Naomi (1924) is Japanese author Jun'ichiro Tanizaki's complex, often humorous, and deeply ironical novel of unconventional love; atypical attraction, the fusion of fantasy and reality, and the erotic lure of a "westernized" younger woman, for an older, traditional (at least at first) 28-year-old Japanese electrical engineer. The book likely reflects the Japanese fascination with America and the west in the 1920's, probably due to the relatively new importation of America cinema; foods; fashions, and other products. Movies and Naomi's love of them is a key theme. Naomi, in fact, even reminds Joji of an American movie star, Mary Pickford. [Interestingly, the American filmmaker D.W. Griffith's internationally popular silent film, Broken Blossoms (1919), starring Mary Pickford and another American beauty of the time, Lillian Gish, tells the story of an Asian man and a much younger woman.] But just as Naomi comes to dominate the narrator, American culture itself threatens not just to entertain and energize Japan, but instead to dominate it. It is this psychological tug-of-war between traditional eastern ways and new western influences that drives the protagonist, and continually inflects his obsession with Naomi herself. .

             Early in the story Joji explains the growing influence of the west on Japan in this way: .

             As Japan grows increasingly cosmopolitan, Japanese and foreigners are .

             mingling with one another; all sorts of new doctrines and philosophies are .

             being introduced; and both men and women are adopting up-to-date Western .

             fashions.  No doubt, the times being what they are, the sort of marital .

             relationship that we've had, unheard of until now, will begin to turn up on all .

             sides. (1).

             Joji's masochistic surrender to Naomi later in the story arguably parallels Japan's enthrallment during the 1920's to another young upstart: America itself, and in particular imported culture; art; fashion; foods, and other influences.