An Artist of the Floating World | Social Concerns

An Artist of the Floating World Social Concerns

Masuji Ono, the narrator of this novel, allowed his artistic talents to be used in support of the imperialistic goals of the Japanese military during World War II, and in the years following the war, he, his students, his family, and his country must come to some sort of understanding about what their country has done. During the novel, Ono realizes that his use of art as militaristic propaganda and his own personal behavior have lead to grave consequences for his country and many of those around him.