As relations between Japan and the West grew closer in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, Japan became an increasingly important topic in literature, especially popular literature. This new genre had many readers, but has received little academic attention.

Popular themes in such Japanese novels are love, landscape, passion and everything that makes Japan "exotic". Protagonists are often Japanese women, especially geisha, but also death-defying samurai and people from the West who are confronted with the "otherness" of Japan.

Our extensive collection of novels and novellas are in various languages, especially German, English and French. The earliest examples date back to the 17th century. They do not always meet high literary standards, but they deal with Japan, its culture, history and society from a Western perspective and offer insights into the European view of Japan at different times. This makes them culturally and historically relevant sources on the perception of Japan and the emergence of stereotypes about the country.

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