Kōbō Abe, born on March 7, 1924, became a renowned figure in the realm of surrealistic fiction and drama. His early life in Manchuria and subsequent experiences in Japan profoundly shaped his unique narrative style. Throughout his life, Abe navigated the complexities of personal and political ideologies, merging them into his creative pursuits.

Formative Years in Manchuria

Kōbō Abe entered the world in Tokyo while his father, Asakichi, was engaged in research there, but his early life soon shifted to Mukden, Manchuria. This transition happened a year after his birth when the family returned to run a medical clinic led by his father, who was also a physician. The young Abe's upbringing in this Japanese colony was marked by vivid memories of a city he described to Shields, author of Fake Fish, as a "terrifying place." He recounted tales of lawlessness, where "sometimes children were sold as slaves," painting a stark picture of the environment that would deeply influence his future works. The barren landscape, the twisting cityscapes, and the isolated figures set against high, grimy walls were images etched into his mind, sparking the imagination of an author destined to craft surreal narratives.

War and the Discovery of Storytelling

In 1931, the geopolitical landscape shifted dramatically when Japan invaded Manchuria. To ensure their safety, Abe's father sent his wife and son to Hokkaido, on Japan’s northernmost island. They stayed with Abe's maternal grandfather during this turbulent time, while his father pursued medical research in Hungary. Following the death of his grandfather, Abe and his mother returned to the war-torn Manchuria. These challenging circumstances set the stage for Abe's initial foray into storytelling. Confined indoors by harsh winters, young Abe entertained himself and eventually his peers by narrating tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Once he exhausted these stories, he began weaving his own, marking the beginning of his journey as a writer. "That was the first time I began to write the kind of story that could entertain other people," Abe reflected in Fake Fish.

Academic Pursuits and War-Time Decisions

Returning to Japan for his high school education, Abe later enrolled in Tokyo University Medical School, influenced by his father’s career and the wartime climate. "The specific situation in Japan at that time," he explained, "was that those students who specialized in medicine were exempted from becoming soldiers." This pragmatic choice, however, was short-lived. In 1944, before completing his medical degree, Abe went back to Manchuria to assist in his father's clinic. Sadly, his father succumbed to typhus soon after. Abe's last memories of Mukden were of a city "lined with coffin shops." He carried his father’s ashes back to Japan and subsequently finished his medical degree, a qualification he would ultimately never practice.

Personal Life and Political Engagement

In 1945, Abe began a new chapter in a bomb-ravaged Tokyo with his wife, Machi Yamada, an art student and stage designer. This period also marked Abe's brief association with the Japanese Communist Party, driven by his pacifist stance and the belief that their principles aligned closely with his own. However, Abe grew disillusioned with the party due to the inconsistency between its theoretical ideals and practical realities, alongside its stifling influence on his creativity. This affiliation later hindered his ability to visit the United States freely.

Literary Achievements

Abe’s literary legacy is most prominently marked by his novels and short stories. His book, Suna no onna (published in 1962 and translated as The Woman in the Dunes in 1964), stands out as a masterpiece, celebrated for its haunting depiction of a nightmarish setting that echoes the stark landscapes...