SLEUTHING WOMEN:GENDER IN THE ART OF JAPANESE DETECTIVE FICTION AND FILM

Although it remains one of the most popular genres worldwide, detective fiction is usually regarded as a purely commercial form. Because of this, detective novels, short stories, and films are rarely subjected to the same critical scrutiny and attention as other, more respected modes of writing and representation. Nevertheless, because of its attention to the character of everyday life, detective fiction is a perfect case study for determining national attitudes towards gender. Generally speaking, women perform three different functions in Japanese detective fiction. They are either hapless victims, minor plot devices, or (on rare occasions) agents of detection themselves. This paper surveys several works of detective fiction, ranging from the early- to mid-twentieth century, to demonstrate the evolving function that women have played, both in the genre and in the society that the genre reflects