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bookopinions's review
There is a lot of symbolism that I feel like I need to learn first before trying this again, as well as some historical events and cultural expressions that I feel like I must understand to be able to appreciate the stories.
otterno11's review
4.0
I first read this collection of eerie Japanese stories by Kyoka Izumi some years ago, when I was looking for weird tales from different cultural backgrounds. I decided to revisit the book on my recent journey to Japan, and I found it even more interesting now that I have seen and learned more of the locations and history written about by Izumi. Definitely a good time to reread it!
Japanese Gothic Tales contains four stories, almost novellas, written during the Meiji and Taisho periods of Japanese history, the early 1900s. Avoiding the modernism aimed for by other authors at the time, Izumi's work is nonetheless influenced by this period of great change in Japanese culture. The stories themselves are surreal and eerie, particularly my favorite, "The Holy Man of Mount Koya," which deals with spooky creatures and magic in the mountains.
One of the major themes of all four of the stories is the relationships between men and women, and tragedy that results, along with strong supernatural elements- also, the theme of the story being told second hand via a secondary narrator relating some experience to a nameless viewpoint character gave the tales a folkloric air; there is also much to ponder regarding Buddhist beliefs, Japanese philosophies, and the transforming history of the period. All a very rewarding companion for a trip to Japan.
Japanese Gothic Tales contains four stories, almost novellas, written during the Meiji and Taisho periods of Japanese history, the early 1900s. Avoiding the modernism aimed for by other authors at the time, Izumi's work is nonetheless influenced by this period of great change in Japanese culture. The stories themselves are surreal and eerie, particularly my favorite, "The Holy Man of Mount Koya," which deals with spooky creatures and magic in the mountains.
One of the major themes of all four of the stories is the relationships between men and women, and tragedy that results, along with strong supernatural elements- also, the theme of the story being told second hand via a secondary narrator relating some experience to a nameless viewpoint character gave the tales a folkloric air; there is also much to ponder regarding Buddhist beliefs, Japanese philosophies, and the transforming history of the period. All a very rewarding companion for a trip to Japan.
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