SOURCE: Gessel, Van C. “Endô Shûsaku: His Position(s) in Postwar Japanese Literature.” Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese 27, no. 1 (April 1993): 67-74.

In the following essay, Gessel attempts to expand Endō's literary significance beyond his reputation as a Japanese Catholic writer.

It is no simple matter to define the position which Endô Shûsaku holds in contemporary Japanese letters, since he does not occupy a single, easily definable position as most of the prewar, confessional writers did. He belongs to a uniquely distinguished list of less than a dozen writers who over the last six decades have held the office of President of the Japan P.E.N. Club (that list also includes such names as Shimazaki Tôson, Masamune Hakuchô, Shiga Naoya, Kawabata Yasunari, and Inoue Yasushi). But we tend sometimes as puzzled readers of foreign literature to seize upon labels and classifications...