Yokomitsu Riichi's "Shanghai" -

Japan in 1860s and 1870s went through the great process of cultural, economical and social changes, modernism changed the structure of Japan, which stopped being coherent. Became more open to Western world. These changes shaped the modern literature of Japan, it gradually stopped being mythical, less oriental. The Japanese writers adapted the literary genres from their European counterparts; cubism, expressionism.

In 1930s in Japanese literature emerges Modernism. Traditional Japanese school followed the pattern of the Western counterparts – Riichi’s  novels are rich with symbols, parabolas, architectural notions. Not surprisingly, his father was an engineer, he build the railways, he moved from place to place, constantly changed Japanese countryside. He observed his father’s work, he was with him almost all the time, he learnt from him, he acquired new unexplored … but, he really didn't like it that much, he and his father explored Japan, though, never settled, home was everywhere and nowhere, somewhere, but, none really felt it like home. It affected the novels, it affected his perception of home as a place of family life, of love, shelter, a harbor.  

His characters are simple, common people, very sensitive, a minor problem they encounter became as big as Fuji Mountain, exaggerated to excess. Trivial matters shapes the character’s lives, lives which are rich in notion, the authors like it, admires the simplicity. Senses and sensation built atmosphere,  the meaning always directs the object is its complementary. The city of Shanghai  is a sensation, a sensational achievement, it must be admired, it must be influential, its role is one, to thrive, to develop, to give and gain;

“…As far as the eye could see, the great city stretched out around me in a vast, unbelievable plain of ashes…

…The artificial bird called the airplane first began to fly the skies as a thing that could be used. All these concrete embodiment of modern science first sprang up in our country just after the earthquake…”

Everything underwent changed, the culture up mostly, the cultural shock will determine people’s lives, the norms they would have to handle to survive, the pace of life is faster, pushing them to extremes, and they have to take it or leave it. New objects are to ease live, become more and more subjective "...the artificial bird called the airplane.."., their presence create new Japan, marks new era. The development of technique is far more quicker then human thinking, people must follow the innovation, they must chase it, otherwise will be far too much backward, they got lost, they will be left behind, and no one will ever want to be left behind, it means extinction. Shanghai is for Yokomitsu the most dehumanized city, hostile, Chinese development and Chinese prosperity is not quick enough to catch up with Japan, Japan is a superior place to live, better, more attractive, with richer culture.

Yokomitsu writing is judgmental, he portrays rise and decline of values, rise and decline people, changes of social classes, the novels even though, wore in a satirical and sometimes funny and  amusing way are sad.   Characters are full of resentment and resignation, trivia made them depress, discouraged. In all his novels he wants to presents Japan as an outstanding, superior and great country, “Shanghai” is the perfect example of an imperial Yokomitsu's thinking. Yokomitsu loved travelling he visited Europe very frequently, he was always full of admiration of new ideas, developments, things, technique, nevertheless, he turned to tradition, he missed tradition, therefore, innovation was always distant, admired but distant.