The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories

by Theodore W. Goossen (Editor)

This collection of short stories, including many new translations, is the first to span the whole of Japan's modern era from the end of the nineteenth century to the present day. Beginning with the first writings to assimilate and rework Western literary traditions, through the flourishing of
the short story genre in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Taisho era, to the new breed of writers produced under the constraints of literary censorship, and the current writings reflecting the pitfalls and paradoxes of modern life, this anthology offers a stimulating survey of the development of
the Japanese short story.

Various indigenous traditions, in addition to those drawn from the West, recur throughout the stories of the self, of the Water Trade (Tokyo's nightlife of geishas and prostitutes), of social comment, love and obsession, legends and fairytales. This collection includes the work of two
Nobel Kawabata and Oe, the talented women writers Hirabayashi, Euchi, Okamoto, and Hayashi, together with the acclaimed Tanizaki, Mishima, and Murakami.

The introduction by Theodore Goossen gives insight into these exotic and enigmatic, sometimes disturbing stories, derived from the lyrical roots of Japanese literature with its distinctive stress on atmosphere and beauty.

Genres: Short Stories, Japan, Fiction, Japanese Literature, Classics, Anthologies, Literature

496 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[William2]

Stories Read

“The Third Night,” Natsume Soseki
“In The Grove,” Akutagawa Ryunosuke (basis of Rashomon)
“Night Fires,” Shiga Naoya (see his excellent novel, A Dark Night’s Passing)
“Unzen,” Endo Shusaku (theme reminiscent of his novel Silence)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sansho the steward" by Ōgai Mori
One of his historical things. Fun.

"The third night" by Natsume Sōseki
Soseki wrote a collection of short stories based around weird dreams. I gather it freaked everyone out. This one is based around a Zen koan: "What did your face look like before your parents were born?"

"The bonfire" by Doppo Kunikida
I really enjoyed this. Kids on the beach with their bonfire.

"Separate ways" by Ichiyō Higuchi
Woman and the boy from the umbrella shop.

"The peony garden" by Kafū Nagai
"'Are these the Honjo peonies? Are these all?'
'Famous places are always disappointments.'
'Let's go back.'
'Yes, let's go back.'"

"Night fires" by Naoya Shiga
Couple at leisure with a friend, sharing interesting stories.

"Aguri" by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
Effeminate dilettante outfitting his good-time girl in Western clothes.

"Blowfish" by Ton Satomi
Chap dies after eating blowfish.

"Portrait of an old geisha" by Okamoto Kanoko
Old geisha and her dilettante lodger.

"In a grove" by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Yep.

"The bears of Nametoko" by Kenji Miyazawa
Little bit of magic. Cute.

"Spring riding in a carriage" by Yokomitsu Riichi
Wife's dying.

"Carp" by Masuji Ibuse
Friend gave him a fish. Friend died. Memory of the fish lives on.

"The Izu dancer" by Yasunari Kawabata
Still love this.

"Lemon" by Motojiro Kajii
Fruit vs bookshop. Cute.

"The accordion and the fish town" by Fumiko Hayashi
"'Those people are out of their minds. What's so great about cherry blossoms?' Mother snorted"
This was amongst my favourites; sad but adorable itinerant family bouncing around a new town.

"The flower-eating crone" by Fumiko Enchi
"'who says we should only look at flowers, and not eat them? It's natural: you see a flower you consider especially lovely, and you want to get as close to it as possible. But after a while, looking is not enough - you want to touch it with your hands, pluck it off, crush it, force it open. Finally, you become so consumed with desire, you want to fuse with it, make it part of you. That's why you end up cramming it into your mouth.'"

"'But a flower won't last forever, you know. You have to gobble it up the moment you get the desire.'"

"Blind Chinese soldiers" by Taiko Hirabayashi
On a train in the war, Prince Takamatsu's car and another filled with blind Chinese soldiers.

"In the forest, under cherries in full bloom" by Ango Sakaguchi
Historical fantasy of bandits and she-devils.

"But the woman's desire was endless, and so now he was bored with that, too. Her desire was like a bird flying straight across the sky with no end in sight: flying on and on without a rest, never tiring, slicing cleanly through the wind.
The man himself was but an ordinary bird - perhaps an owl that hopped from branch to branch, stopping to doze now and then, maybe crossing a valley if it had to. Physically, he was quick and athletic. He moved well, he walked well, with great vitality. But his heart was a lumbering bird. Flying in an infinite straight line was out of the question for him."

"Passage to Fudaraku" by Yasushi Inoue
Historical fiction about monks submitting to being nailed into tiny cabins on tiny boats and being sent off to paradise.

"Merry Christmas" by Osamu Dazai
"Tokyo is still the same. It hasn't changed a bit."

"The expert" by Atsushi Nakajima
Funny "Chinese" fairytale about becoming an expert in archery.

"The rifle" by Nobuo Kojima
Young soldier's not enjoying war so much after committing a war crime.

"Unzen" by Shūsaku Endō
Christians.

"The bet" by Kōbō Abe
Po-mo stuff from Abe.

"Three policemen" by Junnosuke Yoshiyuki
Transgender fun in a Tokyo nightclub.

"Onnagata" by Yukio Mishima
Woop!

"Toddler-hunting" by Kōno Taeko
Love this.

"Mr Carp" by Kuniko Mukōda
Japanese "Fatal Attraction": spurned lover leaves an angry carp in husband's kitchen and ... is never seen again.

"The duel" by Takeshi Kaikō
Read before. Skipped so I could get to...

"Prize stock" by Kenzaburō Ōe
My favourite Japanese short story of all time?

"A very strange, enchanted boy" by Yūko Tsushima
I really can't remember reading this... which isn't a great sign....

"The elephant vanishes" by Haruki Murakami
Quite cute.

"Desert dolphin" by Masahiko Shimada
Something of Ryu Murakami's "Coin Locker Babies" in this.

"Dreaming of kimchee" by Banana Yoshimoto
Very Banana Yoshimoto.

[Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Reading its 35 stories in “The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories” edited by Theodore W. Goossen, I think, should be a relative delight to those readers keen on reading this amazing Japanese genre. From the introduction, they would better understand on its literary developments and uniqueness as written by their eminent writers who have long revealed their stature to Japan and the world. Arranged chronologically from the birth year, the list starts with Mori Ogai (1862-1922) ‘Sancho the Steward’, Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) ‘The Third Night’, Kunikida Doppo (1871-1908) ‘The Bonfire’, etc. and ends with Murakami Haruki (1949- ) ‘The Elephant Vanishes’, Shimada Masahiko (1961- ) ‘Desert Dolphin’ and Yoshimoto Banana (1964- ) ‘Dreaming of Kimchee’.

As a fan of Oe Kenzaburo, I’ve read and enjoyed most of his books; however, I’m not sure how many short stories he’s written because I’m surprised to read such a longish story, that is, his “Prize Stock” (39.5 pages) selected to include in this anthology. Presumably, his other stories might not have interested the editor for the best choice.

[hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 'introduction' part helps me a lot in giving a view on the Japanese literary development from the past authors to current. I love that it consists variety of themes-- from historical to slice of life/lifestyle, stories of family and friendship, love and betrayal, strangers talk, stories of animals and plant, mysterious encounters, one's judgement and personalities also direct and indirectly it touches the Japanese social and culture differences.

Few stories that I love:

Dreaming of Kimchee (Banana Yoshimoto)-- A story of a woman that involved in a relationship with a married man that soon she got married to him after his divorce settlement. The main character was so distinctive, I sort of love her ways of expressing emotions-- her thoughts and arguments were adequately logical. She had trouble with her thoughts and assumptions towards her husband later on but the way she handling things were miraculously engaging. I like the kimchee part, I find it quite humorous.

The Third Night (Natsume Soseki)-- A story of a dreamer about his third night dream. Very peculiar and mysterious, quite a thrill too that the ending was a bit frightful to me but somehow I love it.

A Very Strange, Enchanted Boy (Yuko Tsushima)-- It tells a story of Michie and her son encountering days of hope and dreams, those littlest fragment that giving Michie a delightful happiness and worries, daily excitements and new things she learned about raising a boy by herself. It was beautifully written- the descriptiveness of her views presented in an uplifting phrasing, it was charming and unforgettable. Love the infinity talk, I find it super cute!

The Bet (Kobo Abe)-- This story was absurd and witty. I love the theme cause it reminds me a bit of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami. It tells a story of an architect that get himself lost in a bizarre structured advertising company while on a morning appointment with one of the director. A surreal journey happened along the way that he suddenly caught up in a subconscious system of the company that making him flustered. A miraculous idea, story-line and characters. I love the mysterious urban-ish vibe-- enthralling and suspicious. "The subconscious is an inexhaustible vein. The deeper you dig, the more jewels you find."

The Elephant Vanishes (Haruki Murakami)-- I've read this story before in Murakami's other book. It tells a story of an elephant and the keeper that went vanished that the disappearing news troubled the narrator so much. There was a story behind the narrator and the elephant which I find quite intriguing. I love his narration and views, his worries and curiosity. I like his phrasing and thought nearly the end about how things around him starting to loss balance, the bizarreness and realism of the plot quite enthralling.

In A Groove (Ryunosuke Akutagawa)-- In A Grove is a series of testimonies and confession about a murder happened in a bamboo forest near Kyoto. Mysteriously thrilled and suspense. It was strangely ended with a testimony by the dead man himself which I find it a bit melancholic and heartbreaking. I love the uniqueness of this story.

Mr Carp (Kuniko Mukoda)-- I actually like Shiomura's family (I have a slight guess that Miwako actually knew about her husband disloyalty)-- they were all kind of witty and secretive, like a normal family but with one or two secrets hiding deep down in a locked wooden box. "Don't you worry. Fish are near-sighted." A fun and enjoyable plot.

There are few others that I find quite fun and intriguing-- Lemon (Motojiro Kajii), Toddler-Hunting (Taeko Kono), Three Policemen (Junnosuke Yoshiyuki) and Carp (Masuji Ibuse).

Overall, it was a lengthy read (I really took my time with this book!) but I appreciate the outcome and moral. Various ideas and styles, and I learn about other Japanese authors too (that I've never heard before)-- gonna check on them later! Totally a 5 stars.

[Kamila Kunda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories” edited by Theodore W. Goossen is a phenomenal collection of 35 modern and contemporary short stories, of which the two oldest ones were written in the last decade of the 19th century. Many are by such famous authors as Natsume Soseki, Tanizaki Jun’ichiro, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Hayashi Fumiko, Dazai Osamu, Abe Kobo, Mishima Yukio, Ōe Kenzaburo or Yoshimoto Banana, but I was also able to become familiar with the authors previously unknown to me like Inoue Yasushi, Kunikida Doppo, Shiga Naoya or Sakaguchi Ango.

Compared with Europeans, the Japanese have a completely different tradition of a short story, which historically has been held in higher esteem than a novel. There is much more emphasis on lyricism, on atmosphere and beauty, on nature and seasons, and much less on the plot or character development. Some of the stories are mere reflections on everyday events (“Lemon” by Kajii Motojiro) or a description of an ordinary scene, albeit wrapped in nostalgia and mono no aware (“Night Fires” by Shiga Naoya). Some border on mysticism and include kami or ghosts (beautiful, eerie “The Third Night” by Natsume Soseki”).

I was moved most, I think, by Kenzaburo Ōe’s “Prize Stock” - the longest story in the collection. It’s a deeply humanist tale, taking place during the WW2, about capturing a black soldier by Japanese villagers and keeping him captive for days while waiting for a decision about his fate from the authorities. The story is told from the perspective of children, first scared of the dark-skinned giant, gradually warming up to him. A deeply moving perspective on the notion of “the Other”.

Japanese history, socio-economic context and cultural changes are all reflected in the selected stories. Many refer to the WW2, patriotism/nationalism and poverty, endured by the Japanese before and after it. Fascination with the West, increasing consumerism and the greed for entertainment can all be found in the stories. In the second half of the 20th century more Japanese writers were familiar with Western literature and one can see its influences in the way the Japanese stories were written and the way characters were portrayed.

The stories of romantic love resembling the Western ones appeared for the first time in the 20th century. As Goossen wrote: “Although love was on everyone’s lips, however, it could never be spoken of in a crude and direct manner - instead, it had to be evoked through natural images(...)”; the Japanese were perplexed by the words “I love you” because there is no direct equivalent of this phrase in Japanese language. There are two stories in this collection which feature a carp, as the word for this fish in Japanese, koi, can be written with a character being one of the oldest words for love. Stories of sexual obsession emerged, as well as those about the water trade, as nighttime entertainment industry (of which sex industry is a huge part) is called in Japan.

This anthology is a perfect starting point to anyone who has never read Japanese literature before, though many avid readers of Japanese authors will still be able to discover something new. The stories represent the best Japanese literature has to offer and show how varied the themes, trends and styles of writing are. Not all stories were to my liking but I appreciate the diversity, the language and how much they widened my horizons.

[Miz Moffatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories offers a varied overview of Japan's finest literary talents ranging from the late nineteenth-century to the present-day. Be prepared to expand that reading list of yours upon completion of this collection -- one taste guarantees the need for another hit.

Stand-out pieces include:

Okamoto Kanoko's "Portrait of an Old Geisha": An older woman offers to 'keep' a young man, allowing him to pursue his dream of inventing; however, the gift of easy gold does not always equate to success.

Hayashi Motojiro's "The Accordion and the Fish Town": A complex vignette about one girl and the implications of settling in a small town after a life on the road with her hustler parents.

Hirabayashi Taiko's "Blind Chinese Soldiers": A startling piece blending the horrific consequences of war with the quiet, unconscious life of plain-clothes citizens.

Mishima Yukio's "Onnagata": A beautiful piece about kabuki theatre and one man's breathless experience with a powerful onnagata, a man who portrays female characters on stage.

Each writer dedicates ample space to creating exceptional atmospheric description, one that rivals the Canadian fascination with dense geographic (read: snow) passages. Also, readers be warned that narrative techniques differ quite a bit between Japan and the Western world -- endings are never concrete throughout these stories. We are offered a brief window into another world, but the opening is never sealed tight. Brilliant and beautiful, all in one.

Ideal for: Short story nerds; readers seeking some international cred; commuters aiming to lure that cute, intellectual type sitting in the seat across from them...

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are thirty-five stories in this collection. They are arranged chronologically by the birth date of each author beginning with the year 1862 and ending with the year 1964. I know this kind of goes without saying, but each story truly was a reflection of the times in which each author lived. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. It was a fascinating way to read through the literary history of Japan.

Two of my favorite stories were "Lemon" and "Prize Stock."


"Lemon" is written by Kajii Motojiro (1901-1932). It's written through the eyes of a man who is dying of tuberculosis. He describes his thoughts and experiences as he walks through a decrepit neighborhood in Kyoto. Descriptive is the perfect adjective to describe this story. What a difference a lemon can make in one's life if one can just see the beauty in that little piece of fruit!

"Prize Stock" is written by Oe Kenzaburo (1935- ). This story takes place in a remote village during WWII. A black soldier has been taken prisoner and brought there. The author writes about the relationship between the soldier and two of the little boys living in this village. He gives us a microscopic view of how war effects one's life - even in the most isolated places here on earth.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a good short story. So does Japan.

I picked this up from the uni library after a couple of shock realisations - firstly that I hadn't read any Osamu Dazai, and secondly that the uni library only has some very old, yellowed Japanese versions of his complete works. I thought I might only read the Dazai story, Merry Christmas, but ended up reading all of the stories. Top five: Aguri, The Izu Dancer, Blind Chinese Soldiers, Merry Christmas, Onnagata, Prize Stock, The Elephant Vanishes & Dreaming of Kimchee. Oops, that's eight. And most of them are by authors I was pretty well familiar with. What I liked about this collection was the diversity - a pretty wide range of themes and eras, a range of translators, even a range of translation strategies. What I also liked is that, although Japanese literature and Japanese to English translation are both pretty well dominated by men, there's a good representation of female authors and translators here. In fact, other than one exception to each, all the female authors were translated by females, and the male authors by males. A great collection overall.

[Alys ⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳° · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been sitting around my home for some time now, I started it back in March and since then have been trying to get through it. Japanese literature is a new area of writing for me having not read anything remotely similar before. Despite this the book gave some amazing and beautifully written short stories. Each story took a different perspective and angle in what was being portrayed which meant you couldn’t possibly get bored.

For anyone who’s interested in more classically written books then this is definitely one for you. I also found that unlike other books of short stories that I’ve read I could easily keep going with this one. Normally I need another book to read alongside to break everything up. Overall I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to try something new.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, some stories are better than others when it comes to collections.

There were a few I loved, others I liked, and then some that just didn't catch my attention and ended up skipping.

[Matthew Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mori Ôgai, "Sansho the Steward" (1915) - 2/5
Natsume Sôseki, "The Third Night" (1908) - 2.5/5
Kunikida Doppo, "The Bonfire" (1896) - 2/5
Higuchi Ichiyô, "Separate Ways" (1896) - 2.5/5
Nagai Kafû, "The Peony Garden" (1909) - 1.5/5
Shiga Naoya, "Night Fires" (1920) - 3/5
Tanizaki Jun'ichirô, "Aguri" (1922) - 2/5
Satomi Ton, "Blowfish" (1913) - 3/5
Okamoto Kanoko, "Portrait of an Old Geisha" (1938) - 3/5
Akutagawa Ryûnosuke, "In a Grove" (1921) - 3.5/5
Miyazawa Kenji, "The Bears of Nametoko" (1924) - 2.5/5
Yokomitsu Riichi, "Spring Riding in a Carriage" (1926) - 2.5/5
Ibuse Masuji, "Carp" (1928) - 3.5/5
Kawabata Yasunari, "The Izu Dancer" (1925) - 2/5
Kajii Motojirô, "Lemon" (1925) - 3/5
Hayashi Fumiko, "The Accordion and the Fish Town" (1931) - 2/5
Enchi Fumiko, "The Flower-Eating Crone" (1974) - 2.5/5
Hirabayashi Taiko, "Blind Chinese Soldiers" (1946) - 2.5/5
Sakaguchi Ango, "In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom" (1947) - 2/5
Inoue Yasushi, "Passage to Fudaraku" (1961) - 1.5/5
Dazai Osamu, "Merry Christmas" (1947) - 3.5/5
Nakajima Atsushi, "The Expert" (1942) - 2/5
Kojima Nobuo, "The Rifle" (1952) - 2.5/5
Endô Shûsaku, "Unzen" (1965) - 3/5
Abe Kôbô, "The Bet" (1960) - 4/5
Yoshiyuki Junnosuke, "Three Policemen" (1974) - 3/5
Mishima Yukio, "Onnagata" (1957) - 3.5/5
Kôno Taeko, "Toddler Hunting" (1961) - 2.5/5
Mukôda Kuniko, "Mr. Carp" (1984) - 3/5
Kaikô Takeshi, "The Duel" (1968) - 2/5
Ôe Kenzaburô, "Prize Stock" (1958) - 4/5
Tsushima Yûko, "A Very Strange, Enchanted Boy" (1985) - 2/5
Murakami Haruki, "The Elephant Vanishes" (1987) - 4/5
Shimada Masahiko, "Desert Dolphin" (1992) - 3.5/5
Yoshimoto Banana, "Dreaming of Kimchee" (1993) - 3/5

[Deryka Tso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for Japanese lit and a bigger sucker for short stories and this is a great collection of some of the bigger names in Japanese fiction.

I had a pdf to the entire thing online and then closed it before I could finish the last couple of stories. But I trust that they were all AMAZING.

[b bb bbbb bbbbbbbb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked: DECAPITATED HEAD PLAYTIME!!!

[Kyle Muntz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up entirely to read "Desert Dolphin" a 15 page story by Masahiko Shimada (so, the rating is for the story, rather than the anthology). It was absolutely worth it.

[Taylor Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of mostly twentieth century short fiction, each story a visitation, each one a treasure.

[Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall - 4 - You know it's a good book when you want to reread it immediately after finishing it the first time. I really enjoyed this. I feel like I talk about the atmosphere in every review I write on Japanese classical literature, but it really is too amazing not to mention. The writing is consistently beautiful across all the stories in the collection, and though some of them haven't aged in the best of ways, each one of them have their own unique charm.

Goddamn I need to reread this sometime.

Mori Ogai, Sansho the Steward - 2,5 - A bit lengthy compared to the other ones but still good. A bit confusing at some points but I might've accidentally missed some bits. It was alright.

Natsume Soseki, The Third Night - 3 - What the actual hell is going on???? I love it.

Kunikida Doppo, The Bonfire - 3,5 - Very nice :3

Higuchi Ichiyo, Separate Ways - 4 - I love Okyo <3 Made me sad :(

Nagai Kafu, The Peony Garden - 4 - "Maybe we should think about committing suicide together." "Maybe we should." Love the monotone vibe and how the feeling of boredom is portrayed. It's very well written and relatable.

Shiga Naoya, Night Fires - 2,5 - I read this in class so I don't remember much of what happened. It was alright though, I liked the vibe.

Tanizaki Jun'ichiro, Aguri - 1,5 - Made me feel gross. The writing isn't bad though.

Satomi Ton, Blowfish - 2 - Guy dies to a pufferfish. It was alright.

Okamoto Kanoko, Portrait of an Old Geisha - 3,5 - Really liked this. Not much to say on it though.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke, In a Grove - 2,5 - Interesting.

Miyazawa Kenij, The Bears of Nametoko - 3 - I really enjoy this writing style. I liked the story.

Yokomitsu Riichi, Spring Riding in a Carriage - 3 - This just made me sad. Well written. Oddly comforting at times.

Ibuse Masuji, Carp - 3 - quite silly :3 /pos. I liked it.

Kawabata Yasunari, The Izu Dancer - 2,5 - I was pretty damn tired when I read this, so I probably missed a lot. It was nice though.

Kajii Motojiro, Lemon - 2,5 - This was pretty cool. Loved when he just started talking about bombs completely out of nowhere, hell yea speak your truth king

Hayashi Fumiko, The Accordion and the Fish Town - 2,5 - Not much to say on this one. Nice story. Ending made me sad :(

Enchi Fumiko, The Flower-eating Crone - 3 - I feel like I'd need to read this another three times to properly understand it. From what I did understand though, I liked it.

Hirabayashi Taiko, Blind Chinese Soldiers - 2,5 - Not much to say. It was alright.

Sakaguchi Ango, In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom - 3 - I think I liked this. I'm not sure. It was good though.

Inoue Yasushi, Passage to Fudaraku - 3 - At first I couldn't bring myself to fully pay attention to this, the later half of the story was great though.

Dazai Osamu, Merry Christmas - 3 - Nice. I like it.

Nakajima Atsushi, The Expert - 3,5 - I feel I don't fully grasp the meaning behind this, but I really enjoy the writing style. Nice story.

Kojima Nobuo, The Rifle - 3,5 - I liked this more than I thought I would. Honestly, it might be because it reminds me of other things. Still, it was a nice story.

Endo Shusaku, Unzen - 2 - I didn't understand much of this as I couldn't focus. Or maybe it was because I didn't understand much that I was distracted. Anyways, I feel the rating is a bit unfair. It was still alright, just not my thing. I should probably read this again sometime.

Abe Kobo, The Bet - 3 - I have no idea what the hell I just read but I think I liked it? It made me feel really anxious, but I guess that might've been the intended effect??

Yoshiyuki Junnosuke, Three Policemen - 2 - i don't know what to think about this.

Mishima Yukio, Onnagata - 3,5 - i really liked this. I feel like I should say more on this but no words come to mind. It was a very interesting and nice read.

Kono Taeko, Toddler-hunting - 2,5 - Sort of strange.

Mukoda Kuniko, Mr Carp - 2,5 - It was alright.

Kaiko Takeshi, The Duel - 2,5 - Cool.

Oe Kenzaburo, Prize Stock - I don't feel comfortable rating this one.

Tsushima Yuko, A Very Strange, Enchanted Boy - 3,5 - As an autistic person, this made me really happy. Old Japanese short stories were the last place I'd expect to find AuDHD representation. Of course, it isn't actually outright stated in the story, but I find it pretty clear. I really liked this.

Murakami Haruki, The Elephant Vanishes - 3,5 - I like this. It's straightforward and wonderfully absurd. Elephant vanishes. Boom.

Shimada Masahiko, Desert Dolphin - 3 - I should read this again, when I'm not in a hurry. I feel like i wouldve liked it more. It was good.

Yoshimoto Banana, Dreaming of Kimchi - 3 - A bit morally questionable, but a nice story nonetheless. A nice ending for the collection. I liked it.

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Japanese short stories. Something we rarely read and for someone to translate these challenging texts goes to show the importance of Japanese short stories. From haikus to anecdotes, This book offers the reader many stories that derived from the end of the nineteenth century to the present day. This book highlights many of the important aspects of Japanese short stories that includes many techniques that are somewhat exclusive to Japanese short stories. Not only does it highlight the aspects of Japanese short story techniques, it also highlights the Japanese lifestyles. Of course styles have changed in Japan, but the techniques used to right these short stories are still being used today. Once you read this book, you will be captivated by the stories that depict many aspects of Japanese lifestyle.

[Ad · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we judge anthologies of short stories by how original they are, then this Oxford Book of Japanese Stories does not rate very high: it doesn't contain any new translations, and except for one or two stories that were buried in inaccessible magazines, most of them are available in books which are still print. As expected, the selection is also rather conservative, although that has the advantage the book can be used as a teaching medium. But that is not what I was looking for (I still give 4 stars, as the stories themselves are good and they can't help it). On top of that, OUP has seen fit to use sub-standard paper. My copy from 2010 is so deeply brown discolored, with ugly spots and stains, that it seems to date from at least 200 years back. It is true that the weather in Japan is rather humid, but still... well, that are two good reasons to buy (almost only) Kindle eBooks...

[Irina]

Great collection of a wide variety of styles and eras, ranging from dark wartime tales to modern extramarital affairs and the experience of a single mother. Many really transported me to strong atmospheric scenes, like Kunikida Doppo's The Bonfire and Kawabata Yasunari's The Izu Dancer. I appreciated the introduction and short bibliographical notes, but really wish the publication year of each story would also have been mentioned in addition to the author's birth (and death, when relevant) year. Many stories also left me longing for at least a few lines introducing the context of it or some notes explaining historical or cultural details. But I of course understand this is impossible in a collection like this which already is quite heavy.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

personal faves:
aguri - tanizaki junichiro
spring riding in a carriage - yokomitsu riichi (!!!)
the flower-eating crone - enchi fumiko
in the forest, under cherries in full bloom - sakaguchi ango
merry christmas - dazai osamu
the bet - abe kobo
mr carp - mukoda kuniko
dreaming of kimchee - yoshimoto banana

[Wendyjune · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant overview of Japanese writers in the last hundred years. Theodore W. Goossen's introduction is well done and adds value to the works and how Japanese literature historically and culturally differs from other regions. I great introduction to getting started on exploring Japanese writers.

[David Mccarrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compliation was very good and provided a wide range of different Japanese authors. Since it covers a lot of different genres I didn't enjoy all of the stories. Nevertheless, I would recommend it.

[Aniket]

I picked up this book precisely to read Kawabata's initial writings. A comprehensive anthology of Japanese literature. I still remain a sceptic of anthology as a cultural document, but as an introductory it is quite good

[Ali]

A wide-ranging collection that I was privileged to read in the company of the editor himself. Many of these works and writers I would not have come across by myself, and the others I wouldn't have appreciated half as much as I do now.

[Zelda Rhiando · Rating 5 out of 5]

This definitive book presents stories from 1860 to the present day. It’s an incredible selection, and is a book that I return to again and again.

[JD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not saying it's a bad collection, it could well be a very good one. I just don't like it. It's too odd.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable collection!

Favorites:
Portrait of an Old Geisha
The Izu Dancer
Lemon
The Flower-Eating Crone
The Bet
Desert Dolphin
Dreaming of Kimchee

[Frank Ghiselli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standouts:
Abe Kobo’s The Bet
Enchi Fumiko’s The Flower-Eating Crone
Kono Taeko’s Toddler-hunting
Mukoda Kuniko’s Mr Carp
Dazai Osamu’s Merry Christmas

[Thomas Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

mixed bag, feel like some of the translations have a lot to be desired but the first story especially was very emotional. interesting overall

[Bader · Rating 3 out of 5]

مرجع ممتاز، تأثير سرد القصص الشعبي ظاهر مع الكثير من التمجيد والنظر في الطبيعة.