Japan in translation
We’re planning a trip to Japan in the fall, which gives us a few months to cram some Japanese lit.
A selection of modern Japanese classics by Kawabata, Akutagawa, Tanizaki and Natsume, plus an anthology of 17th century amorous tales. All from Tuttle Publishing, Php565 each at National Bookstores.
Much as we admire the design of the hardcover edition of Murakami’s 1Q84, we like to keep our reading and our weight training separate. Fortunately the publisher has released 1Q84 as a 3-volume box set—so you can read in traffic with no danger of fracturing your foot if you drop the book. The set is Php995 at National Bookstores.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
June 8th, 2012 at 11:08
ooh, where in japan are you going? it’s awesome in the fall. if you’re going to the western part, arashiyama (arashi – storm; yama – mountain) in kyoto is especially beautiful that time of year. if you’re going to the eastern part, hmm not sure, but the fall colors everywhere’ll be really good :)
June 8th, 2012 at 12:18
Tokyo-Kyoto.
June 8th, 2012 at 15:45
i went to Tokyo and Kyoto in the fall of 2009. Kyoto was sooo beautiful. don’t miss the rock garden in Ryoanji. if you’re visiting end of October, you might also want to see the Jidai Matsuri Festival. it helps to have a local friend or at least somebody who speaks japanese. if not, you’ll just have to make do with a bilingual guide book.
now i’m all nostalgic.
June 8th, 2012 at 16:55
Mayroon akong kopya ng ‘I Am a Cat’ ni Soseki Natsume, ngunit hindi ko pa nababasa kaya hindi ko alam kung maganda. Baka gusto mo rin syang isama sa iyong ‘reading list’
June 8th, 2012 at 18:10
Have you read the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon? Because I really think you’d like it. It’s funny, witty, and comes in cute bite-sized bits. Sample:
“A preacher ought to be good-looking. For, if we are properly to understand his worthy sentiments, we must keep our eyes on him when he speaks; should we look away, we may forget to listen. Accordingly an ugly preacher may well be the source of sin.”
June 8th, 2012 at 18:49
Um, do the books on amorous stories from the 17th century include stories of samurai and their male friends?
June 8th, 2012 at 21:43
Soseki Natsume also wrote the superb I Am A Cat. Also, The Pillow Book of Se Shonagon is a fabulous book by an extraordinary, brilliant woman. After I read it, Sei Shonagon became my all-time historical crush. (Apart from the Empress Theodora and Anne Frank.) There’s also a really good book by Donald Keene (I think…) called Japanese Portraits, in which he describes his meeting with Sada Abe as well as his interview with the actress who later played her in In The Realm Of The Senses.
It’s so exciting that you’re going to Japan! In some ways it it the spiritual home of every nerd.
I’ll be in Phil’s with my wife in October, so I’m hoping that if I eat at Greenhills often enough, eventually I’ll get to meet you.
June 9th, 2012 at 12:45
it’s not very clear, but the complete title is ‘rashomon and other stories.’
among the other stories is ‘in the grove,’ the best short story i’ve read in my entire life. i read detective stories and that story is the best detective story i know.
the movie rashomon is based more on ‘in the grove’ than in the ‘rashomon.’ the only contribution of the short story ‘rashomon’ to movie is the setting.
this is not to suggest ‘rashomon’ is not a good short story. only that ‘in the grove’ is better.
June 9th, 2012 at 13:28
The ladies of the Court. Where would literature be without them. Sei Shonagon. Murasaki Shikibu. Christine de Pisan. The “J” writer (Jahwist) who wrote the main thread of the Torah (But not Leviticus. Please. That one was written by a guy.)
That would be a plan—if we ate in Greenhills more than twice a year.
June 9th, 2012 at 13:30
No, but we’ve seen Pillow Book starring Ewan McGregor many, many times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKNlG9yWW6w
June 9th, 2012 at 20:56
Here’s a link to all the famous autumn viewing spots in Japan: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014_where.html
Btw, that is the best website/reference I’ve found on Japan.
June 9th, 2012 at 22:09
Heh, when I watched The Pillow Book I was a little disappointed that it didn’t have more to do with the actual book by Sei Shonagon, but in the end I did wind up liking the movie! (and not JUST for the naked Ewan McGregor. :P)
the chronicler of boredom: nope, those stories are in a different book, also published by Tuttle, by the title of “Comrade Loves of the Samurai”. I, ah, may know this because that that book is sitting on my shelf. :D
June 9th, 2012 at 22:26
The Japanese do not have hang-ups about their sexuality the way other cultures do.
All literary adaptations should star Ewan McGregor, save a fortune on wardrobe.