Honda Shugo has written that Noma Hiroshi "is the first voice of the postwar writers, and his is, in a sense, the first voice of the entire body of postwar literature." Such pronouncements are common concerning Noma's work. His first story, "Kurai e" (Dark Pictures), appeared in 1947 and was immediately hailed the work of a new voice. That new voice was characterized by a convoluted style; "Dark Pictures" was a difficult work for a difficult time. The style is what first drew the attention of contemporary writers, but he is representatively "postwar" also for the concerns and issues that he raises, issues and concerns that became emblematic of this period in recent history. He received high praise not just from established literary figures such as Hirano Ken, but also from activists: most importantly from Miyamoto Yuriko, whose praise was an implicit endorsement by the Japan Communist Party. Noma...