Abstract
Kajii Motojirō shows himself to be the most experimental and radical when he treats the theme of walking as a physiological activity that is intricately linked to his philosophical outlook on life. The activity of walking has played an integral role in modern Japanese literature since the late Meiji period. Carefully depicting the art of walking, including tripping and falling, Kajii’s “Rojō” explores the possibility of a new type of “I-novel” (shishōsetsu) which adopts the method of cognitive psychology to depict the reformation of the “self.” Closely examining Kajii’s notes in drafts as well as the influence of the painter Kishida Ryūsei on his writing, this essay illustrates how he developed his own style while strolling in a new suburban neighborhood.
