@inproceedings{oai:kokubunken.repo.nii.ac.jp:00002076,
 author = {佐伯, 彰一 and SAEKI, Shoichi},
 book = {国際日本文学研究集会会議録, PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JAPANESE LITERATURE},
 issue = {7},
 month = {Mar},
 note = {pdf, It seems to be assumed that the autobiographical genre has been the specifically European product, even the cultural 'institution'of modern Europe. Even today most of the Western (European & American) scholars and critics tend to take this view for granted, and their sometimes voluminous studies of autobiography have been almost exclusively concerned with the European tradition, which, I admit, do and did exist. However, is this assumption so totally acceptable? Could we not find any other area where the remarkable autobiographical writings have been produced?
We must not overlook that some of the European autobiographies have been intensely influential upon the modern intellectuals in several other areas of the globe. Indeed it could be contended that the emergence of the remarkable autobiographies in a certain area or country should be taken as the potent index to the modernization of that specific area or country. Modern Japan has produced various cospicuous autobiographies, most of them being written by 'modernized' intellectuals, or even by the pioneering activists of 'modernization'. Similar examples could be found in China, Malaysia, and India. Most of the Asiatic leaders of 'modernization' happen to be the authors of the memorable autobiographies.
However, let us turn to pre-modern Japan. We come across tremendous output of the autobiographical writings, totally free from the European influence, and yet so impressive. In 'Heian' Japan we find various attractive female diaries, most of which turn out the life histories rather than daily records of the woman authors. In medieval Japan, we have the superb autobiography of Lady Nijō and readable reflections upon personal life by the male hermits. Coming to Edo period we are amazed to find the rich variety in the status and profession of the autobiographical writers. There were, of course, excellent samurai autobiographies, but also the kabuki actors, merchant-scholars, and even wandering priest have written charming autobiographies. Surely we can speak of the Japanese tradition of autobiography.
So we had better stop accepting the European assumption and try to get broader, more well-ballanced prespective upon the autobiographical genre. I am sure the East should have much more to offer and contribute. Here is an important literary sphere, where East and West could cooperate more fruitfully for the 'universal' understanding of literature.},
 pages = {102--117},
 publisher = {国文学研究資料館},
 title = {公開講演会　自伝　―東と西―},
 year = {1984},
 yomi = {サエキ, ショウイチ}
}