Absurdity in the works of Kobo Abe

Kobo Abe is one of the most significant and readily identifiable Japanese writers of the 20th century. The absurdity, existentialism, and the grotesque themes that pervade his prose and dramatic works have led readers to refer to Abe as “Japan’s Kafka.” The principal aim of this study is to identify why the aspect of absurdity was so essential to Abe’s literature, where and how it originated and what it was supposed to achieve. In order to achieve this, a comparison will be made between prior and contemporary absurdist fiction and plays of the West and Japan and the author’s oeuvre. This comparison will allow us to locate the place which Abe holds in literature of the studied genre and endeavour to define Abe’s unique methods by which the absurdity he creates works. Furthermore, as Kobo Abe's works have yet to be fully translated into the Russian language, the current paper will be complemented by a comprehensive Russian translation of "The Laughing Moon," a collection of short stories and essays unified by the theme of dreams and creative inspiration. Keywords: Kobo Abe; Absurdism; Japanese Literature; Existentialism; Surrealism.