Migration and Gender Normsin Yosano Akiko's Prose Fiction “Keshimochi” (Poppyseed Rice Cake, 1910)

This paper contends that the short story, “Keshimochi” (Poppyseed rice cakes), written by the renowned Meiji period Japanese woman poet Yosana Akiko (1878-1942), is a gender defiant semi-autobiographical tale that reveals the circumstances that drive the main character to migrate within the boundaries of societal constraints. Through the trope of an unidentified female narrator, the story features elements of confession, a theme celebrated in Akiko's poetry, capturing a pivotal moment when Akiko herself, living with her family in Sakai, is invited to join a literary club in Tokyo led by a poet who will later become her husband, Yosano Tekkan (1873-1935). The unique portrayal of various elements of migration, including literary, social, and geographical, highlights the duality of the unnamed female character's adherence to societal norms while seeking opportunities beyond her present situation. In this short story, Akiko masterfully intertwines literary, social, and cultural migration, exploring female aspirations and illuminating societal limitations.