The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the theme of death in the work of a Japanese writer Yoshimoto Banana. First, the thesis gives a background on the author of the works analysed after which a cultural and historical context of the period she creates in is given. The historical and cultural context gives us an overview of how literature in Japan has changed and developed through the years after Japan has opened its doors to the West and how this event permanently changed the direction in which the literature will develop. Of course, it is not possible for anything that gets adopted by Japan to not get adapted into Japanese culture. So, by this we can see how even though the west had tremendously influenced Japan it still holds a close relation to its traditions and roots. The Japanese traditional is still present and unwavering in contemporary literature. Yoshimoto Banana writes with this in mind. By using different writing styles, she allows the readers to create alongside with her multiple meanings of her texts. She creates a bond between old, traditional Japan and modern, contemporary and young Japan thus allowing all ages and even outsiders to find something to relate to. This is usually human nature at its core. By writing about characters and their everyday life and how exactly these individuals deal with fortunes and misfortunes that befall them. At the same time, she allows the readers to find an alternative and heal from their own troubles by writing what is known as “ambient” or healing literature. The theme of death permeates all her work, but it never happens in the present. It is usually something that has occurred in the past or something that will inevitably happen in the future and as such is closely connected with nostalgia.