Samurai and Supermen

Focusing on the ideological contradictions inherent in the German alliance with Japan during World War II, this book analyses German discourse about Japan from the distinct yet intricately connected standpoints of the German-Japanese historical relationship, the scientific and pseudo-scientific presentation of Japan in Germany, and German fictional depictions of Japan.
The volume examines the historical relationship between Germany and Japan in the light of their alliance. It also traces the origins and development of the image of Japan in Nazi Germany. Through non-fiction texts, the points of emphasis, friction, and outright contradiction are discovered between Nazi ideology and an alliance with Japan as they were discussed both publicly and privately in Germany at the time. Finally, by examining fictional depictions of Japan and the Japanese under the Nazis, the work reveals the means by which fiction addressed these ideological issues and incorporated the historical and non-fictional arguments of its contemporaries. This book looks carefully at its connection to other historical, political, racial, and ideological thought of the time.

Autorentext
The Author: Bill Maltarich received his Ph.D. in German Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He currently lives, works, and teaches in New York City.

Inhalt
Contents: The History of German-Japanese Relations The Traditional Image of Japan Captioning and Rationalistic Discourse Overview of Rationalistic and Rationalizing Works Essays, Lectures, and Rationalistic Rhetoric Fictional Discourse: Versions of Chushingura Fiction and Captioning Melody and Philosophy: Fiction and the «Essence» of Japan.