Castaways: Two Short Novels

by Masuji Ibuse, Antonín Líman (Translator), David Aylward (Translator)

Based strictly on historical fact, the longer of these two stories is the tale of an illiterate boy from a remote fishing village in southern Japan, whose boat is blown off course in a storm in 1841. Rescued by a Yankee whaling ship, he is taken off to see a world far wider than his fellow countrymen could ever have imagined, and after years abroad--via the goldfields of California and Hawaii--he returns home in triumph.

Genres: Japan, Japanese Literature

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Masuji Ibuse (井伏 鱒二) was a Japanese novelist.

At Waseda University, Ibuse was greatly influenced by the works of Shakespeare and Basho; he was also an avid reader of French fiction and poetry. Ibuse went as far as to pawn a watch to try to understand the necessities of writers.

In 1918 Ibuse met naturalist writer Iwano Homei. Homei's literature was appealing to Ibuse and would later influence some of Ibuse's literary works. Ibuse befriended student Aoki Nampachi in Waseda, Aoki was a mentor and a great influence in the writings of Ibuse, Aoki's influence can be found in The Carp, where Ibuse ideolizes Aoki's friendship and represents his feelings towards this friendship in a carp. Ibuse started writing his first essays in 1922, shortly after the death of Aoki. Ibuse often found inspiration in his loneliness and in his encounters with geishas, his first literary works where in the style of prose, he had severed ties with Waseda University and started writing for small magazines.

One of Ibuse's first contributions was for the magazine Seiki, it was originally written for Aoki in 1919 and titled The Salamander, in 1923 it was renamed Confinement.

Ibuse was known and appreciated for most of his career, although it wasn't until after the war that he became famous. In 1966 he published his most well known work, Black Rain, which won him international acclaim and several awards including the Noma Prize and the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Japanese author. The novel draws its material from the bombing of Hiroshima with the title referring to the nuclear fallout. Ibuse was not present at the time of the bombing, but uses the diaries of survivors to construct his narrative. His earlier story Kakitsubata (The Crazy Iris, first published in 1951) deals with similar themes.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[John Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two brilliant novels in one. The first, A Geisha Remembers, is a memoir from Oshima as she recounts her life and her love for a prominent General who was reknown for his western military displays. The Shogunate at the time were very wary of anything non Japanese and imprison him and his friends. Oshima dreams of seeing him again. The prose was sparse, very subtly moving and a very interesting period in history. The second novel follows the true story of a group of Japanese castaways, particularly Manjiro, who end up being rescued by Americans and are away from Japan for many years. Manjiro ends up living in the States and gains a western education before they make a perilous return to their home country. The novel continues until the point of Japan “opening up" to the outside world, and Manjiro plays an important role as interpreter between the two very different cultures. Two really well written novels. I will be reading Ibuses Black Rain for sure

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both stories were good. Very different in style though. The first story, A Geisha Remembers, read almost like a text book due to the multitude of names dates and places. The second, Jon Manjiro was closer to a middle or high school reading level. I'm not familiar enough yet with Ibuse to know if this was due to the way he wrote or if it is due to the translators. Each story used a different translator. I have noticed that translators can make an enormous difference though. I've read authors such as Ibuse and Mishima translated by John Bester and then translated by other people and the stuff by Bester is by far a more enjoyable read. The other renditions just fall flat next to his.
All and all though this was a pleasant read.It is a nice look at historical Japan and entertaining at the same time.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two unique twists on the theme of castaways (literally and figuratively) as well as actual Japanese history.

"A Geisha Remembers" is a love story. Told from the geisha's perspective of her politically torn off affection for a soldier, while also following scenes from the Meiji period. I liked the direction the ending took

"John Manjiro" follows a fisherman who, through his castaway experience, winds up on a journey aboard foreign ships, America and to Japan. Based on an actual person, Ibuse adds some fictional detail to flesh it out into a full story. This was my favorite based on how coincidental this story of East-West reconcilliation was written years before Pearl Harbor and WWII.