IMAGE OF ALASKA IN OBA MINAKO’S WORKS
In the article there is an uncommon for Japanese literature phenomenon − the work of modern woman writer, who devoted her works to the life in Alaska. Not only her early stories but also her following novels, which brought wide fame to her, are connected with this region. Oba Minako's themes are defined by the collision of her heroine with the hostile society of people, who are alien to her. The example of it is her debut story «Three Crabs», containing the autobiographic motive. In her literature there is a life of a woman who is in spiritual wandering. She is accompanied with existential fear, estrangement from her environment and despair of loneliness. The original culture of Alaska is becoming a source, which supports the heroine on her way to self-affirmation and realization of her individuality. Oba Minako's devotes herself to studying the way of life, manners, customs and history of Alaska. The legends and traditions of this region are included into the literature of this writer. It is a story «Fireweed» that can be considered unique. In it the authoress analyses the way of life of an ancient tribe, its collisions of relationships. These relationships are made up according to gender, which points out to the destruction of matriarchy.