Click for the first chapter Ten Million Vulgar Human Relationships.
In post-war Japan, a circle of literary and artistic men and women gathers in the mountain villa of Utagawa Kazuma to spend the summer. Before they've unpacked their trunks, the killing begins.
Ango Sakaguchi published this mystery novel as a series in Nihon Shosetsu and challenged the readers to deduce the murderer and awarded prizes.
Translator's Note: Many reviews by Japanese readers of the original remark on the large number of characters and their confusing relationships. I thought about including a chart of some of the major relationships, but decided against it because it's a part of the reading experience. Read with paper and pencil handy, especially the first chapter.
Three short stories by Yoshikawa Eiji related to the 47 ronin story. The first one takes place before the events in the book and the other two, during.
Here are some authors and scenes from books I may translate... someday.
右門捕物帖 Umon Torimono-cho |
佐々木味津三 Sasaki Mitsuzo |
This story set in old Edo follows the adventures of a detective called Umon. |
錢形平次捕物控 Zenigata Heiji Torimono Hikae |
野村胡堂 Nomura Kodo |
Zenigata Heiji is another detective in old Edo. He flicks coins at the bad guys. |
丹下左膳 Tange Sazen |
林不忘 Hayashi Fubou |
Our hero Tange Sazen is a fictional swordsman with one eye and one arm. |
天草美少年録 Amakusa Bishonenroku |
佐々木味津三 Sasaki Mitsuzo |
An imagined record of Amakusa Shiro, leader of the Shimabara Rebellion. |
聞書抄: 第二盲目物語 Kikigakisho: Daini Moumoku Monogatari |
谷崎潤一郎 Tanizaki Junichiro |
A continuation of Tanizaki's A Blind Man's Tale. |
五人女 Gonin Onna |
真山青果 Mayama Seika |
The tragic tales of five amorous women. Taruya Osen. Yaoya Oshichi. Onatsu [and Seijuro]. Osan [and Moemon]. Oman [and Gengobee]. |
武蔵野 Musashino |
国木田独歩 Kunikida Doppo |
A diary of the the author's stay in Musashi Province. |
剣難女難 Kennan Jonan |
吉川英治 Yoshikawa Eiji |
The title says it all: Sword Trouble, Woman Trouble. This was Yoshikawa Eiji's first novel. |