Books: “Modern Japanese Short Stories” published by Tuttle

Another excellent and thorough collection of 25 short stories with a great forward on the history of Japanese literature by Ivan Morris.
Some stories are quite simple in plot, provoking the reader to stop and reflect. “The Camellia” by Ton Satomi, is one such tale of economy: two sisters lie close in bed in their new home. One wakes up in hysteria when the camellia flower drops loudly on the floor – an ominous sign. Then they slowly start laughing and build up to a frenzy only moments after, leaving us to ponder, what is the secret they laugh at?
Other stories are much more readily enjoyable and are great windows into the social scenery. “Machine” by Riichi Yokomitsu is a criticism of the gruelling working conditions at the time, written in the point of view of the surviving lover. “Downtown” by the female author Fumiko Hayashi is a beautifully written story of a gentle love between two paupers. “Nightingale” by Einosuke Itō, depicts country life through the daily events at the local police station. Each visitor brings in a new woe in this comic tale in which we see the workings of cause and effect on a small scale, with the kind-hearted and somewhat fed-up police officers acting as fate’s judge.

“Most probably man had evolved in such a way that he could not see his own face. Maybe dragonflies and praying mantises could see their own faces. But then perhaps one’s own face was for others to see. Did it not resemble love?”

– The Moon on the Water by Yasunari Kawabata