This text surveys the accomplishments of Nobel Prize winner Oe Kenzaburo and other writers of the post-war generation, while looking further to examine the literary parameters of the ""post-Oe"" generation. It includes essays on Endo Shusaku, Hayashi Kyoko, Kanai Mieko, Kurahashi Yumiko, Murakami Haruki, Murakami Ryu, Nakagami Kenji, Oe Kenzaburo, Ohba Minako, Shimada Masahiko, Takahashi Takako and Yoshimoto Banana.