1) Through his lecture, Soseki connects individuality of ones self to the

individuality of ones nation. He implies a sense of nationalism through

his realization of individuality, as he states that "I was an independent
Japanese and it was incumbent upon me as a Japanese to posses at
least this degree of self-respect" (34). By working for individuality and
finding ones true path, Soseki connects self-individuality to the
individuality of the nation. He encourages the idea of self-reliance and
recognizing that he is Japanese himself in order distinguish the
Japanese from the Westerners, placing importance a combination of
personal and national individuality
He further continues this emphasis on distinguishing the Japanese
nation amongst the west as [he] resolved... to tell people that they
not need imitate westerners (34). Soseki sees the influence of the
West, but in essence emphasizes the need for the Japanese to see the
individual values of their home in the East.
Not only does the connection of individuality to the nation
pertains to overseas however, as Soseki recognizes its own importance
at home. He mentions in his second part of his lecture if society is
going to allow you such regard for your own individuality, it only makes
sense for you to recognize the individuality of others (38). There
certainly a regard for the nation to recognize that individuality exists,
and by doing so Soseki justifies its existence even alongside
nationalism. By believing that the people can have their inviduality
when the nation is at peace and showing national concern during
wartime, Soseki acknowledges the ability for a nation to be
individualistic without having to sacrifice nationalism, connecting
individuality to the nation in a meaningful way where both can freely
coexist.
2) Tatsuzo displays individuality in Soldiers Alive through the
emotions of individual soldiers. Awaiting the battle of the next day, one
of the lieutenants cried as it was not the sadness of a man going into
battle rather, the endurable sadness of 180 men around him
silently waiting to be killed (668). Tatsuzo emphasizes the lieutenant
as an individual through his weeping, displaying contrast between the
image of masculinity of a soldier and a soldier weeping in distress. We
begin to see this recognition of ones deep emotion, and being able to
display it breaks what the nation would perceive of the military as a
ruthless, monotonous army. The next day in battle, the lieutenant
prepared for death at any moment, he wished to die quickly and be
done with it rather than fight on (670). We also start to see this selfconcern and the soldier desiring to relinquish his anxiety and stress.
His unwillingness to continue to battle contrasts that of Benkei in
certain Japanese myths where Benkei is seen fighting to his death.
Through this, Tatsuzo portrays the lieutenants individuality of

concerning for himself, rather than the sake of the nation by fighting
his hardest.