So, partially because other people are talking about it, and partly because I need to figure out how to deal with AI for next semester. Specifically, I am teaching HIST 295 Introduction to Historical Studies. This is the methods class where we teach Sophomore majors how to be historians. Also, since most of them will be teachers, I suppose they need to start thinking about teaching in the age of AI. I am also teaching 2 sections of an on-line asynchronous HIST 198 Explorations in Global History: The 20th Century World.1
So, for 198 I figured I would do a week on the Jazz age in Japan. I could have dug through a bunch of anthologies trying to find a short story for them to read. Instead, I asked Chat GPT.
Here is my question
A great short story to assign for a lower-division college class on the Jazz Age in Japan is:
“The Lady and the Beard” (髭のある令嬢, 1921) by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō, available in translation in the collection Naomi and Other Stories, translated by Anthony H. Chambers.
Why it works:
Accessible and humorous: It’s light, satirical, and readable, perfect for undergraduates new to Japanese literature.
Captures the spirit of the era: It explores gender roles, Westernization, and modern urban life in Taishō Japan—key aspects of the Jazz Age.
Strong visual style: It presents vivid imagery of changing fashions, behaviors, and social expectations in 1920s Tokyo.
Tanizaki is canonical: Introducing students to a major author helps contextualize broader literary trends.
A nice set of bullet points that show “they” know what I am looking for. There is one problem, which led to a follow up question.2
Does this short story really exist?
Actually, my mistake—“The Lady and the Beard” isn’t a short story at all—it’s a 1931 silent film directed by Yasujiro Ozu, not a work of fiction in prose imdb.com+9windowsonworlds.com+9a2pcinema.com+9. I apologize for the confusion.
For something that does fit your criteria—a short story, in translation, centered on the Jazz Age in Japan—here are some strong and available alternatives:
📖 Recommended Short Stories on Jazz‑Age Japan
1. “Naomi” (ちじんの愛) by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō
Length: Novella (about 200 pages) with translated editions readily available (e.g. Anthony H. Chambers) windowsonworlds.com+2reddit.com+2reddit.com+2en.wikipedia.org
Why it works: Centers on a Westernized modern girl, the clash of traditional and modern values, and urban life in the 1920s—perfect for exploring Jazz Age themes.
2. “The Reed Cutter” (芦刈) by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō
Length: Short novella, translated by Anthony Chambers jonathanrosenbaum.net+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2
Why it works: Set in the early Shōwa period, beautifully contrasts rural tradition with modernity, and is distinctly shorter and more accessible than “Naomi.”
3. “Gold and Silver” (金と銀) by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō
Length: Short story, translated by Phyllis Lyons reddit.comimdb.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3
Why it works: Offers a brief but lucid look at cultural tensions and personal choices amid Japan’s rapid modernization in the mid‑Taishō era
To some extent this worked for me, in that a quick web search showed that the Ozu film is on You Tube, so I guess I could assign that. On the other hand, they are making stuff up, and also don’t know what a short story is and are really not digging very deep. A brain the size of a planet, and you come up with “Assign Tanizaki”?
