Cover of Tales from a Mountain Cave: Stories from Japan's Northeast

Tales from a Mountain Cave: Stories from Japan's Northeast

Hisashi Inoue was described by Nobel prize-winner Kenzaburo Oe as one of the towering figures of contemporary Japan.

As a young man Inoue lived in Kamaishi, on the coast of North East Japan, an area that was to be devastated by the tsunami of 2011. This book reflects the author's own experience of Kamaishi, its contemporary history, and the long traditions of story-telling in the region. Ebullient, funny, sad and kind, this is one of the first of Inoue's books to be available in English. Tales from a Mountain Cave is a translation of Shinshaku Tono Monogatari.

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Comments from newspapers and blogs:

'Wonderful. I was so taken in by each tale in this magnificent collection that I found myself gasping out loud.' Haikugirl

'The real power of this volume to do good in a region still striving to return to normality is its ability to enchant and intrigue — reminding us how much more there is to Tohoku than its recent, very public suffering. This deftly translated, entertaining, yet often poignant volume showcases the region's rich cultural heritage. It feels like a promise that a community that has survived so much will survive this latest disaster.' The Japan Times

'Surprising and funny. A real page-turner.' The Journal

'A stunning collection.' Nihon Distractions

'House up the River' from 'Tales from a Mountain Cave' was commended in the 2013 John Dryden Translation

Audience
adult
Length
short · 134 pages

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