Ratings6
Average rating3.7
A major new collection of Japanese short stories, many appearing in English for the first time, with an introduction by Haruki Murakami, author of Killing Commendatore A Penguin Classics Hardcover This fantastically varied and exciting collection celebrates the art of the Japanese short story, from its origins in the nineteenth century to the remarkable practitioners writing today. Edited by acclaimed translator Jay Rubin, who has himself freshly translated some of the stories, and with an introduction by Haruki Murakami, this book is a revelation. Stories by writers already well known to English-language readers are included--like Tanizaki, Akutagawa, Murakami, Mishima, Kawabata, and Yoshimoto--as well as many surprising new finds. From Yuko Tsushima's "Flames" to Yuten Sawanishi's "Filling Up with Sugar" to Shin'ichi Hoshi's "Shoulder-Top Secretary" to Banana Yoshimoto's "Bee Honey," The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories is filled with fear, charm, beauty, and comedy. For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Reviews with the most likes.
3.5
1. The Story of Tomoda and Matsunaga - Tanizaki Jun'chirō — ☆☆☆.5
2. Behind the Prison - Nagai Kafū ☆☆☆.75
3. Sanshirō - Natsume Sōseki ☆☆
4. The Last Testament of Okitsu Yagoemon - Mori Ōgai ☆☆☆
5. Patriotism - Mishima Yukio ☆.5
6. Flames - Tsushima Yūko ☆☆☆
7. In the Box - Kōno Taeko ☆☆☆
8. Remaining Flowers - Nakagami Kenji ☆☆
9. Bee Honey - Yoshimoto Banana ☆☆☆☆
10. The Smile of a Mountain Witch - Ohba Minako ☆☆☆☆
11. A Bond for Two Lifetimes - Enchi Fumiko ☆☆
12. Peaches - Abe Akira ☆☆☆
13. The Tale of the House of Physics - Ogawa Yōko ☆☆☆☆
14. Unforgettable People - Kunikida Doppo ☆☆☆☆
15. The 1963/1982 Girl from Ipanema - Murakami Haruki ☆☆
16. Cambridge Circus - Shibata Motoyuki ☆☆☆
17. Closet LLB - Uno Kōji ☆☆☆
18. Mr English - Genji Keita ☆☆☆
19. Factory Town - Betsuyaku Minoru ☆☆☆☆
20. Dreams of Love, Etc. - Kawakami Mieko ☆☆☆☆
21. Shoulder-Top Secretary - Hoshi Shin'ichi ☆☆☆☆
22. Hell Screen - Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
23. Filling up with Sugar - Sawanishi Yūten
24. Kudan - Uchida Hyakken
25. The Great Earthquake and General Kim - Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
26. Hiroshima, City of Doom - Ōta Yōko
27. Insects - Serai Yūichi
28. The Silver Fifty-Sen Pieces - Kawabata Yasunari
29. American Hijiki - Nosaka Akiyuki
30. Pink - Hoshino Tomoyuki
31. UFO in Kushiro - Murakami Haruki
32. Weather-Watching Hill - Saeki Kazumi
33. Planting - Matsuda Aoko
34. Same as Always - Satō Yūya