A Letter From a Stripper Queen: Osabe Hideo's Interpretation

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  • 研究発表　ストリッパー女王からの手紙　―長部日出雄の読み方―

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Modern literature in Japan has the talents of Osabe Hideo, but he is rarely discussed in academic research. Born in 1934, Osabe has written numerous stories, biographies, essays, and film criticisms, with 49 books published to date. Additionally, while presenting a humble and reserved demeanor, he also defied reader’s expectations time and again by presenting unusual ideas and discoveries. Research on Osabe’s work will no doubt come into its own, but as a preface to that, I would like to consider among the many aspects of his writing its entertainment side. This entertainment is the humorous depictions that keep readers laughing. Also, many of those depictions are in regards to a “modest and laughable self-image”. Osabe’s self-image is filled with meanings: complexes, a perverse mentality, a mix of self-criticism and humility, suppressed confidence and frustrated rebelliousness. What cultivated this self-image was undoubtedly his vast readings, years of viewing films and performances, and his relationship with friends. Writing about others while telling of yourself is a basic pattern seen among writers. Osabe chose to build his own self-image through people’s perspectives, dialogues, and letters. I would like to discuss a light essay Osabe wrote about receiving a letter from stripper queen Gypsy Rose (1935-1967), who Osabe had a long-time infatuation with. His depiction of his regret at not being able to meet the queen illustrates well to the reader Osabe’s personality, background, self-criticism, personal ethics, etc., while presenting the reader with the entertainment aspect of his work. This presentation seeks to understand the aspect of Osabe's writing through how he writes about the letter from Gypsy Rose.

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