Interpreting Miyazawa Kenji's “The Restaurant of Many Orders”: A fusion of Russian literary influence and Nichiren Buddhist philosophy
List of Authors
  • Akio Abe , Christin Cook

Keyword
  • The Restaurant of Many Orders, Russian literature, Interpretation

Abstract
  • A frequently discussed work in Japanese elementary school Japanese language classes is Kenji Miyazawa's "The Restaurant of Many Orders." This story is often interpreted as a comparison between nature and humans, framed in a binary opposition. However, when considering the historical context in which Miyazawa thrived and delving into his personal character, an alternative interpretation can be proposed. This paper presents a new interpretation by focusing on the number of doors described in the story and the portrayal of the dog, drawing connections with Russian literature and Miyazawa's own religious beliefs. Future research aims to propose instruction based on this interpretation.

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