근대 이후 일본 동북지역 대지진과 일본근대문학의 역할‒소설 『산리쿠쓰나미(三陸津波)』와 르포르타주『산리쿠해안 거대쓰나미(三陸海岸大津波)』를 중심으로‒

Abstract

This paper analyzes the literary works that symbolize the tsunami disaster in the northeastern part of Japan, which occurred in a similar pattern to 3.11 East Japan great earthquake disaster. Particularly, I examined the novel “Sanriku Tsunami(三陸津波)” of Tokuhei Suchi and the “Sanriku Coast Giant Tsunami(三陸海岸大津波)” of Akira Yoshimura, which symbolize both the Meiji Sanriku Tsunami, the Showa Sanriku Tsunami and the Chilean Earthquake Tsunami. So I tried to clarify the location and meaning of the disaster literature as the record literature. In fact, literary works depicting natural disasters in the northeastern part of Japan focused on tsunamis, and often portrayed the horrors of the tsunami, the terrible damage, and bitterness. Among them, “Sanriku Tsunami” and “Sanriku Coast Giant Tsunami” were intended to present a lesson that huge natural disasters are repeated in the northeastern region, and that large tsunamis must come again. Nevertheless, the 2011 East Japan Earthquake did not take all these warnings and lessons. ‘Disaster literature’ has various roles and functions. However, as can be seen from “Sanriku Tsunami” and “Sanriku Coast Giant Tsunami”, disaster literatures can record memories of disasters and offer lessons for disaster preparedness. This is the role and significance of disaster literature.