Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo

by Miyuki Miyabe, Daniel Huddleston (Translator)

In old Edo, the past was never forgotten. It lived alongside the present in dark corners and in the shadows. In these tales, award-winning author Miyuki Miyabe explores the ghosts of early modern Japan and the spaces of the living world—workplaces, families, and the human soul—that they inhabit. Written with a journalistic eye and a fantasist's heart, Apparitions brings the restless dead, and those who encounter them, to life. None

Genres: Horror, Japan, Short Stories, Japanese Literature, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghosts

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

See also 宮部 みゆき (Japanese language profile) and 宮部美幸 (Chinese language profile).

Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction.
Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

These 9 stories deliver exactly what the cover art and description promise. 18th century Edo, now Tokyo. Restless spirits. Oni. 10-14 year old apprentices, often orphaned and at the mercy of mercantile owners, housekeepers and the like. Shadowless persons who neither age nor die. Plus Miyabe's elegant, understated writing. These stories offer the presence of the supernatural in the tangible world. Some characters observe and interact with spirits, monsters, images; in other instances, otherworldly beings' actions reveal their presence. Still others are indicated by a smell, a reflection, the evil in one's own heart. When death occurs, it typically arrives off-screen, as it were.

My three favorites were, The Oni of the Adachi House, The Oni in the Autumn Rain, and the last of the collection: The Mussel Mound.

I doubt that I have finished a short story collection in the last decade. Were Apparitions not the subject of the Japanese Literature GR club discussion this month, I'd likely not have selected it and would have missed out on an excellent read somewhat out of my reading comfort zone. (Join the group and discussion if you're interested.) Plus, I'm now a Miyabe fangirl and will seek her novels next.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, look at that cover.



I truly love that cover. It’s wonderful and sets the exact right tone for me. Unfortunately the story that the cover is depicting is not in this collection, save for a half a page explanation of the artist and where the story came from at the end of the book. A shame, as it sounded quite interesting.

This is a collection of nine short stories all taking place in Edo era Japan. Those who are looking for samurai based ghost stories, much like those presented in the movie Kwaidan may be a little shocked to see that the stories are all contained to the literal Edo (Tokyo) area, and all these stories are from a working class presentation. If the story involves horror happening to the upperclass, it will always be from a worker observing the situation rather than moving stations. While it was not what I initially expected, I personally I found this a rather fascinating way of going about things.

The stories are of... mixed quality, to say the least, and as this is a collection it is probably best to post mini-reviews for each story to give a sense of what one is getting into. These will remain mostly spoiler free with only some vague bits of plot unless otherwise noted.

A Drowsing Dream of Shinju

I found this story slow going, but became so interested in the historic details that I honestly rather forgot it was a ghost story… until Ginji actually went into the house and then I’ll admit, it creeped the hell out of me. I consider myself a pretty seasoned horror veteran, but there was something about this one that got under my skin (I will also note now that it is the only story in the collection that I found genuinely creepy. This may be a personal thing, but those looking for outright frights may want to keep it in mind).

While I did enjoy the historic aspects, seeing a rather interesting slice of life from a worker at the time, I wish this hadn’t been the first story in the collection. As slow going as it was, I felt it didn’t set a proper tone to the book. I felt that way when I first read it and I still feel that way as none of the other stories seem quite as slow moving. Would have preferred it in the middle, but that may just be me.

Cage of Shadows

This was the opposite of the first story in that I found myself fascinated with it from the start and loved the structure of the narrator seemingly talking to you, but I didn’t find it in the least bit creepy.

This is the most like a European gothic of the stories in the collection, with noble characters imprisoned against their will, corrupt aristocratic characters (though yes, merchants in this case, but as noted above, all stories seem to be from a working class perspective) and from what we can gleam about the person our narrator is speaking to, a noble character out to gain the truth no matter what it might be. If only there was a castle and a translated manuscript, it could easily sit next to The Castle of Otranto and others of that style.

Looking at it as more of a gothic, and less of a traditional ghost story (there is a different flow to the two, thought they often overlap) this hits most of the cliches just with a changed setting. I really liked this spin on a well know tale and enjoyed it greatly. I also like the ambiguity... are we dealing with a ghost story, or an unreliable narrator? This question also puts you into the head of the character we the audience are playing (that of the inspector the narrator is talking to). All around, I found this a fun, structure for this story.

The Futon Storeroom

I don't mean this to sound like an insult, but did anyone else feel that this story suddenly shifted into a young adult style tale? I mean we had a plucky young character saved by the love of a sibling, and overcome monster that didn't exactly become a friend or anything, but went into speaking terms with her, and explained its actions. It felt much more like a fairy tale to me and I am genuinely interested if anyone else felt the same way on this one.

The story itself was rather nice.. bordering on heartwarming, and that says a bit coming from me. An interesting tonal change of pace given the grim nature of the last two stories, as it had more of a positive feel to it. All that said, I feel something got lost in translation. The nature of the evil spirit, and how the person still seemed in control seemed a bit odd to me and unexplained. It worked, but it left me with questions (such as why the girl needed to plant the branches from the sakaki tree in the room at night? What stopped the older woman from doing it herself? Did I just miss something?)

Overall I personally found this one a bit unsatisfying. I liked the fairy tale feel though I felt it was a strong tonal shift from what came in the book before it... *Shrug* I guess just couldn't get past the childish feel of this one. It seemed like such a drastic change compared to all that came before.

The Plum Rains Fall

One thing about the structure of the book that I feel I need to praise here is the introduction of the "49 days" in the previous story and that it comes into play again here. I like that we had it introduced previously and that it came back again directly into the next story. Though these are two very different stories, structurally they sit together perfectly.

Unfortunately, at least for me, I found this story painful to get through. I put it down three times as it just didn't hold my interest. I liked the period details, but I could praise that aspect of every story in the collection. That is about the only thing I can praise here, as it didn't come off as suspenseful, it was painfully predictable and overall it just felt like the sort of campfire story someone came up with spur of the moment and not an actual planned story to me. Easily the weakest in the collection.

The “Oni” of Adachi House

I really enjoyed this one. The concept of the Oni is unique and I like the idea that a seemingly unpleasant spirit would instead make a family thrive. In many ways the Oni seems closer to a Zashiki-warashi (a type of spirit that loves to play pranks, but can also bring good luck to a household).

This one brings an interesting change to our working class narrator, as we get the perspective of a woman married to the master of the house… yet she still started off as a maid, so even when we go to an upper-class narrator, we still get the workman-like background.

One of the longest stories in the collection, it still was a nice change of pace after the short, but painful previous tale. This one takes off with an interesting start and remains fascinating throughout. This is another one that has an almost fairy tale like quality to it (a creature that brings a family good fortune and a young maid who manages to move up in her position). It also plays an interesting contrast between the narrator and the maid who previously watched the old mistress (we’re to feel fine about the narrator moving up in her station because she is pure hearted, whereas the previous maid, detecting the oni as a terrible smell is shown to disregard rules of station).

A Woman’s Head

Okay, I apologize, but I just found this story funny. I was rather shocked to see when I glanced at the reviews that someone said this story was the scariest story in the collection, and I will respectfully disagree. The thought of the paper face, with sharp teeth, trying to just chew on the boy’s head is a visual that comes off less terrifying and more like a cartoonish horror moment.

This may be the most unique case in the book as, while our narrator wants to work, this is the only story where the main character is not exactly working class. Given his situation, the apprentice isn’t even an accurate way to describe him, and feels almost tacked on to keep this connection going.

Structurally, much like “The Futon Storeroom” this one felt more like a young adult story.Unlike "The Futon Storeroom" this one didn't have the heartwarming charm... instead it including a laughable monster and quite possibly the most ridiculous way of beating it I’ve read.

The Oni in the Autumn Rain

And after one of the most ridiculous stories comes easily my favorite in the whole collection. This is a wonderful ambiguous story. I can't even hardly talk about it without spoilers, so I will truly try to keep this vague. This isn't a ghost story, yet it is still very much an an ambiguous horror story. The horror doesn't come from the violence or the "monster" but in the tension of the dialogue and all it implies. While this is a bit of a spoiler, and thus will be marked accordingly, one detail I absolutely love, but only realized in retrospect after reading is that the only initial sign of violence is the metallic smell, which at one point I recall seems to be coming from O-Tsuta's breath... even her words reek of violence.

Ash Kagura

This one felt like Miyabe started a horror novel and decided to give up after the opening chapter. There is a set-up for a story that never fully happens, with backstories for characters hinted at, but never fully revealed and a ghostly presence that seemingly has no motivation but makes vague comments. Even the last line makes it sound as if the events are only about to begin. Overall it feels so unfinished that I don’t know quite what to make of it. It's a nice start... I just wish there was a full story.

The Mussel Mound

This has a great set-up and is quite intriguing from the get-go. The actual aspect of the mussels seems bizarre as the story seems trying to explain a mussel shrine, but the actual supernatural part has nothing to do with mussels. It feels like the author was going for one thing, changed the story, but decided to leave the mussel bit tacked on, which makes the entire thing feel a bit awkward. If it would have just focused on these mysterious workers, it would be a much more coherent story. There would still be room for unanswered questions (which in a story like this works well) but the added explanation of the mussels just feels so odd. I understand trying to keep the period setting, but it feels so unnecessary. This is also another of the weaker stories, and feels a poor one to close the book with.

So to conclude things; you can see I have mixed thoughts. Some of the stories were pretty great (such as The Oni in the Autumn Rain) but others are just dreadful. The stories range in quality so much that it would be hard for me to suggest it to anyone as a whole collection, yet individual stories are so brilliant that I really want them to be read. The most interesting aspects as a whole are the period details, but in some cases I feel they take away from the stories as a whole (particularly The Mussel Mound, which looses tension and focus due to giving those period details)

Overall I would rank the stories as follows (from best to worst): The Oni in the Autumn Rain, The “Oni” of Adachi House, Cage of Shadows, A Drowsing Dream of Shinju, The Futon Storeroom, Ash Kagura , The Mussel Mound, A Woman’s Head, The Plum Rains Fall

[Nancy Oakes]

I'm thinking 3.5 stars, maybe like 3.4 -- I'll have to give this some thought.


Oh dear. This book started off so nicely, but by the time I got to story #7 out of 9, I was ready for it to be over. It could have ended with story #6 (which was downright creepy) and I would have been so much happier, but alas, it was not to be and so I'm leaving this book less than enthused. That's a shame, really.

Anyway, everyone in my house is FINALLY back to normal after 4 very, very long weeks, so I'll be posting about this book shortly.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo is a very lovely collection of nine horror stories.
Ok, but is “ lovely “ even the right word to describe horror stories ? Yes, if you ask me. I have been, after all, a lifelong horror fan. And perhaps also yes, If we are talking about these nine tales set in the 18th century Edo, Japan.

What I love the most about the stories is that there is a quality of historical fiction to them.
Miyabe takes her time to introduce us to the local businesses in Edo, to familiarize us with the daily grind of the working class in the 18th century Japan, and to dissect the relationship between the “Masters “ and the workmen/housemaids. She weaves all the historical backgrounds into the stories with such ease and skill that it creates an immersive experience that made me forget I was reading stories from centuries ago in a faraway land.
As Masao Higashi so eloquently puts in the introduction: “Miyabe’s stories engender a powerful feeling of immediacy—if we really try to put ourselves in the place where the story unfolds, the sense of distance when the characters move about and the feel of the air that envelops the world of the story both come alive in such vivid intensity and intimacy that the reader is enticed into a vicarious experience transcending the ages.”

What’s also unique about the stories are that instead of the cold and sinister atmosphere that almost always permeates works of horror, the narration is calm and understated. There is almost no heavy-handed foreshadowing or mood building.
You will encounter monsters, ghosts and evil spirits( oni, mononoke etc), however there are barely any gory descriptions you might expect in Western horror, instead the monsters mostly linger in the background like elusive wisps of smoke and only takes shape very very briefly.
I somehow find this minimalistic approach adds a layer of mystery to the stories.

Ok back to the stories being “ lovely”.
I think they are lovely because in most of the stories it’s the evil that is being haunted and punished and a few of the tales actually have heartwarming endings.
In a sense, they are reminiscent of the the folklores that adults told me when I was little.

This is a book that I enjoyed immensely, and I recommend it to all the horror fans who are looking for something a little different.
I read it along side with Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio ( 聊斋志异) by Pu Songling, a true Asian horror OG from Qing dynasty China.
The two books pair very nicely.

P.S. thank you Ana!

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richly detailed stories of the supernatural set in Japan’s Bunka era (1804 to 1818 with occasional flashbacks to the previous century). All the stories share a common theme: working conditions and employment practices of the time that are related to domestic servitude or apprenticeships lead to encounters with ghosts and demons.

Unfortunately, the first 2-3 stories are probably the least interesting, but I liked the others very much. Here’s how I would order them all, best to worst: "The ‘Oni’ of the Adachi House," "The Oni in the Autumn Rain," "A Woman’s Head," "Ash Kagura," "The Futon Storeroom," "The Mussel Mound,” “The Plum Rains Fall,” “A Drowsing Dream of Shinjū,” and “Cage of Shadows."

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, atmospheric ghost stories, taking place in historic Japan and using many legends of the era. There's little in the way of gore, and the tone is more hopeful than in most Western ghost stories. Kindness, forgiveness, and generosity are rewarded; selfishness will only lead to ruin. Nihilism has no home here.
The book gets a little samey, but it is of high quality the whole way through. I tore through it in a day, but going through at a more measured pace (like a story per day) might be a better way. Still, any way you read this is a good way. It's "A Beginner's Guide to J-Horror" in the best way.

[Aleksandra Gratka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doskonale zrównoważone: dreszczyk emocji, wiedza na temat japońskich wierzeń i przyjemność czytelnicza.

[Li Ya 🪷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naprawdę przyjemna książka, opowiadania są ciekawe i naprawdę mają swój klimacik grozy. Myślę, że czytanie jej w okresie jesiennym byłoby bardziej odpowiednie, ale no trudno. Lekki zbiorek kaidan, który można przeczytać zdecydowanie szybciej niż w miesiąc (buuuu)

[Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Japanese horror ranges pretty heavily from mild ghost stories to some incredibly creepy and dehumanizing body horror. Apparitions fortunately falls into the former citatory, chronicling a series of stories that walk a fine line between scary and sentimental. These tales capitalize on the cornerstone of Japanese spirituality: that every object and creature is imbued with a sprit. At their core, these stories are more cautionary tales, advising the listener to act with honor and respect or risk the wrath of the Kami.

Apparitions consists of nine stories, all of which take place what would be ‘middle-class’ households in Edo-period Japan. The stories are as much historical as they are fantasy or horror, and these historical elements set the tone for the whole collection. The book is steeped in nostalgia, and a longing for simpler times when people were held accountable, not only for their actions, but for their attitude and personal honor. It’s through this sepia colored lens that these ayakashi, or spirits, emerge into view.

One of the things I really like about classic Japanese ghost stories is the sense of justice to them. It goes back to that Shinto spiritualism, demanding respect of nature and your relationships with those around you. When you are out of balance, bad things happen to you. One story in particular, ‘The Futon Storeroom,’ is a very touching tale of two sisters’ love for each other transcending death and protecting each other from a malicious spirit. Which is not to say that good behavior is a guarantee of safety, but that is a sort of supernatural logic behind the hauntings.

In spite of the Japanese setting and origins, Apparitions actually shares a lot of storytelling tropes with classic western horror. The aura of suspense and palpable fear of the unknown are both felt through many of the vignettes. Miyabe also borrows directly from western classics, evoking the imagery of Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Madam Crowl’s Ghost” and J.D. Beresford’s “The Misanthrope.” On a totally unrelated note, a big ‘thank you’ to my cousin Alex, whose book recommendations and random ramblings have given me all my current knowledge about western horror and gothic fiction.

At the same time, Miyabe’s style is clearly Japanese. The light characterization of many of the characters, and their seeming interchangeability are hallmarks of Japanese fiction. How you act is more important that who you are. The ‘horror’ aspects are also very light. While there are some visceral thrills in the later stories, the first few focus more on atmosphere and storytelling than single scary moment. The first story, ‘A Drowsing Dream of Shinju,’ in particular takes a long time to set up without a big payoff.

This Japanese style extends to some odd quirks of Japanese language that haven’t quite been translated out in this version of the book. Huddleston’s translation is excessively liberal, leaving place names untranslated and leaving in suffixes that denote location or feature. As an example, on the first page, he uses the word ‘Abura-cho’ which would have been better translated as either “Abura Town,” or “the town of Abura.” At no point are these suffixes clarified or explained, leaving readers unfamiliar with Japanese syntax out in the cold. This kind of sloppy translation is simply not sufficient for a mass-market release. It works against the quality of the original writing and undermines comprehension in the process.

For better or for worse, Apparitions doesn’t get a full recommendation from me. Part of that is due to the shoddy translation, but another minor problem is that many of the stories feel overly similar. The bland protagonists and the somewhat universal setting detract from the detailed enjoyment of the individual stories. Still, if you’re a fan of gothic fiction and want to try something a little different, Miyabe has a subtle touch and a skilled eye for detail that can make Apparitions: Ghosts of Old Edo a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hovers between the 3 and 3.5 star mark.

This collection of stories is very beautifully written (and well translated, it appears), giving it the feeling and gothic sensibilities of older youkai story collections like Kwaidan. Many of them are quite subtle, and the best ones manage to be both creepy and heartwarming.

For me, the majority of the stories were well constructed and interesting, but relatively unmemorable. There are three that I really enjoyed and will remember; 'The Futon Storeroom', 'The 'Oni' of the Adachi House' (really I would've loved a novella or novel-length version of this story), and 'A Woman's Head'. Out of the others 'Ash Kagura' had potential but was ultimately too short and went nowhere; the spirit's origins were not explained and it was dispatched very easily.

However, if you're a fan of Japanese horror and particularly ghost stories, I would advise you to pick this up and give it a chance. I am considering looking for a budget copy purely for the three best stories, the rest will be a bonus.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because it is a very solid and enjoyable collection, in that all the stories worked for me. Horror doesn't scare me easily, but I was afraid to read this, based on other Japanese horror stories I've read or consumed (the Ghost Hunt anime is super creepy and I periodically rewatch it for a good scare). Some of the stories were actually very frightening, like “A Woman's Head”, and others were of the disturbing variety, like “Cage of Shadows”. On the whole, these are ghost stories that say a lot about human relationships and so, to me, many of the stories were heart-warming, like “The Futon Storeroom”, or carried a good emotional punch, like “The Plum Rains Fall”. A+ would recommend, whether you are into horror or not.

[Sandra || Tabibito no hon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krótkim słowem wstępu - książka, w której kreacja wszystkich elementów pozostaje na równym poziomie, wobec czego nie trzeba przywiązywać się do bohaterów by mieć radość z lektury, co jest ogromnym atutem dla antologii. Autorka zręcznie tworzy mieszankę obyczajowych historii, horroru, mitologii, społecznych problemów i uszczypliwości. Jak to pięknie smakuje. Klimat jest wspaniały.

To był bardzo dobry zbiór opowiadań, który trzymał poziom od pierwszego do ostatniego. Zapoznawałam się z nimi stopniowo i naprawdę nie jestem pewna czy potrafię wytypować najlepsze lub najgorsze. Do takich moich prywatnych ulubieńców na pewno zaliczam Głowę kobiety, ponieważ przysparza najwięcej niespodzianek i jest bogate w treść jak na tak krótki utwór. Z kolei moją najmniejszą sympatię zyskało opowiadanie otwierające, czyli Sen o podwójnym samobójstwie - nie mam wobec niego żadnych konkretnych zarzutów, po prostu nie trafiło do mnie na tyle co pozostałe, bardziej nie spodobała mi się sama historia aniżeli to jak została napisana.

Chciałabym zwrócić uwagę w jak piękny sposób autorka operuje słowem, opowiadania są napisane w pięknym stylu i widać, że autorka zręcznie w nich eksperymentuje, jak na przykład w przypadku Klatki cieni, gdzie przedstawiła je w formie zapisu jednostronnego dialogu, w którym jeden z rozmówców we własnych odpowiedziach naprowadza czytelnika na to co mówi drugi. To opowiadanie było dla mnie chyba najciekawiej zobrazowane.

Te historie w gł��wnej mierze dotyczą kobiet, ich krzywdy i chęci odwetu. Są bogate w inspiracje folklorystyczne, przykładowo w opowiadaniu Głowa kobiety zobrazowałam sobie Nukekubi, ale sama nie wiem na ile jest to poprawne skojarzenie. Mnóstwo tu ciekawych elementów, naprawdę warto to przeczytać. Kocham japońską kulturę.

Ten zbiór to horror, ale nie jest krwawy i krzykliwy, określiłabym to śmielszym podejściem niż w przypadku Opowiadań ze świątyni Sei’a, gdzie ten klimat niepokoju był raczej niewinny, tutaj jest bardziej odczuwalny i wyobraźnia ma więcej do roboty, jest na tyle dobrze wyważony by nie przerażać, ale zalążek strachu zostawić - a na dodatek autorka przemyca w nim wyżej wspomniane problemy społeczne. Wartościowy zbiór, marzy mi się więcej od autorki.

Patrząc na okładkę już można odczytać jakież to będzie klimatyczne, z pewnością polecam wszystkim fanom tematyki yōkai czy choćby anime typu Kimetsu no Yaiba - chociaż jak dla mnie to uczta na wyższym poziomie.

Pamiętajcie jednak, że to pozycja, która może otworzyć oczy na bogactwo japońskiej twórczości, dlatego każdy spragniony niebanalnej obyczajówki fantasty z namiastką demoniczności powinien bez wahania po to sięgnąć.

Ode mnie 8/10. Bardzo mi się podobało i to zdecydowanie (na ten moment) moja ulubiona książka od wydawnictwa Kirin!

Książkę przeczytałam w ramach współpracy barterowej z wydawcą.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jag tyckte mycket om denna novellsamling av Miyuki Miyabe. Alla berättelser utspelar sig i 1800-talets Japan, närmare bestämt Tokyo, som på den tiden hette Edo. Berättelserna är spökhistorier som bygger på japansk vidskepelse och folktro. De är också, tagna tillsammans, en skildring av hur det japanska samhället såg ut på den tiden. Huvudpersonerna är oftast tjänstefolk anställda och det är deras livsvillkor som beskrivs, både i form av arbetsvillkor, normer och värderingar samt relationen till arbetsgivarna. I vissa fall är det arbetsgivarnas liv som är fokus för en berättelse, men då är det fortfarande någon ur tjänstefolket som är berättelsens fokalisator, (för att använda en narratologisk term). Precis som i sagor finns det ofta en sensmoral vars syfte är att bekräfta en norm/värdering som hör till den tid och det samhällsskikt som skildras. Sensmoralen uttrycks ofta både implicit (genom vilka karaktärer det går bra för och vilka det slutar illa för) och explicit, genom en karaktärs tankar eller ord.

[Nahida Parvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like one thing about Miyuki Miyabe the most. Her stories are simple to catch yet you would find one solid message if you look hard for it. She writes mainly thriller books. Apparitions: Ghost of Edo is not an exception here. But the book actually contains some short stories. The stories are mysterious & can really capture your attention. In their mysteries, all the stories try to reflect the dark side of human nature.
From all these short stories the one i liked most is titled "The Oni of the Adachi House". That particular story makes me wonder what would be if i really could see my trueself in the form of an Oni.
(This is not a review. More of like what i felt after completing the book)

[Sameer Khan Brohi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a fine read. I liked the way how writer narrated his thoughts but at the same time I didn’t much admire the fact that he made the antagonist too gory and abusive and overly pain in the head.

[Hesper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have written this right after finishing, rather than depending on chaotic scribbles on the back of an ILL receipt, but here I am. Anyway.

These stories weren't what I expected, at least not entirely. While the supernatural features prominently, which is exactly what I was hoping for, they read more like historical fiction, which I didn't expect, and which is a combination that works exceedingly well. Each story also weaves in sharp social commentary to one degree or another, and in the case of the two oni stories ("The Oni of the Adachi House" and "The Oni in the Rain"), it's deployed to perfection.

I wasn't as enchanted with "A Woman's Head." It felt clumsy in comparison to the others, but that may be because it has the most predictable plot. (But. It is partially redeemed by its one stray mention of kabocha cooked with sake, which I looked up and made, and it is fucking delicious!)

The literary shenanigans award, however, goes to "Ash Kagura." At first it seemed like a fragment of a longer work, but I think the insubstantial quality of the central haunting is the entire point of the story. Men like the detective, implied to be a reformed murderer himself, get to dominate the narrative, while the usually female victims meet with unfortunate ends, leaving behind more questions than answers. And that's a pretty cool way of addressing the issue.

All in all, a great story collection.

[Dominique Lamssies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, disclaimer: Japanese ghost stories are automatically the best things I've ever read, so any book that features them starts at the top. Period ghost stories just means it's a little harder to make it NOT the best thing I've ever read.

That said, while this book is very good, it didn't blow me away. First off, I was a little disappointed by the broadness of the title. "Ghosts of old Edo" suggests that we will hear all kinds of stories from the areas of Edo, which was growing at the time the book takes place. But it's not. All the stories are about people working in factories in one district of Edo, only. For people who may not know much about Tokyo, that's probably not a big deal. But were there no other people doing other things in other parts of Edo? Miyabe herself, while a very good writer, has a very narrow focus for her work (Anything that's not fantasy is set in this area of Tokyo, regardless of time period. You can write what you know, but have you never been to another part of Tokyo? Or Japan?).

That, really, is a personal taste quible because the book is still very good. Her prose is beautiful and marvelously evocative of the Japanese spirit world and how it interacts with the world of the living. The stories are written the way it seems only the Japanese can write them nowadays, genuinly disturbing and genuinly touching.

Read this book because J-Horror is not just about girls with hair in their faces crawling out of things. Though I, personally, am partial to that too.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story, “A Drowning Dream of Shinju”, was about the curse of tea towels and lovers, double suicides and jealousy/betrayal. It was set from the perspective of a viewer of the events that transpire. He has a dream, a prophetic telling, of possible events.
“Cage of Shadows” was disturbing. Mostly because it showed the true horror humans are capable of. This story is once again told from a viewer’s perspective… sort of. It’s complicated to explain without spoiling everything.
“The Futon Storeroom” was one of my personal favorites. I’m fascinated by Oni and this was the first story of the book that mentioned them. The title sounds silly, but it was such a good story about loss, greed, and being steadfast in yourself. This story was a first hand account of events, in the POV of a young girl who experiences things firsthand.
“The Plum Rains Fall” was a lovely story, reminiscent in ways to “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is a story about guilt, penance, and forgiveness. While not a scary story, it does deal with the repercussions of dealing with a higher power, and then living with those repercussions.
“The “Oni” of the Adachi House” caused me to remember another story I have read called “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin. It takes a genuinely good author to make the reader feel sympathy for a demon, and that’s what this story did. It also reminded the reader about the complexity of humans and life in general. I very much enjoyed this story.
“A Woman’s Head” was what I would call a classic horror story. It followed the same cadence of traditional stories with the difference being the cultural and time-era changes of the story. I enjoyed it.
“The Oni in the Autumn Rain” came across as a fairytale of old brought into a modern retelling. Very brothers Grimm. A young woman is being led down a new path by a love interest and a demon gives her advice. I very much enjoyed the story. The pacing suited me better than the others in the book.
“Ash Kagura”: why did O-Koma attack Zenkichi? This story is an investigation into just that. It wasn’t my favorite story in the book. By all accounts, it seems like a story I would enjoy but I found it dissatisfying.
“The Mussel Mound” is the last story in the book and in short is about when people tell you to pretend you didn’t notice anything, sometimes it’s best to heed that advice.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. A lot of the stories started slow, but most of them ended in a way that I liked. I read about a short story after one or two books so it took a bit of time to get through the book. I have no regrets. While the book wasn’t scary or spooky, it was interesting to read a book and be absorbed in a book filled with a culture I am unfamiliar with.

[Szuwaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wziąłem się za tą książkę dzisiaj i tak mnie wciągnęła, że dzisiaj też skończyłem. Od razu mogę powiedzieć, że jeśli ktoś lubi literaturę grozy/niesamowitą i klimaty dawnej Japonii, to raczej będzie to dobry wybór.

Jest to zbiór dziewięciu historii mających miejsce w Edo (ob. Tokio) za panowania siogunów z rodu Tokugawa (1603-1868). Poza setkami tysięcy mieszkańców, miasto zamieszkują również liczne tajemnice i nadnaturalne zjawiska, które w ten czy inny sposób wpływają na bohaterów opowiadań. Wśród nich są oczywiście nawiedzenia, opętania, zemsty zza grobu... Motywy dość klasyczne, ale podane w ciekawy sposób. Bardzo często zamieszane są w nie odrzucone i wykorzystane kochanki, służki, czy po prostu kobiety, których pozycja w tak patriarchalnym społeczeństwa pozostawiała im niewiele możliwości na odegranie się czy walkę o swoje.

Opowiadania stoją na różnym, choć całkiem niezłym poziomie. Co ciekawe nie wszystkie kończą się tragicznie, ba, w przypadku niektórych nawet mamy dobre zakończenie. Podobały mi się w zasadzie wszystkie, ale najbardziej "Klatka cieni" (opowieść subiekta, który relacjonuje tragedię swojego pracodawcy i jego rodziny) - zwłaszcza sposób podania i twist na końcu.

Jak już mówiłem, jeśli ktoś lubi tego typu literaturę i klimaty, myślę że się nie rozczaruje. Ja osobiście polecam

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine mysterious stories of the supernatural. Old-timey Japanese horror stories.

In some of the stories the supernatural creatures were gentle rather than spooky, but a couple of the stories were quite scary.

I was kept awake last night by one particularly creepy story, "A Woman's Head". Not only was it truly scary, but it also had parts that were heart-warming, and one scene that was downright adorable. The protagonist's mother had some quirky habits, but when the reason for her strange behavior was finally revealed, it was so sweet and touching.

Like all good story-tellers, the author has made some keen observations about life and humans and nature. Simple truths about the world and the daily life of working-class people.

I also enjoyed the language of the stories. I'm not sure if the credit should be shared between the original author and the translator, but there were several times when I laughed with delight, purely at the construction of a sentence.

I wasn't that impressed with the first couple stories, but the stories at the end of the book were very strong. I borrowed this book from the library, but I'm going to buy my own copy because I really enjoyed it.

[kaniav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dziewięć strasznych historii osadzonych w dawnym Edo.

Są to czasy samurajów, które nie były łaskawe dla kobiet. Sprowadzane do roli służących, obiektów seksualnych czy dekoracji. Mężczyźni nadużywali swoje pozycje, a kobiety nie miały jak dochodzić do sprawiedliwości, przynajmniej za życia. Nic dziwnego, więc że w opowieściach o duchach, które uwielbiali mieszkańcy Edo, upiorami stawały się skrzywdzone kobiety.

Często w takich antologiach jedna historia jest ciekawsza, a inne słabsze. Ciesze się, że każda z historii pozostawiała takie same ciarki na ciele. Historie straszne i ciekawe. Chce się czytać dalej, mimo że treść przeraża. Uwielbiam też to, że dzięki przypisom można dowiedzieć się więcej o kulturze.

Jest to jedna z książek, gdzie kobiety mszczą się za całe zło, które je spotkało, ale tym razem nie w swojej postaci. Tutaj przychodzą, jako duchy, już po śmierci. Chcą dać lekcje swoim oprawcom i w końcu uzyskać sprawiedliwość.

Nigdy nie czytałam antologii, ale tę z całego serca mogę polecić. Jeśli ktoś lubi klimaty azjatyckie i fantastyczne to z pewnością mu się spodoba 💗

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5

[Serena W. Sorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine stories that are all a bit chilling and creepy and oh, so accurately Edo period.

These are perfect examples of the Japanese open- ending or vague-ending, not to mention the beliefs and superstitions that ran the time.

Miyuki Miyabe is a great writer and she knows her audience and craft. Brave Story is still the end all be all novel, but if you’re looking for something shorter and more digestible these short stories of creepiness and murder and demons is where to start.

A word on the translation itself: really spot on in places, but leaving distances in their old Japanese was a bit “meh”. If you aren’t going to translate some terms the reader still needs to know what these mean. That’s what footnotes are for. Use them.

[Jeffrey Powanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant 2000 collection of nine ghost stories set in 18th Century Japan from bestselling writer Miyabe, whose Puppet Master mystery novels are currently being adapted for an upcoming Netflix series. These supernatural folktales are character-driven, psychologically complex, atmospheric, and historically detailed, particularly in their depiction of the emerging mercantile class of the Edo period. Miyabe's prose is fluid and elegant, and the horror is always stylish and evocative.

Apparitions is my favorite book of 2022 so far. My favorite story in the collection is "A Woman's Head," about a young apprentice at a Tokyo accessories shop who encounters the spirit of a woman's severed head in the shop's storage room.

[Barrita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adoro a Miyuki Miyabe pero estos relatos me parecieron aburridos, repetitivos y acartonados. El ambiente es muy interesante pero no lo sentí real y vivo como esperaba.

Entiendo que el tipo de narración y las decisiones estilísticas estan influenciadas por el periodo que intentan abarcar pero no es la lectura más inmersiva.

Lo que si me gustó fue que muchas de estas "apariciones" son astutas y engañosas pero no necesariamente benignas o malignas. Hay una especie de picardía detrás de sus conductas y aunque a veces quieren trasmitir un mensaje, este suele ser críptico y tiene más sentido solo hasta el final.

[Lourdes Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokyo is considered one of the most modern cities, not a lot of people know it by its old name: Edo. This book gives glimpses of a time before anime, robots and people-filled crossings, a time where mononoke and obake sightings are common, and a time of gentle nature worships. These stories are filled with ghosts and spirits but will not leave you with fear or worry, more of nostalgia and a warm unexplainable feeling remains after each story is read.

This books is highly recommended to anyone who has been fascinated by the Land of the Rising Sun~~~

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly Good

There's something simple about the way these stories are told that I didn't find entirely pleasing. But they're good little stories, except for the last one which was undeliciously weird. Centering the ghost stories around low status workers and employment agencies gave these stories their very own quality, and it also made them feel connected to each other even though they were not. We usually think of ghosts as bothering or being the remains of the well-to-do. That I liked.

[mysilicielka · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Ayashi. Tajemnicze opowieści z Edo” to zbiór opowiadań w głównej mierze o kobietach, ich bezsilności, gniewie i sposobach zemsty. Postawione w sytuacji bez wyjścia nie zamierzają milczeć. Świat przedstawiony jest bogaty w nadprzyrodzone stworzenia, ale to ludzie odgrywają najważniejszą rolę. Niektóre opowiadania czytało mi się lepiej, inne gorzej, ale żadne nie wyróżniło się jakoś szczególnie. Historie są dosyć proste, klasyczne. Myślę, że książka spodoba się czytelnikom, których interesuje mitologia i dawna Japonia.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each tale in this collection is unique and they are all so fun and haunting! Some are intensely creepy, others are fun ghost stories that won't keep you up at night. The style is immersive and full of much more detail than American folk tales tend to have. Each one takes its time drawing you in and setting the stage before sending a shiver down your spine. I want to find more collections like these!

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives you a set of different Japanese ghost stories. Most of the stories are entertaining and intriguing, and give off a different atmosphere between each of them. I personally loved it but there are a few stories that I did find boring. However I feel that some of the better stories balanced that out, so I recommend it.

[Pulpist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book of short stories featuring Japanese ghosts from centuries ago. The tropes of Japanese ghost stories are very different from Western ghost stories in such a way that sometimes you are baffled. All in all, this is a very satisfying book that opens a window into the life and the horrors of Old Japan.