Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (1886–1965) was one of Japan’s most celebrated modern writers, known for exploring themes of aesthetics, cultural identity, eroticism, and the tension between tradition and modernity. His works often reflected a deep fascination with the sensory world, the passage of time, and the shifting cultural landscape of Japan.
Born in Tokyo, Tanizaki was raised in an era of rapid modernization and Westernization following the Meiji Restoration (1868–1912)—a period when Japan was moving away from its traditional cultural roots in an effort to industrialize and adopt Western technologies and values.
Over his lifetime, he witnessed the increasing dominance of Western influence over Japanese art, architecture, and daily life.