Abe Kobo (1924–1993)
Japanese novelist and playwright. He was a leader of the avant-garde, and his
familiarity with Western literature, existentialism, surrealism, and Marxisminfluenced his distinctive treatment of the problems of alienation and loss of
identity in post-war Japan. His books include the claustrophobic novel Suna no onna/
Woman of the Dunes (1962) and minimalist plays such as his trilogy Bo ni natta
otoko/The Man Who Turned into a Stick (1969).