Kenzaburo Oe was a Japanese writer and a major figure in contemporary Japanese literature. His novels, short stories and essays, strongly influenced by French and American literature and literary theory, deal with political, social and philosophical issues, including nuclear weapons, nuclear power, social non-conformism, and existentialism. Ōe was awarded the 1994 Nobel Prize in Literature for creating "an imagined world, where life and myth condense to form a disconcerting picture of the human predicament today".

- Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids 1958 novel japan, war, abandonement, childhood en

- Seventeen & J: Two Novels 1963 novel japan, alienation, rebellion, extremism en

- A Personal Matter 1964 novel japan, parenthood, disability en

- Teach Us to Outgrow Our Madness: Four Short Nove 1966 novel japan, terrorism, fatherhood, war en

- The Silent Cry 1967 novel japan, suicide, family, brotherhood en

- The Pinch Runner Memorandum 1976 novel japan, family, fatherhood en

- Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age! 1983 novel japan, family, disability, family en

- A Quiet Life 1990 novel japan, family, disability en

- Somersault 1999 novel faith, fanaticism, terrorism, religious cults en

- The Changeling 2000 novel japan, suicide, friendship en

- Death by Water 2009 novel japan, memory, grief, fatherhood en