The Flower Mat

by Shūgorō Yamamoto, Mihoko Inoue (Translator), Eileen B. Hennessy (Translator)

Set in eighteenth-century Japan, The Flower Mat unravels the story of a young bride born into a traditional family, groomed in the virtues of ideal womanhood, and finally tempered in tragedy brought about by political intrigue. Readers everywhere will find this a solid account of personal development and responsibility in the life of one Japanese woman.

Genres: Japanese Literature, Historical Fiction, Japan, Fiction, 18th Century, Literature, Asian Literature

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ichi's young and pregnant in 1760s Japan. The in-laws are adorable: Mum's not at all a Nazi, brother#1 is fat and sweet and dreams of being a farmer, brother#2 is cheeky and cute and dreams of being a less lowly civil servant. Ichi's husband shares this dream. He is a big wheel in a plot to uncover corruption and win some of the juicy jobs in local government. Fortunately, he's not too busy to be caring to his wife and give her a mind-clearing orgasm on page 37.

Fun times.

Then it starts getting a bit less believable. With Bad Samurai in hot pursuit, Ichi waddles to safety whilst having her baby. She settles down near a place that produces flower mats. Everyone agrees that these flower mats are a bit naff. Ichi works there and has the dream of producing flower mats that aren't crap. She succeeds. The owner of the flower mat place is totally nuts. He tries to seduce Ichi. The first time it is a harmless 1760s Japanese attempted seduction. The second time it's a really weird "take me dancing naked in the rain" seduction. Ichi freaks out. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU1eG8GW3XU.

Less fun.

Then it starts getting a lot more Japanese. The scene in the flood was a total shock. I was settling for some heroics. I was ready to feel really sad but really uplifted. Read it to believe it.

After the flood, Ichi swoons a lot. Then she does important stuff that brings the story to a conclusion. But then she's swooning again. There's an infuriating lack of communication: she has to deduce which family members are dead by listening for the tenses used if and when they are talked about.

Conclusion: All the men agree that Ichi's a strong, smart and independent woman. And she's much more Japanese than I’ll ever be. I still can't believe that she did that.

[M.R. Dowsing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be the only novel in English by Yamamoto, who was a great favourite of Akira Kurosawa and the source for his films Sanjuro, Redbeard and Dodes'kaden. It's a little slight at around 170 pages, but it's an interesting story which keeps you intrigued and the characters are very well-drawn. It's also unusual as a story told from the point of view of a female character in the very male-dominated world of 18th-century Japan. Only the humour falls rather flat, but perhaps it was just lost in translation.

[Nemanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only novel translated into English by the popular Japanese writer Yamamoto Shugoro - a writer whose works Kurosawa would often dramatize, “The Flower Mat” is a historical piece set in the eighteenth century and contains some of the recurring themes of his oeuvre. It follows young bride and soon-to-be mother Ichi, as she, tested by personal tragedy and led by strict moral codes, becomes strong and independent woman leading her family through dangerous and turbulent times in the tumultuous years of the Shogunate. Aside from the empathy he shows for his underdog characters, especially women, the strength he bestows upon them and glorification of samurai family ethical standards, Yamamoto also empowers the rebellion against the authority in this tale that sees one family risk their lives to expose and put an end to the ongoing political intrigues.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I was quite shook when Nobu died, got over it easily as the novel came to an end. But still couldn’t get over Tatsuya’s death. Was not expecting hubby to come back that’s for sure.

[Gertrude & Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flower Mat is a beautiful story of one woman's courageous efforts in dealing with disaster. Yamamoto Shugoro ever so delicately engraves the image of the heroine, Ichi, that one can not help but wonder if such noble women could have actually existed at that time, the eighteenth century, or any time in history.

Yamamoto's characterization of feminine strength and beauty is deftly rendered through Ichi. Ichi, born into the upper class of Japanese society, educated and groomed in tradition values, is a model of virtue. All kinds of misfortunes befall her and those dear to her, but her resilience and fortitude never fail. Moreover, she derives satisfaction and inner peace in simple things, like her art, weaving flower mats, which also sevrves to distract her from more unpleasant realities.

The plot is incredible and intriging. The harsh realities of those times dampens her spirit, as she is visited by disasters of nature and man, yet she never gives up hope. The character of Ichi is inspiring and Yamamoto persuasively paints a majestic portrait of classical feminine beauty.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok