“In general, each era tends to harbor hostility towards the era just before it, while feeling a sense of familiarity towards the era before that.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
- He became a representative figure of postwar Japanese literature, and was highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. He pursued his own unique aesthetic with themes of beauty and death, and ultimately committed seppuku at a Self-Defense Forces garrison. His life, which combined literature with action, continues to have a strong influence today.
Japanese
「大体、時代というものは、自分のすぐ前の時代には敵意を抱き、もう一つ前の時代には親しみを抱く傾きがある。」
English
“In general, each era tends to harbor hostility towards the era just before it, while feeling a sense of familiarity towards the era before that.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on the cyclical nature of historical and cultural attitudes towards different eras. He suggests that each new generation or period tends to view the immediate past with hostility—seeing it as a time of stagnation, decay, or decisions that do not align with the new values or ideals of the present. At the same time, people often feel a sense of nostalgia or affinity for the era that preceded the immediate past, as it appears more romanticized or idealized from a distance. This creates a dynamic where each generation tends to reject the recent past while looking back to earlier periods with fondness or respect, often shaping a complex relationship between the present and the past.
Mishima’s observation captures the way in which societal shifts and ideological changes can lead to friction between contemporary thought and the previous era, while creating a certain mythologizing of earlier times. This tendency may be seen as part of the human condition, where newer generations are driven by the desire to define themselves in opposition to what came before, while simultaneously finding comfort in what is perceived as a more pure or noble time. Mishima often explored how modernity and the rapid pace of change can lead to a disconnection from the past, even as elements of that past are romanticized or idealized.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words resonate with the tendency in contemporary society to criticize the immediate past—especially in terms of political, cultural, or technological shifts—while often romanticizing earlier eras. Whether it’s a backlash against modern capitalism, technology, or social changes, people frequently look back to earlier periods as simpler, more authentic, or virtuous times. Mishima’s insight highlights how this cyclical pattern can shape collective memory, often obscuring the complexity of both the past and present, and influencing the ways in which history is interpreted and remembered.
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