Library Reviews
The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories
Blandly titled but containing a ridiculous number of famous authors. 34 stories from 32 bestselling writers (Akutagawa and Haruki Murakami pull double duty) span pre and post war and well into the new millennium. Works from both genders are present as are many genres.
At first glance, this looks like another one of the generic editions of “classic” literature. Witness the simple cover design and plain stock that publishers often use when re-releasing public domain works. Think Shakespeare or Alice in Wonderland or Jane Austen. Nonetheless, this carefully assembled anthology represents a stellar range of writers. Many copyright pieces, by more recent authors are also part of the compilation.
The introduction is written by Haruki Murakami and is lengthy. More so than some of the actual stories. Jay Rubin provides the bulk of translations and also the editorial note. He explains that he elected to organise the works by tone and subject matter instead of using publication order or alphabetisation. As it happens, progression is also mostly chronological by setting. Most works are roughly contemporaneous to their date of writing and so the opening stories are set in the Meiji period of the late 1800s.
The cover is in fact a painting by Hiroyuki Izutsu, a prolific cover artist. Originally trained in animation and illustration, he worked in advertising before transitioning to the publishing industry. The timeless vista for this edition being suitably complimentary of the collection’s overall character. By and large, stories lack gimmicks and twists and are mostly conveyed in a direct, straightforward manner. Likewise, stories genres are grounded with little intrusion from SF or horror or fantasy. Sex is ever occurrent with Mishima’s contribution being particularly notable in this regard.
Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater
These are gold. Akira Toriyama did not begin with Dragon Ball. These self-contained, 20 something stories came before Goku and Bulma (and before Arale and Senbei) or at least alongside them. His first published submission ingloriously placed last in reader popularity, but even then, recognisable hallmarks heralded what was to come.
Compilation set
Originally, published in Japan in 3 separate volumes (1983, 1988 and 1997), this translation collects all three into one set. The “Manga” in “Manga Theater” is a localisation. Toriyama himself took a humourously ignoble view of his works, even at that early stage. The Japanese title suggests a blankspace for a reader to substitute their own word like “Disaster Theater”.
Familiar and different
Being one-shots or, at most, three-part sequels, these stories can entertain without continuity baggage. However, these standalones are also amusing in relation to Dragon Ball. Toriyama’s distinctive art style and rounded, chibi character designs are already apparent as are many settings and themes. Several stories have elements with clear resemblances such as a child martial artist, a conniving old master, a juvenile princess, a spaceship with a child explorer, capsules, a desert rogue, a shapechanging mousecat thing.
Gone now but fondly remembered
Akira Toriyama may have sadly departed but his legacy looks set to echo and entertain for generations to come. Noah Lyles, celebrated his recent 100m Olympic gold medal triumph by performing the kamehameha pose on the track.
The Art Lover’s Guide to Japanese Museums
Sophie Richard has released an updated edition of her Art Lover’s Guide to Japanese Museums.
A popularly borrowed book. It’s actually been ten years since the original edition was published. The remit is the same, to introduce galleries and museums, public and private, some of which may not be well known or positioned towards foreign visitors.
This update is more of a good thing. Physically heftier, the extra thickness housing more entries. It is still organised into regions but now greatly expanded with eight groupings over the five of the first edition. There are more than 110 main articles and some also include mention of adjacent, coincidentally nearby sites and this adds another 50 attractions. For example, while the Sumo Museum hasnt a dedicated entry, it is called out in a “While there” memo at the end of the article for the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
Many small, lower profile establishments are covered. An example would be “museum as it is”. The domain of a now elderly art dealer, it opened in 1994 and exhibits modest objects selected from different periods and cultures. The building itself has a humble aesthetic that suits the art it showcases. Built to purpose and architecturally designed, it resembles a private residence and is situated at the end of a country lane. The typical double page entry contains several photographs of the interior space, select works along with the insightful writeup.