Yoshitaka Kaneko

Biography

Dr Yoshitaka Kaneko has authored many articles on Japanese literature. His doctoral dissertation - The Works of Akutagawa Ryunosuke and His Contemporary Intellectuals - incorporated the application of cultural studies, sociology and ecocriticism into Japanese literature. Before majoring in Japanese literature, he attended Tokai high school, Aichi, where he cultivated a great interest in English. He wanted to become a judge of law when a love for reading and literature came suddenly to him. Endo Shusaku’s short story ”Relatives Meet Again” was the beginning of his interest in literature. Hearing one of his professors saying, “those who read less than 3,000 pages cannot be referred to as university students,” marked him for life and, at university, Kaneko put the priority on reading as many books on literary theories and novels as possible sometimes over attending classes. Upon obtaining his Ph.D. in Japanese literature from Meiji University, he got his start as a high school Japanese teacher as well as an adjunct professor at universities. He built a strong foundation of knowledge and real-world experiences needed to be a good teacher. Akutagawa’s aphorism “Something that seems to have no relevance to your life actually makes you human” keeps him inspired to teach the Japanese language and literature.