Blacks in Japanese film/literature

[Jeremy Roland Robinson]

> 
> > Did Banana Yoshimoto write a story with a black character? (that would be
> > 80s or 90s, though).

You might be thinking of Yamada Eimi (Amy).  Her novel _Trash_ had a black
soldier in Japan as one of the main characters.  I also recall her being
quoted as claiming to be the "voice of the black man in Japan."  Rather
ironic, her being neither black nor a man and given the not too flattering
portrayal of the character "Spoon" in _Trash_.  This may be too late for
the time frame you're looking at, though.

Jeremy Robinson