Kenzaburo Oe opened the eyes of the world by telling them about the Japanese culture through many different novels and novellas. Even though Oe was raised during a war, he still managed to write books such as "Nip the Buds," and "Shoot the Kids" that explained to the world the Japanese's side of the story which caused people to think more and realize the tragedies right underneath them. Born January 31st, 1935 in Ose, a remote mountain village on the smallest of Japan's major islands, Kenzaburo Oe was only 6-years-old when the United States declared war on Japan after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor (Shelton, Sonya par.2). Raised by his mother, Koseki Oe, and his father, Kotaro Oe, Oe was brought up with a love for literature and art. While Oe was going through elementary school he was taught to obey the emperor with undying loyalty, but he always found this idea strange and never fully cooperated. Oe was only 9-years-old when his father and grandmother both passed away, his father died fighting in World War II (par.2). .
After the war, the Americans took control of all Japanese education and taught the children about democracy, Oe agreed with the Americans' ideas more than the monarchy based ideas and values of Japan. After Oe finished elementary school and secondary school he attended the University of Tokyo. During his time at the University he changed his major from mathematics to French Literature after he realized his love for literature. He wrote his senior thesis on Jean-Paul Sartre and graduated from the University of Tokyo with his Bachelor's Degree in French Literature. During his time in college Oe published two books: "Prize Stock" and "Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids". Oe's book Prize Stock won the Akutagawa Prize when it was released. After he graduated Oe became a representative of the Young Japanese Writers Foundation (par 17). As their representative Oe traveled to China and met with China's communist leader at the time Mao Tse-tung.
