Review | The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories
For the past month or so, I’ve been working my way through The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories, edited/translated by Jay Rubin and introduced by Haruki Murakami.
This is a massive (!) collection of stories that covers a diverse range of genres within Japanese literature (both classic and modern). The introduction by Haruki Murakami that both summarizes and provides useful context around each entry. I’ll highlight my favorites from certain chapters (no spoilers):
Japan and the West
• “The Story of Tomoda and Matsunaga” by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki: A very entertaining Jekyll and Hyde-like story that opens the collection. The premise of the story was mystifying and its characters held your attention with their eccentric personalities. Definitely a page-turner.
Loyal Warriors
• “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima: Absolutely haunting. Visceral. I can’t think of the last time that a story legitimately left me feeling horrified due to its intensity — not to mention that it’s based on real-life events. It gave me a new sense of respect (if not revulsion) for the ethics and resolve of samurai.
Nature and Memory
• “The Tale of the House of Physics” by Yōko Ogawa: Although I found the storyline to be a bit strange, one of the characters stood out to me as being really special and symbolic for those who are outcast and/or misunderstood by society.
• “Unforgettable People” by Doppo Kunikida: Simply put, it makes you think about the encounters you have in your life and some of the unlikely oddities that remain in the corners of your mind through the years.
Dread
• “Filling Up with Sugar” by Yūten Sawanishi: Although on the absurd side of the spectrum, this was a surprisingly saddening read that made me think deeply about — and appreciate — the relationship I have with my parents as they and I both age.
Disasters, Natural and Man-Made
• “Insects” by Yūichi Seirai: Set in Nagasaki, this is a story revolving around raw emotion, spanning from terror to love, jealousy, and loss. It’s the combination of unrequited love and life-shattering effects that the atomic bombing had on the main character, as well as her family, friends and larger community. Many components of the story come together to create a unique web of sentimental details and memories.
• “American Hijiki” by Akiyuki Nosaka: I admired the way that this story described and demonstrated the complex relationship that many Japanese who lived through Occupation have with American people and culture. It mixes a modern story (which, against all odds, is often filled with hilarious tidbits) with postwar memories and gives the reader a firsthand account of the inner struggles of the main character, an individual whose struggles and losses represent those of many.
- “Planting” by Aoko Matsuda: A brief allegorical entry describing the psychological toll taken on those who survived the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and their emotional efforts to move on with their lives with purpose.
To check out the full review and see what else I’m reading, find me on Goodreads.
