Foreign Studies

Foreign Studies is a collection of three narratives chronicling Japanese students' experiences in post-war France. The stories range from a brief encounter to an extended stay, following different characters as they navigate Western culture and society. The first piece is a short story about a young man in Lyons, while the second follows a Japanese priest studying in Paris. The final and longest section tracks a student named Tanaka during his research year in France in the 1960s. Through these parallel narratives, the text explores the cultural divide between East and West, focusing on isolation, faith, and identity. Endo draws from his own time as a student in France to craft a meditation on what it means to be an outsider in Western society, while examining the complex relationship between Japan and Europe in the mid-20th century.

Readers note this collection of three stories offers insights into cultural isolation and faith through Japanese characters encountering Western society. The book maintains consistent themes about outsider experiences and East-West tensions that appear in Endo's other works. Positive reviews highlight: - Subtle character development showing internal struggles - Clear, accessible prose style compared to other Japanese literature - Effective portrayal of cultural disconnection without melodrama Common criticisms: - Stories feel uneven in quality and impact - Middle section drags compared to opening/closing pieces - Some character motivations remain unclear Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (216 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) "The final story delivers the strongest emotional punch" notes one Goodreads reviewer, while another critiques that "the second story meanders without purpose." Multiple readers recommend starting with Endo's novel Silence before approaching this collection.

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🌟 Despite being published as a single work, "Foreign Studies" is actually three interconnected stories about Japanese Catholics struggling with cultural differences in France 🌟 Author Shusaku Endo drew heavily from his own experiences studying in France in the 1950s, where he faced discrimination and cultural isolation 🌟 The book explores a recurring theme in Endo's work: the compatibility (or incompatibility) of Eastern spirituality with Western Christianity 🌟 The final and longest story in the collection, "And You, Too," was later expanded into Endo's acclaimed novel "Foreign Land" 🌟 The protagonist of the second story is based on the real-life figure of Julien Viaud (Pierre Loti), a French naval officer who wrote about Japan and had a relationship with a Japanese woman