A Personal Matter

A Personal Matter
Cover of the first Japanese edition
AuthorKenzaburō Ōe
Original title個人的な体験
Kojinteki na taiken
TranslatorJohn Nathan
LanguageJapanese
GenreSemi-autobiographical
PublisherShinchosha
Publication date
1964
Publication placeJapan
Published in English
1968
Media typePrint

A Personal Matter (Japanese: 個人的な体験, Hepburn: Kojinteki na taiken; lit. "A Personal Experience") is a 1964 semi-autobiographical novel by Japanese writer Kenzaburō Ōe. It tells the story of a young father who must come to terms with the fact that his newborn son is severely mentally disabled.