Dr. Yoshihiro Yasuhara

Biography

Yoshihiro Yasuhara's primary research explores the relationship between aesthetic expression and social realities, grounded in a field of comparative literature with a focus on modern Japanese culture in a transnational context. His work examines the writings of Ishikawa, analyzing the search for a locus of literary reality in alternative dominant historiographies of modern Japan. Yasuhara argues that Ishikawa’s literature reflects a deep social commitment to literary experimentation, highlighting the reimagining of Japanese avant-garde in dialogue with Western movements and debates surrounding history and literature within the broader trajectory of Japanese modernity. Dr. Yasuhara's interest particularly focuses on Japanese culture and society in the 1980s, specifically at the intersection of advertising tropes and modern Japanese poetry. He explores the critical writings of cultural critic Amano Yukichi, examining how advertising intersects with the poetic works of Tanikawa Shuntaro, thus revealing a layered interplay between commercial and literary discourses during this period. His research investigates the concept of minority identity in Japan, moving beyond conventional definitions, and aims to expose marginalized voices within Japanese society, challenge prevailing artistic norms, and help chart new directions within the country’s cultural landscape. At Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Yasuhara serves as the coordinator for the Japanese Studies program and is a faculty advisor for majors and minors.

Research Interests

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