t misunderstand.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 124).

The quotation is the conversation between Joji and Naomi. Joji hears a bad news from his friends that Naomi is kind of whore. He knows that Naomi has many male friends. He does not forbid her to have male friends, but he also wants her to keep her behavior. Joji has advised Naomi to keep her saying and behavior.

According to Joji a married-woman has to limit her social life with men. ii. A Wife should Do the Household Job

Kawai Joji thinks that a wife should do the household job. He is obsessed to make Naomi as a modern woman, but he also hopes that Naomi devotes herself to be a good wife who wants to do the household job. “At first, Naomi had looked after the house and done the cooking, but this didn’t go on for more than six months or a year.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 73). He regrets that Naomi becomes far from what he has expected. He changes Naomi to be a modern woman, but he does not 36

expect that Naomi will forget her main job as a wife who should do the households. Joji considers that a modern Japanese woman still has the main job to manage the households.

2. The Description of Naomi

Naomi is initially described as a traditional Japanese girl. She still holds some traditional principles of Japanese women such as: being inexpressive and being obedient. Being inexpressive means that Japanese women have to be meek and being obedient means that Japanese women in their youth have to obey their parents, and after marriage they have to obey their husbands. The characterization of Naomi will be divided into two parts: before living together with Kawai Joji and after living together with Kawai Joji. Then, after living together with Kawai

Joji, the characterization of Naomi is also divided into two parts: before marriage and after marriage. The division is made to show the changes of Naomi’s characterization from the beginning of the story until the end of the story. a. Before Living Together with Kawai Joji

Naomi is described as a girl who is inexpressive and obedient in the first time she meets Kawai Joji. She is a hostess in a café. Her appearance interests

Kawai Joji’s attention and encourages him to approach her. From Kawai Joji’s explanation, Naomi never expresses her feeling, and she is very obedient.

i. Naomi is an Inexpressive Girl

Naomi is not expressive which means she never shows clearly what she feels. She never expresses how happy she is and how angry she is. She keeps everything in her mind and tries to be silent in front of Kawai Joji.

Naomi never expresses how happy she is in front of Kawai Joji. She often watches movies with Joji. Her beauty is always praised by Joji. She is actually pleased to hear Joji’s praise, but she does not express it.

“Naomi, you look like Mary Pickford.” This came up one evening at a Western-style restaurant in which we’d stopped after seeing a Mary Pickford movie. “Oh?” She didn’t seem particularly pleased. She looked at me quizzically, as if to ask why I should say such a thing out of the blue (Tanizaki, 1986: 10).

In the above quotation, the author directly describes the Naomi’s response. There is no expression of happiness in Naomi. She is very fond of movies but she does not seem pleased when she is considered to be like a Western actress names Mary

Pickford who is idolized by many people. Here, Naomi holds the main principle of what a Japanese woman should do. She thinks that a woman should not express her real feeling although she feels happy when Joji praises her beauty.

Naomi also never shows how angry she is. She is not angry when Joji breaks an appointment. “I’m sorry, Naomi. Have you been waiting long?” “Yes, I have.” She didn’t seem to be particularly resentful or angry (Tanizaki, 1986: 11).”

Naomi and Joji often make an appointment to meet in a certain time and place.

Naomi always comes at time and place which have been agreed on. She waits there until Joji comes. She is not angry although Joji comes late. Besides hiding 38

the feeling of happiness, Naomi also tries to hide her feeling of anger or disappointment. Naomi considers Japanese women do not have the right to show her anger to men. She has to accept what a man does without attempting to fight against him.

How Naomi hides her feeling of happiness and anger proves that she is not expressive. It means that Naomi holds the traditional principle of Japanese women which obliges woman to be gentle and quiet. Therefore, she does not express how happy she is when Joji praises her beauty and she does not express how angry she is when Joji breaks an appointment. She responds everything gently and silently. ii. Naomi is an Obedient Girl

Naomi is described as a girl who is obedient. In the beginning of the story, she is described as a girl who is obedient to her parents. She always does what her parents tell her. “When I asked why she did her hair in the Japanese style on holidays, she just said, “Because they tell me to at home.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 11).”

Naomi always wears traditional Japanese outfits when she meets Joji. She says that her parents tell her to wear the traditional Japanese outfits and she has to obey their order. Naomi’s response to Joji explains that she considers a Japanese woman has to obey her parents to respect the traditional etiquette of dressing.

Naomi is also obedient to Kawai Joji. The status of being a woman has made her obedient to men. She always follows Joji’s saying.

When we went someplace together, we usually arranged to meet at a certain time at a bench in the park or in front of the Kannon Temple. She was always on time and never broke an appointment (Tanizaki, 1986: 11). 39

Naomi is often invited by Joji to go to some places together. She never refuses

Joji’s invitation and she always follows Joji wherever he takes her. Naomi always comes on time and never breaks any appointment. Naomi’s attitude to obey Joji shows that she is a Japanese woman who is submissive to men. She has the principle that women have to obey men.

The way Naomi obeys her parents’ saying and Joji’s saying show that she is an obedient girl. She realizes her position as a daughter and a woman who should respect her parents and men. Therefore, she does her parents’ order to wear the traditional Japanese outfits and she always obeys Joji to meet him on time and never breaks any appointment. b. After Living Together with Kawai Joji

Naomi is taken charge by Kawai Joji because Joji wants to make Naomi as a splendid woman. She is asked to live together with Joji in a rental house. The statement of living together likes ‘friends’ that is stated by Joji has made some changes in Naomi’s characterization. The changes are divided into two parts: before marriage and after marriage. This division is made for analyzing how the character of Naomi changes gradually.

I. Before Marriage

Naomi is asked to live together with Kawai Joji in a rental house. They live together like friends and without any clear status whether they are husband 40

and wife or master and maid. The relation between them causes Naomi more expressive. i. Naomi Begins to be More Expressive

This part is to explain the changes of Naomi from being not expressive into being more expressive. Before Naomi lives together with Kawai Joji, she is described as a girl who is not expressive. She never shows how happy she is and how angry she is. She responds everything gently and silently without any clear expression.

After living together with Kawai Joji, Naomi begins to be more expressive. She begins to express that she likes something Western. “Caught with the bait of Western clothes, she finally agreed.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 26). Naomi asks

Joji to bring her to the beach that she wants to visit, but Joji does not have more than three days to stay in the beach. It makes Naomi upset and Joji says he will buy her Western clothes. By promising to buy Western clothes, she is not upset anymore. From Naomi’s response, it is clear that Naomi seems very pleased when she hears that Joji will buy her Western clothes. In the first time, Naomi does not express how happy she is when Joji considers her resembling a Western actress.

After that, she begins to express that she is happy if she wears Western clothes and resembles American actresses. She realizes that Western-style has an allure which interests her and she wants to express how she adores the Western-style.

She begins to think that the traditional principle of Japanese women has limited her freedom to express her feeling. 41

The expression of disappointment also appears to Naomi when there is something displeases her. Naomi begs Joji to take her to the Kamakura beach. Joji only has two or three days to stay with Naomi in Kamakura. It displeases Naomi,

“Why does it have to be only two or three days?” she asked. “It’s no fun unless we go for a week or ten days.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 25). From Naomi’s reaction, it is clear that she wants to express her feeling of disappointment. She wants to stay in the beach for a week or more, but Joji can not fulfill her demand. In the first time,

Naomi does not express her anger or disappointment toward Joji. She accepts all situations without attempting to fight against them. After living together, there is a little change in Naomi’s expression. She begins to express her anger and disappointment if there is something displeases her. Here, Naomi wants to show that she does not want to be like an ordinary Japanese woman who should be quiet, gentle and unwilling to express something. She thinks that the Japanese rule is too stiff.

Naomi’s expression to show her feeling defies the traditional principle of

Japanese women. She thinks that the principal has limited her freedom to express her real feeling. She wants to be freer in showing her anger, disappointment or happiness. Therefore, she is very happy when Joji promises her to buy Western clothes and disappointed when her desire to go to the beach for longer time is not fulfilled by Joji.

ii. Naomi Begins to be Disobedient

In the first time, Naomi is described as a girl who is obedient to his parents and Joji. She obeys what her parents tell and what Joji tells. She wears traditional outfits that her parents tell her to wear and she obeys Joji’s saying to meet him on time. After living together like friends, Naomi changes into a girl who begins to be disobedient. She does not want to obey her parents and Joji.

Naomi does not want to obey her parents to wear the traditional Japanese outfits.

“Yes. She doesn’t understand anything.” With a far-off look she added, “Everybody says I’ve changed.” “Changed in what way?” “They say I’ve gotten terrible modern.” I wonder. They told me to try doing my hair in Japanese style, but I didn’t want to.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 24). Naomi wears kimono in a new style which is considered too modern by her mother. She likes to wear the new style kimono because she thinks the ordinary kimono is too traditional and not fashionable. She also does not do her hair in

Japanese style anymore, and ties her hair with ribbon. Naomi’s parents tell her to keep the traditional style in her hair, but she feels more comfortable to tie her hair with ribbon. She thinks that doing her hair in traditional Japanese style is also not fashionable and is impractical. She wants to tie her hair in a simpler and more modern style. She likes to be modern in her appearance which emerges her disobedience to her parents’ rule. Naomi considers that the rule to oblige a

Japanese woman obeying her parents has limited her freedom to be more modern.

Naomi’s disobedience is also seen clearly in the way she responds Joji.

She asks Joji to take her to stay in the Kamakura beach for more than three days, 43

but Joji can not fulfill her demand. “Instead I said, “Try to be content with two or three days this year. Next year I’ll take you for a longer stay somewhere else. All right? “But just two or three days …” (Tanizaki, 1986: 25).” Joji promises to take her in Kamakura beach for longer time next year, but Naomi still can not accept it.

She still tries to beg Joji which proves that she does not obey Joji’s saying. Here,

Naomi shows that the strict rule of Japanese women who should be submissive to men is unfair. She begins to think that she has the right to fight against men if they displease her.

How Naomi defies her parents’ rule to keep the traditional style in her appearance and does not accept Joji’s reason why he can not fulfill her desire to stay at the beach for more than three days show that Naomi begins to be disobedient. She begins to think that the rule of Japanese women who should obey parents and men is too strict and she wants to live in her own manner.

II. After Marriage

Naomi’s characterization has changed gradually from the first time she lives together with Kawai Joji in a rental house. She begins to be more expressive and begins to be disobedient. After the marriage, the changes are seen more clearly. The life in the city has shifted the traditional Japanese values in Naomi. i. Naomi Becomes Expressive

Naomi changes into a woman who expresses her happiness when all people say she is like a Western lady. “Don’t you think I look like a Westerner 44

when I do this?” (Tanizaki, 1986: 36). She likes to imitate the American actresses, their movement, mood and idiosyncrasies. She always asks Joji whether he considers her resembling an American actress. She is very happy to hear that Joji says she resembles an American actress. In the first time, Naomi is not pleased when Joji says she resembles an American actress. After living together with Joji, she begins to express that she is pleased to be like a Westerner by wearing

Western clothes. Finally after marriage she wants to hear all people say that she is like a Western lady. She expresses her opinion that being like a Westerner is a pride because the standard of beauty in the society at that time is Western ladies.

The gradual changes in Naomi’s characterization show that she likes to show her feeling in front of many people. She thinks that the traditional Japanese values are not appropriate to be applied in modern lifestyle. She considers that Japanese women have the right to express themselves.

Naomi also becomes a woman who often expresses her anger if there is something displeases her. It is seen in the way she mocks a woman in the social dancing.

“Ugh! Attractive? Don’t be ridiculous! You see faces like that everywhere. And look at the way she’s dressed. I don’t mind if somebody tries to look like a Westerner, but she doesn’t look like one at all. Pathetic. She’s a monkey.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 84).

She sees her male friend dancing with a Japanese woman who dresses up like a

Westerner. When Joji says that the woman is not too bad, Naomi becomes jealous.

She mocks that the woman is not appropriate with the Western outfits; even she says that the woman is like a monkey . Naomi is very harsh in the way she speaks. 45

Naomi is very proud of herself, therefore she does not like that Joji praises the other woman’s beauty. Naomi’s response explains that a modern Japanese woman is different from a traditional Japanese woman. She thinks that a woman should not be quiet, gentle and unwilling to express herself.

How happy Naomi is when Joji considers she resembles a Western lady and how angry she is when Joji praises the other woman’s beauty show that

Naomi becomes an expressive woman who is not shy to show her real feeling. She thinks that she has the freedom to express herself. The rule that limits the women’s right to express themselves is not effectuated for her anymore. ii. Naomi Becomes Disobedient

Naomi is described as a girl who always obeys her parents and Joji in the first time. After living together with Kawai Joji, she begins to be disobedient.

Finally, after the marriage, her disobedience is seen very clearly. She does not want to obey her parents and Joji anymore.

In the first time, Naomi obeys her parents to wear traditional outfits. After living together with Kawai Joji, she begins to defy their rule and wear more modern outfits. Finally, after the marriage, she wears Western outfits.

Whipping off a black garment and tossing it aside, an unfamiliar young Western woman stood there in a pale blue French crepe dress. The exposed arms and shoulders were as white as a fox. Around her fleshy nape, she wore a crystal necklace that glowed like a rainbow; and beneath a black velvet hat pulled low over her eyes, the tips of her nose and chin were visible, terrifyingly, miraculously white. The raw vermilion of her lips stood out in contrast (Tanizaki, 1986: 207). 46

Naomi is more interested in wearing Western clothes than traditional clothes. Her appearance has changed gradually from a girl who often wears traditional outfits into a woman who wears modern outfits because she is obsessed to be a

Westerner. She thinks that Western clothes are simpler than traditional clothes. On the other hands, she considers that wearing Western clothes show that she is up- to-date with the modern fashion in the city. Therefore, she does everything that she likes and does not want to obey her parents anymore.

After the marriage, Naomi becomes a wife who never obeys her husband.

She becomes a woman who can not be handled and does everything as she likes.

“Will you do whatever I say?” “I will.” “Will you give as much money as I need?” “I will.” “Will you let me do whatever I want, and stop poking your nose into every little thing?” “Will you stop calling me ‘Naomi’ and call me ‘Miss Naomi’ instead?” “Yes.” “For sure?” “Yes, for sure.” “All right. I’ll treat you like a human, not a horse. Poor thing.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 230).

Naomi does not obey her husband to keep her behavior in the society. She has been advised by Joji to limit her social life with male friends because there are many people consider her as a whore. In fact, Naomi plays with many male friends and she does not obey her husband’s saying anymore. She is dissipated by

Joji, but it does not make her regret. She is getting worse outside. She behaves like a whore and dates with many Western men. She is begged by Joji to return back to the house because Joji can not live without her. She wants to return to the house and be Joji’s wife in two conditions that she does not want to be ruled and she wants Joji calls her “Miss Naomi” not “Naomi.” Naomi does not agree with the rule that forbid a married Japanese woman should avoid contacting with men 47

and going to some entertainment places. She thinks that a married Japanese woman also has the right to make an extra social life.

How Naomi prefers to wear Western clothes and does everything she likes prove that she does not want to obey her parents and Joji anymore. She does not want to be burdened by the married Japanese women obligation to devote her life to parents and husband, and to limit her social life. She does not want to be ruled and wants to live in her own way.

B. The 1920s Japanese Cultural Westernization of the Main Characters

According to New Oxford American Dictionary the word “Westernization” means “be in the process of adopting or being influenced by the cultural, economic, or political systems of the West.” (2005: 1908). The 1920s Japanese society has experienced the Westernization in cultural, economic and political.

This thesis will discuss about the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s.

According to New Oxford American Dictionary the word “Cultural” here means

“relating to the ideas, customs and social behavior of a society.” (2005: 412). The

Westernization has influenced the traditional ideas of life, custom and social behavior in 1920s Japanese society.

The arrival of European countries has opened Japanese’s mind that their culture is not better than the culture of the Western countries. The Japanese considers that their country can not be defeated by other countries. In Tokugawa period, the European countries occupy Japan. The Japanese fails to safeguard their nation from the Western countries. In Meiji period, the Japanese learns the secret 48

of Western countries’ successfulness. The Japanese are interested in learning everything about Western countries. The World War I and the great Kanto earthquake and fire of September 1, 1923 have lost almost all the Japanese traditional culture. There is cultural Westernization in 1920s Japanese society.

The cultural Westernization has changed the Japanese’s way of thinking and the standard of Japanese’s living. The change of Japanese’s way of thinking is shown by the new ideas of life from Western countries which are embraced by the

Japanese society. The change of the standard of Japanese’s living is shown by the new custom and behavior of the society.

Several reviews say that the novel Naomi is a satire story of the

Westernization impact on the Japanese culture which is set up in 1920s Japanese society. The cultural Westernization of 1920s Japanese society is seen from the main characters in the novel Naomi who are characterized by Kawai Joji and

Naomi. The cultural Westernization of Kawai Joji is seen from the change of his way of thinking. The cultural Westernization of Naomi is seen from the change of her way of thinking and standard of living.

1. The Japanese Cultural Westernization of Kawai Joji

In the description of the main characters, Kawai Joji is described as a

Japanese man who has contradictory characteristics. He is characterized as both modern and traditional. The contradictory characteristics show that there is the cultural Westernization. The cultural Westernization in Japan has changed Joji’s way of thinking. It is seen from the way he refuses several traditional principles of 49

Japanese society and embraces the new principles of life from the Western country, such as: the perception of Westerners and high class of society, the concept of traditional Japanese marriage, the equality between men and women, and the image of Japanese women. i. Kawai Joji’s Perception of Westerners and High Class Society

Kawai Joji considers that Westerners are superior. “Nevertheless, it was a pleasure-no, an honor-to come into such close contact with a Western lady.”

(Tanizaki, 1986: 67). Joji always feels inferior when he faces Western ladies. He is not confident because he is Japanese. He considers that being closer with

Western ladies is an honor for him. It emphasizes that Joji admits the grandeur of

Westerners.

In Tokugawa period, the Japanese consider themselves as a strong nation which can not be defeated by other countries. The isolation of the past has caused their arrogance. They feel that their country is the best. European countries with their strong power come to occupy Japan. They are success to expand their territories in Japan. In Meiji era, there are great changes in Japan. The Japanese realize that Western countries are very great. After the great Kanto earthquake, the

Japanese life is depended on Western countries’ help. They can rebuild their country because of the Westerners’ help. From the history, the Japanese admit that the Westerners are more superior to them. They adopt the Western principles of life. It is the reality which occurs in 1920s Japanese society. All the modernity in

Japan is caused by the Western countries and the Japanese begin to consider that 50

Westerners are more superior to Japanese. They will be proud of themselves if they can mix with the Westerners. Here, the Japan cultural Westernization is seen from Joji’s characterization. He is influenced by the new social life in 1920s. All

Japanese people are westernized. They consider that Westerners are better than

Japanese. They do everything to be as equal as Westerners. The cultural

Westernization has opened his mind that Westerners are more superior to

Japanese. Therefore, he feels proud of himself when he can have close contact with a Western lady.

The Japanese cultural Westernization is also seen from his perception of high class society. Joji considers that high class of society is based on education and wealth. In the characterization of Joji, it is stated that Joji wants to make

Naomi as a splendid woman by giving her some educations. “Even while I was indulging her this way, I hadn’t abandoned my original desire, which was to give her a good education and bring her up as a fine, respectable woman.” (1986: 40).

Here, Joji wants to explain that a woman who can be presented in a high class of society is a woman who is educated. Joji also considers that high class society is decided from the wealth. “If I dressed her up and presented her in high society now, she could hold her own with most of the other ladies.” (1986: 58). Joji is obsessed to dress up Naomi with many kind of luxurious outfits because he considers that a woman can be said from high class of society if she has many luxurious outfits. It implies that wealth and education are very important in high class society. 51

In Tokugawa period, the hierarchy of society is very important. The authority is decided by the class and the birth. People who come from the samurai class can get the authority of the government easily. The commoners do not have the chance to get high posts in the government although they have good capability. The hierarchy of the society causes the failure of Japanese society in facing the Western countries occupation. In the Meiji era, the Japanese learn everything about the secret of Western countries’ successfulness. They can be successful because they respect each individual. The Japanese begin to be an egalitarian society which considers everyone has the same right in the government. To recruit people in high posts of government, education is needed to select the right persons.

In Meiji era, Japan has a slogan “Fukoku-kyohei” which means “rich country, strong army.” Japan wonders why European countries have strong armies. They realize that a strong industrial and economy base can safeguard the independence of a nation. They begin to learn about Western science and technology by sending students to Europe and hiring foreigners to help establish factories and educational institution. There is great industrialization in Japan. The impact of industrialization emerges many factories in the city. There are many sons move to city to look for jobs in the factories. They think that city is identical with advancement and success. People compete with each other to show their wealth.

The history of Japanese society has affected the 1920s Japanese society’s way of thinking. They have a new perception that high class society is determined 52

by education and wealth. The perception is the influence from the Western countries which stresses on the individual capability. All people can get the chance to join in the high class society if they have good education and have good job to get many money. The change of Japanese’s way of thinking is seen from

Joji’s perception of high class society. He is obsessed to give luxurious life and education to make Naomi as a splendid woman who can be presented in high class society. He is obsessed to present Naomi in high class society because of the influence of society in 1920s. All people try to join the high class society because they want to be as equal as Westerners. To be as equal as Westerners, they have to be educated and have many money to show their wealth. Therefore, he follows the stream of the city life. ii. Kawai Joji’s Perception of Marriage

The other form of 1920s Japanese cultural Westernization is seen from

Kawai Joji’s perception of marriage. He considers that marriage in traditional

Japanese style is too stiff and limits the individual emotional life. He thinks that marriage is the matter of love and each individual has the right to choose his or her own spouse. In early Japan, marriage is arranged by parents. The base of love in marriage is not allowed. The conjugal love is the secondary matter which may or may not develop between the pair. The history of Japanese’s failure in the past has encouraged the government to apply the education from the Western countries. The Western countries give new doctrines and philosophies toward

Japanese. The new concept of marriage from the Western countries influences the

Japanese’s mind. The Western countries state that marriage is the matter of love. 53

Each person has the right to love. The new Japanese society begins to complain the old concept marriage. They think that the concept of marriage from the

Western countries is true. A person can not live happily if he marries a woman whom he does not love. In 1920s, there is a demand to be allowed to make marriage based on love.

Kawai Joji is influenced by the new idea of marriage in 1920s Japanese society. He is daring to express his feeling of love to Naomi. He wants to marry

Naomi because he loves her.

Of course the notion had gradually taken root in my mind that Naomi was the only woman I could ever think of marrying, and that even if there were someone else, I couldn’t abandon Naomi now. (Tanizaki, 1986: 32).

From Joji’s explanation of what he feels to Naomi, it is clear that he wants to marry Naomi based on love. Kawai Joji is one of the Japanese people who has been influenced by the new doctrine of Western country. He considers that marriage is the matter of love. He does not want to marry a woman whom his parents choose. He wants to get a new family with a woman whom he loves. He thinks that he will live happily with Naomi. From his new perception of marriage, he has refused the traditional concept of marriage that involving parents in arranging the marriage. Joji’s new perception of marriage shows the Japanese cultural Westernization in the 1920s which stresses the base of love in marriage. iii. Kawai Joji’s Perception of the Equality between Men and Women

Kawai Joji considers that women are as equal as men. He does not want to humiliate women like the other Japanese man do. “Naomi, from now on, call me 54

‘Joji,’ not ‘Mr. Kawai,’” I said the day we move in. “And let’s live like friends, all right?.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 18). Joji asks Naomi to live together in a rental house and he ensures her that they will live like friends. From Joji’s treatment, it is quite clear that he wants to treat Naomi as equal. He wants to ensure that women also have the same rights as men.

In Tokugawa period, the authority focuses on male domination. The authority in family is given for father and descended to the son of the family.

There is discrimination between men and women. The old Confucian says that a woman should in youth obey her parents, after marriage should obey her husband.

A woman has to be long-suffering and submissive to men. The strict pattern is not continued any longer. The arrival of Western countries has influenced the

Japanese’s way of thinking. The Japanese has realized that education is very important to make a strong nation. They learn everything about Western countries.

All new doctrines and philosophies and also new lifestyle are introduced in Japan.

The Westerners can be successful in making a strong and powerful nation because they respect each individual. They consider that men and women are equal. The concept of the equality between men and women from the Western countries has opened the Japanese’s mind. The young generations realize that the old pattern of

Japanese society which forces the women to be submissive to men is unfair. They begin to criticize the old pattern of Japan. There is a demand to consider women are as equal as men. In the novel Naomi , Joji is described as a Japanese man who refuses the traditional concept of male domination. He is a middle class man who has been educated by the new doctrine and philosophy of Western countries. He 55

does not agree with the old concept and embraces the modern concept from the

West that respecting each individual life. It is clear that the Japanese cultural

Westernization is seen in Joji’s characterization as a Japanese man who refuses the old idea about the equality between men and women. iv. Kawai Joji’s Perception of Japanese Women

Joji’s perception of women images is the influence of the background of being a countryside man and the Westernization in the city. He considers that

Japanese woman should be a good wife, an educated woman, and a fashionable woman. He wants to make Naomi as a splendid woman who can follow the stream of modernity by making-over her appearance and giving her some education. On the other hand, he also hopes that Naomi will be a good wife for him. The contradictory minds prove that he is a traditional man who has been westernized.

The concept of male domination in early Japan has created an image of women as being submissive to men. Women do not have the right to be expressive and they have to be obedient with men. Married-women only have the main job to be a good wife and a good mother. They have to be at home all the time and are forbidden to go to entertainment places. They are not allowed to make an extra social life. Women also do not get the education. The Japanese’s mind is influenced by the new doctrine of Western countries that respecting each individual. The Japanese begins to consider women are as equal as men. The

Western ladies give a new perception about modern women toward the Japanese.

In 1920s, women images are changed. They have to follow the stream of 56

modernity. Modern women have to be educated and fashionable but they still have the main job to be a good wife and mother.

The new perception of women images is reflected through Joji’s characterization who wants to change Naomi to be more modern. He often sees

Western ladies and Japanese ladies who try to look like Western ladies. Joji is inspired by the appearance of Western ladies. He thinks that a Japanese woman should be like Western ladies who are beautiful and fashionable in their appearance. The traditional outfits that Naomi wears is considered as an impractical and old-fashion outfits by Joji. “I’ll buy anything that’ll make you beautiful. I’ll give you my whole salary.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 36). Joji tries to make- over Naomi’s appearance to be like a Western lady. He thinks that a modern woman should be beautiful and fashionable in her appearance. Besides, Joji considers that a Japanese woman should follow the trend of the city. He thinks that a woman can not progress if she is just at home all the time. A modern woman should be active and follow the stream of modernity.

Kawai Joji also thinks that a modern Japanese woman should be educated.

He realizes that education can determine the status of a person. “Go on studying and grow up as a fine young woman, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

(Tanizaki, 1986: 34). Joji considers that a woman will be always underestimated by the society if she is not educated. In Tokugawa period, women are humiliated by the society. They can not get the education like the men can get. In modern city, education has an important role in determining the status of a person. Joji wants to make Naomi as a fine and respectable woman. He explains that a modern 57

woman should have a lot of knowledge and education is needed to get the knowledge. Therefore, Joji is obsessed to make Naomi more educated.

Although Joji wants to make Naomi more modern by giving education and making over her appearance, he also hopes Naomi to be a good wife. Therefore, he regrets that Naomi becomes far from what he has expected. “Naomi exceeded the bounds of mere liveliness; she was too rough in everything she did. Her speech, supercilious and lacking in feminine gentleness, was often vulgar.”

(Tanizaki, 1986: 92). Here, Joji stresses the main job of a married-woman is to be a good wife. A woman should be feminine in everything. He changes Naomi to be more modern because he wants to follow the development of the era. He thinks that women also have the right to follow the modernity in the city. It is better for him to let Naomi learns many things outside the house and mixes with the high class of society. The freedom that he has given to Naomi has caused his bitterness.

He is pleased to see Naomi’s change from being traditional into modern, but he regrets that Naomi has forgotten her main duty to be a good wife. Joji considers that Japanese women in modern city have to have balance characteristics as being a good wife, an educated woman, and a fashionable woman. Here, the cultural

Westernization in 1920s Japanese society is seen through the new idea of modern

Japanese women which Joji holds.

From the way Kawai Joji refuses several principles of traditional Japanese society proving that there is an influence from Western ideas about life. The cultural Westernization is seen through his new ideas about Westerners and high 58

class society, marriage, equality between sexes and the new images of Japanese women.

2. The Japanese Cultural Westernization of Naomi

The 1920s Japanese cultural Westernization is seen clearly from the change of Kawai joji’s way of thinking. It is seen from the way he refuses several traditional principles of Japanese society. The traditional Japanese principles have been replaced by the new principles from the Western country.

The 1920s Japanese cultural Westernization is also seen clearly through the characterization of Naomi. It is not only seen from the change of her way of thinking but also from the change of her standard of living. The gradual changes of Naomi from being not expressive and obedient into being expressive and disobedient have proved that there is a change in her way of thinking. Her new way of thinking improves her standard of living in the modern city which is shown by the changes of her appearance and lifestyle. Those are the evidences that the Westernization has replaced the traditional Japanese principles, custom and social behavior. a. Naomi’s Way of Thinking

The characterization of Naomi shows the 1920s Japanese cultural

Westernization. The cultural Westernization has influenced her way of thinking.

She follows the new Japanese society ideas of Westerners and high class society, 59

and the equality between men and women which are the influences from Western countries. i. Naomi’s Perception of Westerners and High Class Society

Naomi also considers that Westerners are more superior. “I have. That hateful person. From now on, I’m going to spend my time with Westerners. They are more fun than Japanese.” (1986: 231). The changes of Naomi from being inexpressive and obedient into being expressive and disobedient are the result of her perception of Westerners. She thinks that Westerners are more superior to

Japanese and she wants to be as equal as Westerners. Naomi considers that it is a pride to have close relationship with Westerners. She always compares

Westerners and Japanese, and she considers that Westerners are better than

Japanese. From her statement, it is clear that she considers Westerners are superior.

The perception of Westerners encourages Naomi to be as equal as

Westerners. She thinks that high class society refers to the glamorous life of

Westerners. She is obsessed to mix with the Westerners. In order to join in high class society, she has to show off her wealth. Therefore, she forces Joji to give her a luxurious life in order to mix with the Westerners. “I don’t want you putting all that money into your work. You’ll have to set aside enough to keep me in luxury.

All right?” “Yes, all right.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 232). Naomi does not want to be underestimated by the society because she is from poor family. She really wants 60

to join in high class society which is very glamour. Here, Naomi explains that the high class of society is determined by the wealth.

It has been described that the history of Japan has changed the Japanese’s way of thinking. The distinction of classes has caused Japanese failure in facing the European countries. The failure of Japan in safeguarding the nation has realized the Japanese that Westerners are more superior to them. The Japanese begin to learn everything from Western countries. They begin to think that each individual has to be respected. Each person can get the high posts in government.

To recruit the people in high posts of government, the education is needed. The education replaces the classes or hereditary authority in pre-modern Japan. It has been decided by Japanese society that education is very important in determining the status of a person. If the person gets the education, he can join in high class of society.

Besides, the wealth is also important in determining the status in high class society. The development of industrialization has improved the 1920s Japanese’s standard of living. The city of Tokyo is the center of the great industrialization.

There are many factories in the city and people move to city to find jobs. The people try to get money as many as possible. They are influenced by the glamorous life of Westerners. The Japanese want to be like the Westerners. They compete with each other to show off their wealth. They consider that wealth can determine the status of a person. A person is determined as high class society if he can show his wealth. 61

The 1920s Japanese cultural Westernization is seen from the new idea of

Westerners and high class society which Naomi holds. She considers that

Westerners are more superior to Japanese. She is obsessed to be like Westerners because Westerners refer to high class society. She forces Joji to give her a luxurious life because it can help her to join in high class society. She considers that wealth is very important in determining the status of a person. ii. Naomi’s Perception of the Equality between Men and Women

The way Naomi expresses her feeling shows that there is cultural

Westernization on the new idea of the equality between men and women. She thinks that the strict rule that obliges a Japanese woman to be quiet and never expresses her real feeling has limited her freedom. “Now do you see how frightening I can be?” (Tanizaki, 1986: 231). The Naomi’s threat to Joji explains that she wants to show her real feeling. She does not want to be burdened by the traditional pattern of Japanese society which limits the women’s freedom to express their feeling. The new concept of the equality between sexes from the

Western country has given chance for her to express her feeling. The change of

Naomi from being not expressive into being expressive proves that she wants to get the equality in the society.

The change of Naomi from being obedient into being disobedient also proves that there is cultural Westernization on the new idea about the equality between men and women. Naomi is described as an obedient girl in the first time. 62

She always obeys her husband, Joji. After the marriage, she becomes a disobedient woman. She does not want to obey her husband anymore.

“She really is stubborn. She’ll start a quarrel over the littlest thing, and then it’s hopeless. Please handle it with all the skill you can. It’s out of place for me to say this sort of thing, but …” (Tanizaki, 1986: 156).

Naomi does everything that she likes. She does not want to be ruled by anyone.

She does not want to hear Joji’s saying. It is caused by the new style of relationship between men and women which Joji states. She is considered as equal as men and treated specially by Joji. She is also given a freedom to have a broader social life by her husband. The broader social life causes Naomi’s disobedience.

She is influenced by the free life of the city. The equality that Naomi gets influences her way of thinking. She begins to think that a woman can do something that a man can do. She thinks that the old principle of Japanese society which forces a woman to obey her husband is not up-to-date with the new life in the city. It is clear that there is a change in her way of thinking which considers women are as equal as men.

In pre-modern Japan, women are considered to be polite and patient. Polite means they have to be gentle and patient means they have to be long-suffering in their dealings with their menfolk. Women are not allowed to express their feeling.

If they are happy or angry, they have to hide the feelings. They have to respond everything silently. The society also considers that the main duty of Japanese women is to obey her parents and her husband. After marriage, a woman should obey her husband. She does not have the right to fight against her husband and follows him docilely. Otherwise, men have the absolute freedom to do everything 63

they like. The education in Japan has opened the Japanese’s mind. They realize that the traditional concept of the equality between men and women is unfair. It limits each individual life. In 1920s, the young generations criticize the old principle of Japan. Under the Western influence, their way of thinking is changed.

Japanese men begin to treat their wives as equal. The women are not afraid to show their idea and feeling anymore in front of their husbands. They realize that they are as equal as men.

The Western culture has shifted the traditional culture of Japanese society.

The pre-modern Japanese idea which considers women are not equal with men is replaced by the new idea of the West which demands the equality between sexes.

In the novel, Naomi is described as a Japanese woman who changes from being inexpressive and obedient into being expressive and disobedient. The changes are caused by the equality that she gets from her husband. Her husband treats her as equal. She has realized that women have the same right as men. Here, the 1920s

Japanese cultural Westernization is seen from her way of thinking about the equality between men and women. b. Naomi’s Standard of Living

The cultural Westernization is also seen from the new custom and social behavior of Japanese society in 1920s. The new custom of Japanese society is the style of clothing. In Tokugawa period, the traditional clothing is kimono. It is considered as a practical way of clothing for traditional Japanese-lifestyle. During the period, kimono is worn to determine the social status. The arrival of European 64

countries has introduced a new style of clothing which is more practical than kimono. In the Meiji era, there are many factories that produce Western clothes.

The Japanese society is more interested in wearing Western-style clothes because they consider that the traditional kimono is not practical to wear and it limits their movement.

The social behavior of Japanese society in 1920s is influenced by the new lifestyle in the city. There are many entertainment places in Tokyo which imitate the lifestyle of Western countries. The places give the glamorous life to the

Japanese. Tokyo shows the modernity of Japanese society. There are many

Westerners in the city. The Japanese society is obsessed to be like Westerners.

Therefore, it influences their behavior. They become expressive in imitating the

Westerners’ appearance and lifestyle: they drink and smoke.

The cultural Westernization is seen from the way Naomi changes her appearance and her behavior in social life. Naomi is initially described as a traditional Japanese girl who is inexpressive and obedient. The new idea of relationship between men and women which is stated by Joji has caused her changes. She does not want to be burdened by the Japanese traditional pattern of life which limits her life.

Naomi’s appearance in the beginning of the story is different from the end of the story. In the first time, Naomi always wears traditional kimono. She wears it because she obeys her parents’ order and respects the traditional custom of

Japan which obliges Japanese women to wear it. After marriage, she becomes 65

disobedient. She does not want to obey her parents and the Japanese rule to wear kimono because she is more interested in wearing Western clothes. “A

Westerner?” “That’s right. And she was wearing gorgeous Western clothes.”

(Tanizaki, 1986: 156). Naomi gets the freedom from her husband to have a broader social life. The glamorous life in the city attracts her. She realizes that

Western clothes are more practical than traditional clothes. She begins to like the

Western-style of clothes because she feels more beautiful and sexier by wearing the clothes. Naomi always wears Western clothes wherever she goes. She hardly wears traditional kimono. It is because she wants to be as equal as Westerners.

The Western ladies are the standard of modern women in 1920s. Therefore, she changes her appearance to resemble the Western ladies. The way she prefers to wear Western clothes proves that she has refused the old custom of Japan which obliges women to wear kimono. It is clear that there is cultural Westernization which is shown by Naomi’s new appearance.

Naomi’s behavior also proves that there is cultural Westernization. The lifestyle in the city has influenced her behavior. The 1920s Japanese society’s life is influenced by the Western countries style of life. Naomi is interested in imitating the Western-style in everything. She tries to look like an American actress’ appearance and lifestyle. In the first time, Naomi is described as an inexpressive Japanese girl. She hardly expresses her obsession to be like a

Westerner. After the marriage, she becomes very expressive. “What’re you doing!

You humiliate me! Slut! Tramp! Whore!” Naomi giggled. Her breath reeked of sake. I’d never known her to drink before.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 143). Naomi is 66

daring to drink beverage. She has become a wife, but she does not keep her behavior. She does not limit her social life. She dates with many men and likes to drink beverage. The arrival of Western countries has given a new lifestyle in

1920s Japanese society. Both men and women drink beverage and smoke. “Naomi stays in bed drowsily until after eleven o’clock, smoking or reading the newspaper.” (Tanizaki, 1986: 235). Besides drinking beverage, Naomi also has a habit of smoking. The habit of drinking and smoking prove that the Japanese behavior has been influenced by the new lifestyle which is brought by Western countries.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

In this undergraduate thesis, the two questions have been analyzed. The first question is about the description of the main characters. The main characters in the novel Naomi are Kawai Joji and Naomi. The second question is about the

1920s Japan cultural Westernization of the main characters.

Kawai Joji is described as a Japanese man who is both modern and traditional. The background of being a countryside man and the new life in the city has emerged his contradictory characteristics. He is described as a modern

Japanese man because he refuses several traditional Japanese principles, such as: the perception of Westerners and high class society, the idea of marriage, the idea of the equality between men and women, the images of Japanese women. He thinks that Westerners are more superior to Japanese and high class of society is determined by wealth and education; marriage has to be based on love; women are as equal as men; Japanese women should be modern women and traditional. All the new principles are the influence of the Western country.

Kawai Joji is also considered as traditional Japanese man from the way he states the images of Japanese women. He considers that Japanese women should be educated, fashionable, but they have to remember their traditional duty to be good wives. Joji’s consideration of new Japanese women images prove that he does not only think modernly about women but also thinks traditionally about them. 67

Naomi is initially described as a Japanese girl who is inexpressive and obedient. She still holds the traditional Japanese principles which oblige a woman should be gentle in everything. After the marriage, Naomi’s characterization is changed. She becomes expressive and disobedient. The changes are caused by the perception of Westerners and high class society, and the new concept of the equality between men and women in Japanese social life. She considers that

Westerners are superior. She is obsessed to be like Westerners. She wants to follow the Western lifestyle. The marriage gives good chance for her to fulfill her desire to be like Westerners. The new concept of relationship which Joji states has caused Naomi’s expressiveness and disobedience. She realizes that a woman has the same freedom as a man.

The arrival of Westernization has opened the Japanese’s mind that their traditional cultures are to stiff. They realize that the traditional cultures limit the individual emotional life. The cultural Westernization is seen from the new ideas, custom and behavior in the social life which imitate the Western concept of life.

The main characters in the novel show the 1920s Japan cultural Westernization. It is seen from the new ideas, custom and behavior which are held by Kawai Joji and

Naomi. The new ideas which are influenced by Western countries are the new ideas of Westerners and high class society, marriage, equality between men and women, and the image of Japanese women. The new custom is seen from the change of Naomi’s appearance. Naomi does not want to wear traditional

Japanese’s clothing which is called as kimono. She prefers to wear Western clothes. The new social behavior is also reflected through Naomi’s 69

characterization. She is influenced by the city lifestyle which is glamour. She tries to look like a Westerner and follows the Western lifestyle. She drinks beverage, smokes and dates with many men especially Western men. She has forgotten her main duty as a wife who should be loyal with her husband.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Rohrberger, Mary and Wood Jr. Reading and Writing about Literature . New York: Random House Inc., 1971. Seidensticker , Edward. Life World Library: Japan. Amsterdam: Time-Life International., 1970. Simpson, Caroline Chung. An absent presence: Japanese Americans in postwar culture, 1945-1960. Durham: Duke University Press. 2001. Stanton, Robert. An Introduction to Fiction . New York: Holt, Rineheart and Winston, Inc., 1965. Tanizaki, Junichiro. Naomi . Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing., 1986. Varley, H. Paul. Japanese Culture . Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing., 1983. Wellek, Rene and Warren Austin. Theory of Literature (3 rd Ed) . New York: A Harvest Book Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1956.

Online Sources: Auerbach, Eric. Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature. Princeton University Press, 1968. (5 March 2010). Excerpts from Japanese novels. (25 March 2010). Ginza . 1996. (27 March 2010). Hines, Richard. Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) . 1996. ( 27 March 2010). History of Japanese marriage . Mi Marketing Pty Ltd., 2001-2006. (11 April 2010). Kimono History . (11 April 2010). Lowy, Dina. Review of Sato, Barbara, The New Japanese Women: Modernity, Media, and Women in Interwar Japan. Department of History Gettysburg College., 2005. (5 April 2010).

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Tanizaki Junichiro . Kansas: Washburn University ., 200-2010. (25 March 2010). The Charm of Japanese coiffures from the Ancient until the Maiko today . 2006- 2010. (http://www.japan-hopper.com/2006/09/29_09271.php ) (11 April 2010).

APPENDIX

Summary of Junichiro Tanizaki’s Naomi

Naomi takes place in 1920s Japanese society. It is the time when the

Westernization happens in Tokyo. The Japanese and foreigners are mingling with one another. New doctrines and philosophies from the Western country are introduced in Japan. There are many changes in Japanese culture. Those changes are reflected through the main characters in the novel Naomi .

Naomi is from a poor family. She works as a hostess in a café called the café Diamond. She meets a Japanese man named Kawai Joji. Kawai Joji often visits the café. He is interested in Naomi’s appearance which resembles an

American actress, Mary Pickford. There are many Japanese people adoring

American actresses’ appearance. On the other hand, Joji is touched by Naomi’s condition. He is wonder why a young girl like Naomi works as a hostess in a café.

Joji is encouraged to take charge of Naomi. He wants to make her as a fine and respectable woman who can be presented in high class society.

Joji asks Naomi to live together like friends. Finally, they live together in a rental house. Joji ensures Naomi that he will treat her as equal. He gives education to Naomi because he wants to make her more respected in a high class society.

Besides, Joji wants to make-over Naomi in order to make her more beautiful. He is obsessed to make Naomi more modern. After living together in several months,

Joji falls in love with Naomi. He marries Naomi and treats her like a queen. Joji loves her very much and he wants to do everything to make Naomi Happy.

73 74

The special treatment that Joji gives to Naomi has changed Naomi. Naomi becomes far of what Joji has expected. Joji’s original desire is to make Naomi as a splendid woman who can be presented in a high class society. He has fulfilled all

Naomi’s demands but it makes his bitterness. Naomi is influenced by the new lifestyle in the city. She is obsessed to be like a Westerner. She changes her appearance by wearing Western outfits. She does not like to wear traditional

Japanese outfits anymore. She wears Western clothes wherever she goes and goes to some entertainment places. She likes to go to social dance and dates with many men, especially Western men.

Kawai Joji can not handle Naomi. He has been trapped in his feeling of love. He can not live without Naomi. Therefore, he has to fulfill Naomi’s demands and follow Western-style in everything. He follows Naomi to go to social dance and spends a lot of money to buy the dancing outfits. Naomi does not want to be ruled. She does everything that she likes and torments her husband. Joji can not do anything. He accepts everything without complaining.