Opposition by Kaneko

Mitsuharu

By: Rajas Habbu,

Rahul Amara
Akshay Subramani
Pranav Balamurali
Biography
● 20th century poet and small-time painter
● Born December 25, 1895 in Tsushima Aichi
● Died June 30, 1975
● Attended private Catholic school Gyosei Gakuen in Tokyo
● Travelled a lot and gained knowledge through experiences
● Known to be an anti establishment figure
● His poems were best when he was on the offense, attacking
concepts such as war and society
Opposition When I’m asked for what I was born,

In my youth Without scruple, I’ll reply, To oppose.

I was opposed to school. When I’m in the east

And now, again, I want to go to the west.

I’m opposed to work.

I fasten my coat at the left, my shoes right and left.

Above all it is health My hakama I wear back to front and I ride a horse facing its
buttocks.
And righteousness that I hate the most.
What everyone else hates I like
There’s nothing so cruel to man
And my greatest hate of all is people feeling the same.
As health and honesty.

This I believe: to oppose

Of course I’m opposed to the Japanese spirit
Is the only fine thing in life.
And duty and human feeling make me vomit.
To oppose is to live.
I’m against any government anywhere
To oppose is to get a grip on the very self.
And show my bum to authors and artists circles.
Opposition
Opposed to things that most support. School and work are things mandatory to
In my youth
life and the poet, Mitsuharu is rejecting them.
I was opposed to school.

And now, again,

I’m opposed to work.

The fact that the narrator dislikes health, which usually
has positive connotations catches the reader’s attention.
Above all it is health Mitsuharu is against good morality showing than he
himself is morally bad.
And righteousness that I hate the most.

There’s nothing so cruel to man

As health and honesty.
Of course I’m opposed to the Japanese spirit
The word hate as a very strong connotation (vs. dislike, disapprove, etc.)
this provides a strong feeling, much like the act of opposition does as well
The poet dislikes truthfulness showing that he is and wants to be
dishonest

And duty and human feeling make me vomit. Uses exaggeration to create a
mocking and disgusted tone.
I’m against any government anywhere

And show my bum to authors and artists circles.

When I’m asked for what I was born,
Meant to oppose ever since he was a child. Quite
Without scruple, I’ll reply, To oppose. a big statement to make.
When I’m in the east

I want to go to the west. Opposed to meaningless and trivial things

Against all social norms. Generally people like him are
shunned and rejected
I fasten my coat at the left, my shoes right and left.

My hakama I wear back to front and I ride a horse facing its buttocks.

What everyone else hates I like Loose trousers part of a common japanese formal outfit
And my greatest hate of all is people feeling the same.

This I believe: to oppose
Is the only fine thing in life.
To oppose is to live.
To oppose is to get a grip on the very self.
Live’s connotation in this case is to actually enjoy life, experience
things, and explore. The poet believes that opposition allows one
to do this
The connotation of grip is to gain self control and understand oneself and
the world. Mitsuharu thinks that opposition allows one to stay grounded.
S.O.A.P.M.
S: Poet/Kaneko Mitsuharu

O: The poet is opposed to all thing in the world that most would support

A: General public, especially those who are complacent

P: Mitsuharu is opposed to all things in the world, even the most basic things such as left
from right. He believes opposition allows one to be grounded and truly feel alive.

M: Opposition allows one to stay grounded and think for themselves

Structure
Six stanzas, four lines each

● Poem is very organized and consistent

○ Every two lines is an English sentence
○ Each stanza is separated from the others (no running over of thoughts)
● Why is a poem about rebellion so conforming to the English language?
○ Because one expects the poem to be runny and inconsistent- he made it
consistent
● Poem was written in Japanese, translation may have had an effect
Major Elements
1. Contradiction
a. Examples
i. Connotational Contradiction (“Above all it is health/ And righteousness that
I hate the most.”)
b. Message/Purpose
i. Catches the reader's attention
ii. Makes the reader think about what “righteousness” really is
Major Elements Cont.
2. Hyperbole

a. Examples
i. “And duty and human feeling make me vomit”
ii. “show my bum to authors and artists circles.”
b. Message/Purpose
i. Helps convey the intensity at which Kaneko dislikes these values
Major Elements Cont.
3. Alliteration/ Repeated Sounds

a. Repeated use of word or sound “any” to emphasize statement

i. “I’m against any government anywhere”
b. Repeated use of word “hate” to emphasize negativity
i. “What everyone else hates I like/ And my greatest hate of all is people
feeling the same.”
Major Elements Cont.
4. Diction

a. Uses word “oppose” or “opposition” multiple times to make point that he is

always opposing
i. “opposed to school”
ii. “opposed to work”
iii. “To oppose” (uses this 4 times)
b. Uses word “grip” in last sentence to give idea concept of strength and sturdiness
Major Elements Cont.
5. Imagery

a. Examples
i. “I fasten my coat at the left, my shoes right and left.”
ii. “My hakama I wear back to front and I ride a horse facing its buttocks.”
b. Message/Purpose
i. Paints a picture of contradiction in the reader's mind, further emphasize the
poem’s contradiction