Yukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio MishimaYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

List of 15 recommended works of Yukio Mishima and commentaries - Interesting works of Yukio Mishima, one of Japan's most famous writers, and his epic life.

This article will introduce recommended works and commentaries by Yukio Mishima.

It was my blessing to have met the extraordinary giant that is Yukio Mishima.

Mishima literature may seem obscure, but if you start with a solid introduction, you will be able to enjoy its charms more than enough. It is truly the black magic of Mishima literature. I highly recommend this author.
Sea of FertilityYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima's "Sea of Fertility" Synopsis and Impressions - What is Life? What is life? An amazing feature-length tetralogy that contains the soul of Mishima!

I have previously written an article on this blog entitled "Ten Novels to Use as Your Business Card," and this "Sea of Fertility" will be a new addition to that list.

The Mishima extract has had a very strong influence on my travels to Buddhist sites in India.

I consider "The Sea of Fertility" to be a major event in the history of world literature beyond Japan. It was such a huge work.
Akutagawa RyunosukeYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Ryunosuke Akutagawa's 5 recommended works - If you want to taste a masterpiece medium and short story with excellent sharpness, Akutagawa is the right choice! Recommended for both beginning and expert readers!

Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai are truly two extremes. While Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai are the two extremes, Ryunosuke Akutagawa is a middle-of-the-road artist with a moderate and good style.

The "middle-of-the-road, moderately good" style of writing is only in comparison with Mishima and Dazai. Its sharpness is outstanding.

I recommend this collection of works at the highest level as an introduction to reading. Of course, even the experts will be surprised at the depth of these works.
Yukio Mishima and BuddhismYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

The connection between Yukio Mishima and Buddhism: Where did Mishima learn Buddhism, including the philosophy of Yusama in "The Sea of Fertility"?

We do not know what Mishima actually read when he studied Buddhism, but we know from the article in the complete works referred to here that he read a number of introductory books and arrived at Yudhistra, and that he was taught by Dr. Masu Yamaguchi of Otani University.

I am now deeply aware that I would like to relearn the Yoboku-kyo again in order to better appreciate "The Sea of Fertility," which became Mishima's lifework. This will be an important point in understanding Mishima's thoughts in his later years.
Yukio Mishima Impressions of IndiaYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima's "Impressions of India" - What did Mishima see and think during his trip to India in his later years? Strong influence on "The Sea of Fertility!

Yukio Mishima spent 15 days in India in the fall of 1967. The route was a forced march around the vast country of India.

In his later years, Mishima had a fairly strong interest in India. This is not an age when anything can be easily searched on the Internet. You cannot learn much about Hinduism without actively gathering information yourself. This strong interest in India and Buddhism seems to have greatly influenced Mishima's literature, especially "The Sea of Fertility.

There is no doubt that this interview article is an important source of information about Mishima's views on India.
Introduction to Behavioral ScienceYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima, "Introduction to Behavioral Studies" - Mishima himself wrote about his own self-determination! Recommended commentaries for understanding Mishima's suicide

Until Mishima's suicide on November 25, 1970, almost no one had expected him to make his decision. Yes, many people had noticed something vaguely unusual about Mishima, but they did not think that he would go to such lengths.

But after his suicide, time after time, it turned out exactly as Mishima had predicted in this book. In "An Introduction to Behavioral Science," Mishima's thoughts are expressed directly. I am going to do it. I will take action. I am not just a man of my word.
Yukio Mishima and the Tatenokai IncidentYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Masayasu Hosaka, "Yukio Mishima and the Tatenokai Incident" - Recommended reference book to learn about the detailed process leading up to his suicide at the Self Defense Forces Ichigaya Camp in 1970.

On November 25, 1970, Yukio Mishima and four members of the Tatenokai holed up in the Ichigaya Camp of the Self-Defense Forces, and after making speeches from the balcony urging the uprising against the Self-Defense Forces, both Mishima and Masakatsu Morita committed seppuku (ritual suicide). This book is the best introduction to the background and circumstances of this shocking incident.

The book provides a fairly detailed look at the process that led to Mishima's suicide. I found the explanation of the formation of the Tatenokai, its progress, and Mishima's connection to the Self-Defense Forces to be particularly interesting.

I can't introduce its contents here, but I was also surprised by the number of "eh! I can't tell you about the contents of the book here, but I can tell you that I was surprised by many things that came out. I think my view of Mishima changed before and after reading this book.
Music Yukio MishimaYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima's "Music" Synopsis and Impressions - A masterpiece that contains a critical challenge to Freud's psychoanalysis!

A unique work that dramatically depicts the depths of the female psyche and sexuality."

Although this introduction may make it sound like a dubious work, "Female Psychology and Sexuality," this work is actually a novel written by Mishima in which he challenges Freudian psychoanalysis. I read this book precisely because I was interested in this challenge to Freud.

The protagonist of this work is a psychiatrist. The story progresses in the form of a memoir by this middle-aged psychiatrist.

He presents his own psychoanalysis in abundance in this memoir, but he is not with the right person! His plausible interpretations are overturned one after another by the mysterious actions and words of beautiful women. Herein lies Mishima's challenge to Freud.
After the Banquet Yukio MishimaYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima's "After the Banquet" Synopsis and Impressions - Highly acclaimed overseas! A problematic work that led to a privacy lawsuit

While Mishima tried to depict "the times" in "Kagamiko's House," his current work, "After the Banquet," was written based on the actual election of Hachiro Arita, a politician, as governor of Tokyo.

However, after the publication of this novel, Mishima was sued by Mr. Arita. This became the first privacy trial in Japan, and Mishima suffered a psychological shock following the house of "Kagamiko's House.

However, as Mr. Tokuoka and Donald Keene state, the work itself is undoubtedly very good. This work seems to be highly appreciated overseas as well.