Ozu Yasujiro’s “Spring and Autumn” Rhetoric

Key Points

• The aim is to investigate Ozu Yasujiro's use of seasonal motifs in his film titles and the underlying rhetorical traditions.
• Employed historical rhetorical methods and statistical analysis from four distinct perspectives.
• Analyzed Ozu's selective use of seasonal terms in relation to traditional Japanese poetry and ancient Chinese rhetoric.
• Investigated the origins of seasonal motifs in Ozu’s films and their connections to poetry.
• Identified that Ozu's choice of seasonal terms aligns with a unique rhetorical technique differing from traditional Japanese poetry.
• Explored the foundational lyrical sources influencing Ozu's works, specifically his sad spring and autumn narratives.
• Discovered connections between Ozu’s titles and traditional seasonal motifs through Terada Torahiko's influence.