Oe is visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Institute of Chinese Literature and Philosophy (ICLP) under Academia Sinica -- Taiwan's most prestigious academic institution.

In addition to attending a symposium on his literature scheduled for Oct. 6-7, Oe will also give lectures and autograph copies of his books for local readers.

Oe, 74, has been described as "Japan's social conscience" for his resolute opposition to Japanese militarism and the deep sense of critical self-examination that pervades his work.

"Oe has condemned Japan's invasion of other Asian countries for many years now, and regards his trip to Taiwan as a journey of atonement for Japan's past atrocities, " said Peng Hsiao-yen, an ICLP research fellow.

According to Peng, Oe has visited China seven times, where he has been heartily received. During one of his visits there, he conveyed his wish to visit Taiwan to Xu Jinlong, a research fellow at the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"This eventually led the ICLP and the Chinese academy to cooperate in organizing the Oct. 6-7 symposium in Taipei that will review Oe's literature from an international perspective," Peng said, adding that Oe's visit also represents his wish for a cross-Taiwan Strait academic exchange focusing on his work.

The symposium will open with a speech by Oe, to be titled "Late Work, " an allusion to the work by late Palestinian American cultural giant Edward Said, one of his literary bosom friends, Peng said, adding that in the speech, Oe will relate what he hopes to do for Asian society in the remainder of his life.

A total of 13 papers will be presented at the seminar, with topics ranging from Oe's literary imagination, the influence of Chinese writer Lu Xun on his work, the position of music in his work and his leftist ideas, according to Peng.

The ICLP will also organize an exhibition of Oe's literature, dubbed "From Shikoku Forest to the World, " which will be accompanied by musical works produced by his brain-damaged son and literary muse, Hikari.

The Oct. 6-9 exhibition will display Oe's literary works, manuscripts and 40 photos featuring his acceptance of the Nobel Prize and other relevant activities, as well as paintings by his wife.

Oe was born in a forest-hemmed village in Ehirne Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he described himself as "a son of forests, " as forests have been a limitless source of his literary inspiration.

During his childhood, Oe lived through World War II, an experience that left a deep life-long imprint on his writings. The ferocity of war, post-war trauma and the melancholia of death infuse his early works, which are heavily influenced by Western modernism, according to Peng.

"As an author, Oe has been engaged in various social and political issues from an anti-war, humanitarian and liberal perspective," she added.

(By Sofia Wu)