“Man is a being in search of meaning.” Spring Snow (1969) The first novel in the tetralogy, Spring Snow, is set in 1912 during Japan’s TaishÅ era. It […]
Japanese literature
Spring Snow
“The snow fell endlessly, as if the heavens themselves were weeping.” Chapter 1: The Encounter The novel opens in early 20th-century Tokyo, introducing Kiyoaki Matsugae, the sensitive and […]
Japanese literature
Runaway Horses
“The moment the blade tore open his flesh, the bright disk of the sun soared up and exploded behind his eyelids.” Book One: The Sea of Fertility The […]
Japanese literature
Confessions of a Mask
“I was born with a spirit that sought to hide itself.” Chapter 1: Childhood and Early Awareness The protagonist, Kochan, recounts his early childhood in wartime Japan. From […]
Japanese literature
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
“Human life is as fragile as the morning dew, yet the Golden Pavilion stands eternal.” Chapter 1: Introduction to Mizoguchi The novel opens with Mizoguchi, a young stutterer, […]
Japanese literature
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea
“A man’s happiness lies in conformity with the purpose of the universe.” Chapter 1: The Sailor’s Return Noboru, a 13-year-old boy, watches from his bedroom window as his […]