Japanese Culture Through The Tale of Genji

Hidenori Jinno is a Professor at Waseda University's School of Culture, Media and Society, specializing in Japanese classical literature, particularly works from the Heian period (794-1185). Born in Fukushima, he completed his undergraduate studies in European Philosophy before transitioning to Japanese Classical Literature for his graduate work, all at Waseda University. He earned his PhD in Literature in 2001 and has since established himself as a leading scholar on The Tale of Genji and the monogatari literary form. His research focuses on narrative techniques, aesthetics, and linguistic aspects of Heian literature, with particular emphasis on The Tale of Genji. Jinno has published extensively on these topics, including works examining the narrative voice, expression, and quotation in Genji monogatari, as well as broader studies on waka poetry and gender in classical Japanese literature. His scholarship bridges traditional Japanese literary studies with Western narratological approaches, as evidenced by his work on grammatical person and character in Heian monogatari literature. At Waseda, he teaches courses on classical Japanese literature and contributes to international scholarship through his participation in bilingual publications and research projects.