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たけくらべ [Takekurabe]
Una història d'amor adolescent. La rivalitat no consisteix solament en el joc adolescent de comparar-se l'alçada física, sinó també en el grau de madures. O potser també en la intensitat d'amor dels dos protagonistes. Novel·la ambientada al barri de Yoshiwara, centre oficial de prostitució.
36 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Ichiyō Higuchi
115 books130 followersSee also 樋口 一葉.
Pen name of poet and writer Natsu Higuchi. She studied at the Haginosha school of poetry run by Utako Nakajima and showed talent from early on. After her father’s death in 1889, she began writing novels to make a living, but she also had a sideline business, a general merchandise store, because she could not survive on income from writing alone. In less than a year from the end of 1894, she successively published such masterpieces as Otsugumori (The Last Day of the Year), Take Kurabe (Comparing Heights), Nigorie (Troubled Waters), and Jusanya (13th Night). She died at the young age of 24 from tuberculosis.
Her image currently appears on the Japanese 5000-yen banknote.
Pen name of poet and writer Natsu Higuchi. She studied at the Haginosha school of poetry run by Utako Nakajima and showed talent from early on. After her father’s death in 1889, she began writing novels to make a living, but she also had a sideline business, a general merchandise store, because she could not survive on income from writing alone. In less than a year from the end of 1894, she successively published such masterpieces as Otsugumori (The Last Day of the Year), Take Kurabe (Comparing Heights), Nigorie (Troubled Waters), and Jusanya (13th Night). She died at the young age of 24 from tuberculosis.
Her image currently appears on the Japanese 5000-yen banknote.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 13, 2022
Read in Found in Translation anthology
Ichiyō Higuchi (1872-1896), is probably the best known woman novelist of the Meiji period. She wrote the novella Takekurabe (translated as "Child's Play" in the anthology) in the final year of her life, at the age of 24. It is too bad she died so young because she had the potential to become a remarkable writer, based on what I’ve read.
The novella is set in Daionji, a rundown district of Tokio where prostitution was the main work option for women. The story discusses adolescent love and rivalry. During an important festival, two rival teen gangs fight for supremacy. A young girl realises she has grown up. A love triangle is timidly formed. Love is lost. Children are hurt. The writing keeps a classical aura and beautifully describes the neighbourhood surroundings, the people’s challenges and the excitement of the festivities, in contrast with the poverty. I felt transported to that period and I regretted when the story ended. Unfortunately, nothing else by the author is translated in English.
Ichiyō Higuchi (1872-1896), is probably the best known woman novelist of the Meiji period. She wrote the novella Takekurabe (translated as "Child's Play" in the anthology) in the final year of her life, at the age of 24. It is too bad she died so young because she had the potential to become a remarkable writer, based on what I’ve read.
The novella is set in Daionji, a rundown district of Tokio where prostitution was the main work option for women. The story discusses adolescent love and rivalry. During an important festival, two rival teen gangs fight for supremacy. A young girl realises she has grown up. A love triangle is timidly formed. Love is lost. Children are hurt. The writing keeps a classical aura and beautifully describes the neighbourhood surroundings, the people’s challenges and the excitement of the festivities, in contrast with the poverty. I felt transported to that period and I regretted when the story ended. Unfortunately, nothing else by the author is translated in English.
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May 6, 2017Higuchi Ichiyo (1872-1896), whom Donald Keene termed the "principal woman novelist of the Meiji period," wrote the novella Takekurabe (given both "Growing Up" and "Child's Play" as titles in English(*)) in the final year of her lamentably brief life, struck down by tuberculosis at the age of 24. Despite her necessarily small output, Ichiyo is an influential figure in Japanese literature.
The story is set in Daionji, a run down district of Tokyo in which live the maids, seamstresses, doormen, rickshaw pullers and bouncers of the Yoshiwara, the red light district of Tokugawa and Meiji Japan, just outside of the moat surrounding the Yoshiwara. Two rival bands of 12-15 year olds from this district and Midori, the younger sister of a prosperous geisha, are the focus of the text.
What a vivid and convincing story this little text delivers! And the characters: the bold 13 year old Midori tossing away her schoolbooks and dreaming of following her sister into the apparent glamor and comfort across the moat; the charismatic 12 year old Shota, grandson of the moneylender and leader of the dominant gang; the strong and foolish 15 year old Chokichi, leader of the rival gang who believes that without violence his followers would fall away from him; Nobu, the son of the local Zen priest and destined to follow him, in love with Midori and drawn to the underdog Chokichi; the simple, open hearted Sangoro, torn between the two gangs and trying to get along by playing the clown. Among others.
All the characters are clearly drawn, dramatic tension is built, and the setting on both sides of the moat is summoned lifelike before the reader's eyes. This is a triumph of 19th century literature.
An alluring excerpt (recall that at one time Buddhist priests were forbidden to eat fish or to marry):
I wonder how she was able to produce such a beautifully accomplished text at such a young age. When I first read this novella 30 years ago, I had no chance to find an answer to that question, or to find translations of more of her work. That has changed in the meanwhile - there are now a few books available in English, French and German which I shall be looking into...
(*) Takekurabe has been translated into English by Edward Seidensticker in Donald Keene's Modern Japanese Literature and by Robert Danly in his In the Shade of Spring Leaves: The Life and Writings of Higuchi Ichiyō.
The story is set in Daionji, a run down district of Tokyo in which live the maids, seamstresses, doormen, rickshaw pullers and bouncers of the Yoshiwara, the red light district of Tokugawa and Meiji Japan, just outside of the moat surrounding the Yoshiwara. Two rival bands of 12-15 year olds from this district and Midori, the younger sister of a prosperous geisha, are the focus of the text.
What a vivid and convincing story this little text delivers! And the characters: the bold 13 year old Midori tossing away her schoolbooks and dreaming of following her sister into the apparent glamor and comfort across the moat; the charismatic 12 year old Shota, grandson of the moneylender and leader of the dominant gang; the strong and foolish 15 year old Chokichi, leader of the rival gang who believes that without violence his followers would fall away from him; Nobu, the son of the local Zen priest and destined to follow him, in love with Midori and drawn to the underdog Chokichi; the simple, open hearted Sangoro, torn between the two gangs and trying to get along by playing the clown. Among others.
All the characters are clearly drawn, dramatic tension is built, and the setting on both sides of the moat is summoned lifelike before the reader's eyes. This is a triumph of 19th century literature.
An alluring excerpt (recall that at one time Buddhist priests were forbidden to eat fish or to marry):
'So did I hear it spoken,' the sutra began. It was the august temple, and the chanting voice borne on the soft pine breeze should have cleaned the dust from one's heart.
Smoke rose from the roasting fish in the kitchen, and diapers had on occasion been seen drying on the tombstones. Nothing one could point to as violating the discipline, indeed, and yet those who would make of the clergy so many sticks of wood might have found here signs of a turn too fleshy. The body of the reverend priest had filled out with his fortune. His stomach was a thing of beauty. And where could one find words to praise the luster of his complexion? Not the pale pink of the cherry blossom, nor yet the deeper pink of the peach. A fine coppery glow from the top of his shaven head down over his face to his neck, never a spot to mar it. When he raised his thick eyebrows, somewhat grizzled now, and broke into that laugh of his, one was a little uneasy lest Buddha in the main hall start up in surprise and tumble from his stand.
I wonder how she was able to produce such a beautifully accomplished text at such a young age. When I first read this novella 30 years ago, I had no chance to find an answer to that question, or to find translations of more of her work. That has changed in the meanwhile - there are now a few books available in English, French and German which I shall be looking into...
(*) Takekurabe has been translated into English by Edward Seidensticker in Donald Keene's Modern Japanese Literature and by Robert Danly in his In the Shade of Spring Leaves: The Life and Writings of Higuchi Ichiyō.
May 28, 2015
Libro de relatos que sumerge al lector en el ambiente japonés con gran talento. La sensación es agridulce, y a veces deja ganas de más.
Reseña completa:
http://www.libros-prohibidos.com/higu...
Reseña completa:
http://www.libros-prohibidos.com/higu...
May 12, 2022
Aku baca versi terjemahannya berjudul Tumbuh Dewasa dari penerbit bukukatta
Walaupun buku ini tipis, pengalaman membacanya menyenangkan dan segar. Menarik sekali mengikuti petualangan serombongan geng anak-anak "tanggung" menuju usia dewasa ini
Oh ya, cerita ini sepertinya pernah diangkat di komik Topeng Kaca, dimana Maya dan Ayumi sama-sama memerankan tokoh Midori. Di Topeng Kaca, judul drama nya Bambu Kuning..dan sama bagusnya dengan novella nya❤
Walaupun buku ini tipis, pengalaman membacanya menyenangkan dan segar. Menarik sekali mengikuti petualangan serombongan geng anak-anak "tanggung" menuju usia dewasa ini
Oh ya, cerita ini sepertinya pernah diangkat di komik Topeng Kaca, dimana Maya dan Ayumi sama-sama memerankan tokoh Midori. Di Topeng Kaca, judul drama nya Bambu Kuning..dan sama bagusnya dengan novella nya❤
January 16, 2025
英語で読みました。
October 7, 2012
It's not often that you see an "adult" novel written about children, but that's precisely what Higuchi did -- and did spendidly. The characters are vivid, the narrative draws us into a world that we are often shunned from, and, most importantly, the line between adulthood and childhood becomes so thoroughly obscured that we begin to question both of their constructions and existences.
July 8, 2016
Who are those heartless and mindless people rating this book less than five even four stars...
January 19, 2022
Wow! This was wonderful. The characters are so sharp and real in such a short work, and their character feels as modern as any today. I'm utterly fascinated by the setting and the childish gangs. That alone would be enough but then we have Midori and a powerful glimpse into that tragic step beyond childhood which we all must suffer. This work is truly a timeless gem.
April 21, 2025
Mengesankan membaca cerita novela ini. Gemas-gemas gimanaa gitu. Teringat tatkala peralihan fase pertumbuhan usia, dari anak-anak ke remaja lalu dewasa, begitu tidak mudah, begitu rumit, begitu idealis. Belum lagi saat memasuki tahap menyukai lawan jenis. Aduuh … rasanya ….
Begitulah "Tumbuh Dewasa", kisah singkat lagi sederhana perihal transisi kehidupan kanak-kanak beranjak dewasa yang dialami oleh siapa saja.
Buku tipis ini tidak sekadar menceritakan masalah sosial seperti kemiskinan dan persaingan dua geng remaja yang berakhir baik–yah, bukankah memang demikian kalau anak-anak berantem, tidak perlu makan waktu lama juga akur sendiri; melainkan hal lain yang mengiringi masa peralihan manusia, yakni bagaimana psikologi anak-anak yang bergerak tumbuh dewasa: perlahan menyadari kehilangan kebebasan yang mereka nikmati dan dengan berat hati menjalaninya sebab para orang tua telah mengarahkan mereka untuk mengambil alih, mempertahankan, dan meneruskan posisi atau profesi keluarganya masing-masing. Lihat saja, Shota yang mulai menarik uang layaknya sang nenek sebagai rentenir, Chokichi yang meneruskan jejak ayahnya menjadi pemadam kebakaran, Nobu yang berlatih menjadi pendeta, hingga banyak yang berpendapat jika Midori bakal menggantikan kakaknya.
Resensi lengkap bisa dibaca di sini
Begitulah "Tumbuh Dewasa", kisah singkat lagi sederhana perihal transisi kehidupan kanak-kanak beranjak dewasa yang dialami oleh siapa saja.
Buku tipis ini tidak sekadar menceritakan masalah sosial seperti kemiskinan dan persaingan dua geng remaja yang berakhir baik–yah, bukankah memang demikian kalau anak-anak berantem, tidak perlu makan waktu lama juga akur sendiri; melainkan hal lain yang mengiringi masa peralihan manusia, yakni bagaimana psikologi anak-anak yang bergerak tumbuh dewasa: perlahan menyadari kehilangan kebebasan yang mereka nikmati dan dengan berat hati menjalaninya sebab para orang tua telah mengarahkan mereka untuk mengambil alih, mempertahankan, dan meneruskan posisi atau profesi keluarganya masing-masing. Lihat saja, Shota yang mulai menarik uang layaknya sang nenek sebagai rentenir, Chokichi yang meneruskan jejak ayahnya menjadi pemadam kebakaran, Nobu yang berlatih menjadi pendeta, hingga banyak yang berpendapat jika Midori bakal menggantikan kakaknya.
Resensi lengkap bisa dibaca di sini
November 14, 2022
Jatuh cinta memang luar biasa!
Apalagi jika yang mengalami adalah seorang remaja yang baru mengenal cinta. Luar biasa pengaruhnya!
Disebutkan pada situs penerbit, bahwa ini merupakan novela. Secara singkat, novela adalah sebuah karya yang lebih singkat dari novel, namun lebih panjang dari cerita pendek. Novel dimulai dengan akar persoalan yang dialamai oleh tokoh serta diakhiri dengan penyelesaiannya masalahnya. Sementara cerpen umumnya langsung pada apa yang akan dikisahkan.
Secara keseluruhan, buku ini layak dibaca oleh mereka yang menyukai sastra Jepang. Para mahasiswa jurusan Sastra Jepang sangat disarankan untuk membaca kisah ini. Para remaja bisa membaca namun tetap dengan mendapatkan bimbingan orang tua.
https://trulyrudiono.blogspot.com/202...
Apalagi jika yang mengalami adalah seorang remaja yang baru mengenal cinta. Luar biasa pengaruhnya!
Disebutkan pada situs penerbit, bahwa ini merupakan novela. Secara singkat, novela adalah sebuah karya yang lebih singkat dari novel, namun lebih panjang dari cerita pendek. Novel dimulai dengan akar persoalan yang dialamai oleh tokoh serta diakhiri dengan penyelesaiannya masalahnya. Sementara cerpen umumnya langsung pada apa yang akan dikisahkan.
Secara keseluruhan, buku ini layak dibaca oleh mereka yang menyukai sastra Jepang. Para mahasiswa jurusan Sastra Jepang sangat disarankan untuk membaca kisah ini. Para remaja bisa membaca namun tetap dengan mendapatkan bimbingan orang tua.
https://trulyrudiono.blogspot.com/202...
November 3, 2025
Buku yang sangat singkat, hanya 80 halaman.
Menceritakan tentang sekumpulan anak-anak dari gang belakang dan jalan depan di lingkungan Red Light District.
Sesuai judulnya, Tumbuh Dewasa, anak-anak di buku ini juga diceritakan development karakternya yang tumbuh dewasa. Bukan sekadar menjadi tampan dan mapan, tapi kita juga diperlihatkan bagaimana anak-anak tumbuh dalam cermin yang ditunjukkan lingkungan.
Entah itu anak yang tumbuh dengan memahami hierarki stasus sosial, anak yang merasa hidupnya mudah, atau anak yang kesepian padahal terlihat seperti sempurna.
Selayaknya sastra klasik, awal baca aku pun bingung mau dibawa ke mana jalan ceritanya tapi setelah selesai, hal yang paling bikin aku kepikiran adalah menjadi orang dewasa seperti apa anak-anak itu pada akhirnya?
Menceritakan tentang sekumpulan anak-anak dari gang belakang dan jalan depan di lingkungan Red Light District.
Sesuai judulnya, Tumbuh Dewasa, anak-anak di buku ini juga diceritakan development karakternya yang tumbuh dewasa. Bukan sekadar menjadi tampan dan mapan, tapi kita juga diperlihatkan bagaimana anak-anak tumbuh dalam cermin yang ditunjukkan lingkungan.
Entah itu anak yang tumbuh dengan memahami hierarki stasus sosial, anak yang merasa hidupnya mudah, atau anak yang kesepian padahal terlihat seperti sempurna.
Selayaknya sastra klasik, awal baca aku pun bingung mau dibawa ke mana jalan ceritanya tapi setelah selesai, hal yang paling bikin aku kepikiran adalah menjadi orang dewasa seperti apa anak-anak itu pada akhirnya?
May 5, 2023
decepcionante como, ao decorrer do tempo, por conta de tantas alterações e ''traduções'' exigidas pelo sistema educacional japonês, o livro tenha perdido a sua forma original e, consequentemente, a capacidade de lançar um olhar crítico sobre o passado (o que é, inclusive, um dos principais problemas do período pós-guerra do japão). fico muito triste pela ichiyô, que tanto quis colocar não somente suas próprias experiências, mas como também daquelas que sofriam ao seu redor
October 3, 2023
i'm so sad
September 13, 2015
Para mi gusto, una introducción demasiado larga para el breve y abrupto desenlace. Mejoraría con 20 páginas más.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews