Legends of Japan

by Hiroshi Naito

Twenty-two tales drawn from two Japanese masterpieces, the Konjaku Monogatari and the Tsurezure Gusa, by Kenko Yoshida, of the Heian and Kamakura periods.

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories, Japanese Literature, Japan

111 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1972

Reviews

[Tanysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories, with a feeling similar to Grimm's fairytales. Written in very simple language, possibly suitable for children.

[Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting more than entertaining. It's for a simpler less educated audience, or cultural scholar.

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compiled by folklorist Naito Hiroshi for a column in the Mainichi Daily News, Legends of Japan is an interesting if short taste of Japanese literature rarely translated into English. Taking most of its stories from the Konjaku Monogatarishu (Collected Tales of Times Now Past), a collection of tales written circa 1120 CE, the tales provide fascinating insight into the world of the late Heian period (794–1185 CE) they originated from. Including simple Buddhist parables and anecdotes in addition to more supernatural tales, Naito emphasizes here a gentle fairy tale-like atmosphere. The quaint tales of cat haters, melon stealing kami, and comical tengu seem generally intended to amuse, not frighten, and are complemented by the spare woodblock prints of artist Masahiko Nishino.

I discuss other works published in English on Japanese folklore at Harris’ Tome Corner- Narrating the Strange: Kaidan of Yokai and Yurei in Japanese Folklore.