Tales of Bokuto

A full-length novel by Nagai Kafu. Published by Uyudo (privately published) in April 1937 (Showa 12). It was serialized in the evening editions of both the Tokyo and Osaka editions of the Asahi Shimbun from April to June of the same year. Published by Iwanami Shoten in August. The aging author "Watashi" (Oe Tadasu) is caught in a sudden shower while walking around Tama-no-i across the Sumida River from Asakusa, and becomes acquainted with Oyuki, a woman from a private brothel who he offers under his umbrella. Eventually, she begins to dream of relying on him and becoming self-sufficient, so on a bright moon-like night in mid-autumn, he gives her money for a kimono, and after this, he avoids any deeper relationship with her and gives up on seeing her again. It is considered a representative work of the Showa period, in which the author's anti-social criticism of civilization is mixed with his slumbering and narrow-minded tastes.

[Takemori Tenyu]

"Tales of the East" (Iwanami Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

永井荷風(かふう)の長編小説。1937年（昭和12）4月、烏有堂(うゆうどう)（私家版）刊。同年4～6月、東京・大阪の両『朝日新聞』夕刊に連載。8月、岩波書店刊。老作者「わたくし」（大江匡(ただす)）は、浅草から隅田(すみだ)川の向こう玉の井のあたりを散歩の途中、夕立にあい、傘に入れてやった私娼窟(ししょうくつ)の女お雪と馴染(なじ)みになる。そのうち、女が彼を頼って自前になろうという夢をみ始めたので、仲秋の明月の夜、彼女に「袷(あわせ)」代を贈ったのを最後として、これ以上、深い関係になることを避け、以後相会うことを断念するという筋。作者の反時勢的な文明批評と陋巷(ろうこう)・狭斜(きょうしゃ)趣味とが渾然(こんぜん)一体となった、昭和期の代表作とされる。

［竹盛天雄］

『『濹東綺譚』（岩波文庫）』

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