Japanese literature in the early Meiji Period can be classified in two main categories: gesaku literature (literary work of a playful, mocking, joking, silly or frivolous nature) literature based on gesaku in the Edo period and political novels to introduce Western thoughts and customs and enlighten the readers.
明治に入ってからの日本文学は、江戸の戯作の流れを汲む戯作文学か、西洋の思想・風俗を伝え啓蒙するための政治小説が中心だった。