Michaël Ferrier, Kuki Shûzô : la séduction des rencontres

Abstract

This article seeks to compare writings and aesthetics of Michaël Ferrier, francophone author established in Japan, with Japanese philosopher and essayist, Kuki Shûzô. My focus stems from the authors' interest in the idea of “meeting”, and their experiences of the complexity of understanding the self and the other, both individually, as people, and collectively, as cultures. I use Kuki Shûzô's concept of iki as a node that ties together both authors' conceptions of identity, difference, self, love and existence.