Abstract: Modern Japanese literature is closely related to epidemic diseases. The relationship between tuberculosis and typhoid fever and literature is fully reflected in Hirotsu Ryuurous Decaying Chrysanthemum, Mori Ougais Persona and Natsume Souseki's Henceforth, Heart and Door. Among the works with the theme of Spanish flu pandemic, the symptoms and pains are recorded in the form of diaries, letters or essays in Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, Akita Ujyaku, Nagai Kafu, Kishida Kunio and other scholars works. These personal records are far more vivid and intuitive than official records, and can also arouse the resonance of future generations, which are quite enlightening for epidemic prevention. The novels play an irreplaceable role in deeply excavating peoples inner changes when challenging the pandemic of infectious diseases. Shiga Naoya's Influenza, Kikuchi Kans Mask and Miyamoto Yuriko's Nobuko are the extraordinary ones of such works. These works not only reached into the inner world of the characters, but also revealed the social issues, such as violence against others, lack of health concept, psychological comfort for foreign infected people, thereby reflecting the profundity of the works. Epidemic literature reproduced the aura, emotion and life of individuals swallowed by the tide of infection, which is the practical significance of epidemic literature. In terms of criticism of civilization and reality, Yosano's From the Sickbed with a Cold and The Fear of Death are thoughtprovoking. On the other hand, Japanese modern literature on the epidemic situation also exposed its limitations. It only paid attention to the living conditions and psychological states of individuals, and rarely dived deep into the community and society. Lacking a macro perspective and a grand framework, it was unable to grasp the situation of the whole society and the mental world of the Japanese population through the works when the infectious disease is prevalent.

Key words: epidemic diseases, modern Japanese literature, Spanish flu pandemic, portrayal, social criticism