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Japanese Gothic Tales
KYOKA, Izumi, Japanese Gothic Tales. . Honolulu, : University of Hawaii Press (Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-1888), 1996. 202 pp. ISBN 0-8248-1789 (pa) Acid-Free.
Izumi Kyoka’s Japanese Gothic Talespresents Kyoka’s four best known stores in the Meiji era during his life (1873-1939): The Surgery Room, The Holy Man of Mount Koya, Onle Day in Spring and Osen and Sokichi. They draw from four stages of his development till his maturity of a great gothic writer. He is excellent in his mythical development and much of what is in his work shows his obsessive visions and writing was a way to cope with his fears. From the publication of his first work Crowned Yaqzaemon in 1892 until his death, he produced over three hundred stories, plays and essays. During his lifetime, his stories were not widely read, but his writing is on the cutting edge of Modern Japanese Literature.
Kyoka’s book belongs in every Japanese literary research collection . The book is difficult to understand his structure of writing. His final story, The Heartvine returned to the metastory which made it possible for his survival. As you get to see the patterns and plots of his stories, you get to know and understand Kyoka’s style. Women appreciated his writing and he spoke through his stories of understanding their position. He creates strange places to reveal familiarities that are denied.
Gothic romances were mysteries, often involving the supernatural and heavily tinged with horror, that were usually set against dark backgrounds of medieval ruins and haunted castles. Kyoka’s Japanese version includes all the above but adds the color of red and white throughout his stories, using water to foreshadow danger. “The Surgery Room” brought forth issues in social justice. There was even a sense of spirituality in that story. His stories keep you on the edge of your seat as you read to see what happens. And when it does, it is nothing like you thought that it would be. It would be helpful to know some Japanese traditions and the culture of the people to better understand the implications of the actions of the people in response to others. “The Holy Man of Mount Koya” is his best liked work for it is more easily understood due to the fact that Kyoka understood himself best during this time. Consider reviewing your dreams as you read “One Day in Spring.” Lastly, enjoy “Osen and Sokichi” from Kyoka’s mature phase as we join Countess Kifune and Takamine from “The Surgery” and Tamawaki Mio and her lover from “One Day in Spring.
I highly recommend this book for public adult and young adult nonfiction and Japanese historical literature collections, in public and academic libraries. The reading and context may be a little difficult for high schoolers to understand.
Izumi Kyoka’s Japanese Gothic Talespresents Kyoka’s four best known stores in the Meiji era during his life (1873-1939): The Surgery Room, The Holy Man of Mount Koya, Onle Day in Spring and Osen and Sokichi. They draw from four stages of his development till his maturity of a great gothic writer. He is excellent in his mythical development and much of what is in his work shows his obsessive visions and writing was a way to cope with his fears. From the publication of his first work Crowned Yaqzaemon in 1892 until his death, he produced over three hundred stories, plays and essays. During his lifetime, his stories were not widely read, but his writing is on the cutting edge of Modern Japanese Literature.
Kyoka’s book belongs in every Japanese literary research collection . The book is difficult to understand his structure of writing. His final story, The Heartvine returned to the metastory which made it possible for his survival. As you get to see the patterns and plots of his stories, you get to know and understand Kyoka’s style. Women appreciated his writing and he spoke through his stories of understanding their position. He creates strange places to reveal familiarities that are denied.
Gothic romances were mysteries, often involving the supernatural and heavily tinged with horror, that were usually set against dark backgrounds of medieval ruins and haunted castles. Kyoka’s Japanese version includes all the above but adds the color of red and white throughout his stories, using water to foreshadow danger. “The Surgery Room” brought forth issues in social justice. There was even a sense of spirituality in that story. His stories keep you on the edge of your seat as you read to see what happens. And when it does, it is nothing like you thought that it would be. It would be helpful to know some Japanese traditions and the culture of the people to better understand the implications of the actions of the people in response to others. “The Holy Man of Mount Koya” is his best liked work for it is more easily understood due to the fact that Kyoka understood himself best during this time. Consider reviewing your dreams as you read “One Day in Spring.” Lastly, enjoy “Osen and Sokichi” from Kyoka’s mature phase as we join Countess Kifune and Takamine from “The Surgery” and Tamawaki Mio and her lover from “One Day in Spring.
I highly recommend this book for public adult and young adult nonfiction and Japanese historical literature collections, in public and academic libraries. The reading and context may be a little difficult for high schoolers to understand.
Submitted May 2006 by Jeroldine Chun, LIS Student, University of Hawaii at Manoa
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