Classic Japanese Literature

In this collection of classic ghost stories from Japan, beautiful princesses turn out to be frogs, paintings come alive, deadly spectral brides haunt the living and a samurai delivers the baby of a Shinto goddess with mystical help. Here are all the phantoms and ghouls of Japanese folklore: 'rokuro-kubi', whose heads separate from their bodies at night; 'jikininki', or flesh-eating goblins; and terrifying faceless 'mujina' who haunt lonely neighbourhoods.

Japanese culture has fascinated the West ever since the country’s doors opened up in the 1800s. In many ways, Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all around the world to see for themselves how unique this nation remains. Another way of exploring this enigmatic culture is through its literature. The English language succeeds surprisingly well in revealing the Japanese sense of life.

Here are 22 charming Japanese Fairy Tales, translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki, including "My Lord Bag of Rice", "The Tongue-Cut Sparrow", "The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad", "The Farmer and the Badger", "The Shinansha, or the South Pointing Carriage", "The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy", "The Story of Princess Hase", "The Story of the Man Who Did Not Wish to Die", "The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moonchild", "The Mirror of Matsuyama", and more.

For those looking for the real story behind the fictionalized movie account of the 47 Ronin story, this is the definitive, fascinating account of this unforgettable tale of a band of samurai who defied the Emperor to avenge the disgrace and death of their master, and faced certain death as a result. It led to one of the bloodiest episodes in Japanese history, and in the process, created a new set of heroes in Japan.

The Narrow Road to the Interior and Hojoki are two of the best-loved works of their kind; famous for their beautiful, delicate verse and subtle insight into the human condition. It has been said of The Narrow Road that 'it was as if the very soul of Japan had itself written it'. It takes the form of a travel diary, and traces the poet's journey from Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to the northern interior.

世阿弥の能楽論と名作選古典文学の主要作品をセレクトし、現代語訳と原文とで構成した「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。能の本質・歴史・演技などを説いた「風姿花伝」、謡曲の名作「忠度」「井筒」「隅田川」「船弁慶」を収録。本タイトルには付属資料・PDFが用意されています。ご購入後、PCサイトのライブラリー、またはアプリ上の「目次」からご確認ください。

鴨長明・兼好の随筆と親鸞の言葉を伝える法語集古典文学の主要作品をセレクトし、現代語訳と原文とで構成した「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。「方丈記」の作者鴨長明は平安末から鎌倉初期にかけて、「徒然草」の作者兼好は鎌倉末から南北朝期にかけて、ともに社会が大きく変化する時期を生きました。変革・動乱の世とそこに生きる人々を観察・批評した随想集です。

鴨長明・兼好の随筆と親鸞の言葉を伝える法語集訳文で楽しむ「現代語訳編」古典文学の主要作品をセレクトした「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。「方丈記」の作者鴨長明は平安末から鎌倉初期にかけて、「徒然草」の作者兼好は鎌倉末から南北朝期にかけて、ともに社会が大きく変化する時期を生きました。変革・動乱の世とそこに生きる人々を観察・批評した随想集です。

世阿弥の能楽論と名作選訳文で楽しむ「現代語訳編」古典文学の主要作品をセレクトし、現代語訳と原文とで構成した「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。能の本質・歴史・演技などを説いた「風姿花伝」、謡曲の名作「忠度」「井筒」「隅田川」「船弁慶」を収録した本書から、現代語訳部分を集めたものです。本タイトルには付属資料・PDFが用意されています。

鴨長明・兼好の随筆と親鸞の言葉を伝える法語集古文の響きを味わう「原文編」古典文学の主要作品をセレクトした「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。「方丈記」の作者鴨長明は平安末から鎌倉初期にかけて、「徒然草」の作者兼好は鎌倉末から南北朝期にかけて、ともに社会が大きく変化する時期を生きました。変革・動乱の世とそこに生きる人々を観察・批評した随想集です。

世阿弥の能楽論と名作選古文の響きを味わう「原文編」古典文学の主要作品をセレクトし、現代語訳と原文とで構成した「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。能の本質・歴史・演技などを説いた「風姿花伝」、謡曲の名作「忠度」「井筒」「隅田川」「船弁慶」を収録した本書から、原文部分を集めたものです。本タイトルには付属資料・PDFが用意されています。

No collection of Japanese literature is complete without Natsume Soseki's Kokoro, his most famous novel and the last he completed before his death. Published here in the first new translation in more than 50 years, Kokoro - meaning "heart" - is the story of a subtle and poignant friendship between two unnamed characters, a young man and an enigmatic elder whom he calls "Sensei".

Mimei Ogawa, a prolific author of short stories nearly 100 years ago, is considered to be one of the founding figures of modern Japanese children’s literature. He has also been called the Hans Christian Andersen of Japan because of how his works were influenced by Andersen. This collection contains a fresh, modern translation of one of Mimei Ogawa’s most famous works, "The Mermaid and the Red Candles", as well as several other stories that have never been translated and published in English before.

Originally published in 1922 and translated by Takashi Kojima, this classic short story was the inspiration for Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film Rashomon, about the murder of a samurai. Told from the perspective of multiple witnesses.

儒学者の荻生徂徠は毎朝一丁の冷奴だけを食べて一日をしのぎ、学問に明け暮れていた。貧乏であっても人柄がすばらしい徂徠に感心した豆腐屋七兵衛はオカラを毎日届けることにする。ところが風邪で寝込んでしまい、商売に出られない日々が続いた。

Portraying himself as a failure, the protagonist of Osamu Dazai's No Longer Human narrates a seemingly normal life even while he feels himself incapable of understanding human beings. Oba Yozo's attempts to reconcile himself to the world around him begin in early childhood, continue through high school, where he becomes a "clown" to mask his alienation, and eventually lead to a failed suicide attempt as an adult. Without sentimentality, he records the casual cruelties of life and its fleeting moments of human connection and tenderness.

Are you interested in learning about Japanese mythology? Are you intrigued by the culture of Japan? Are you looking for some interesting stories to read? These myths are great from adults and children alike. They give you an insight into a culture that is full of traditions. These myths are like nothing you have ever read before. You will find that Japanese mythology is not based in only one belief system. These myths and folktales are based in their Shinto and Buddhist traditions. The origin stories within Japanese mythology can vary.

Ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief Alix - better known now as Owl - has one rule. No supernatural jobs. Ever. Until she crosses paths with Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon who owns and runs the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas. He insists Owl retrieve an artifact stolen 3,000 years ago and makes her an offer she can't refuse: He'll get rid of a pack of vampires that want her dead.

貴族・僧・武士・庶民・盗賊…さまざまな生を描く日本最大の説話集古典文学の主要作品をセレクトし、現代語訳と原文とで構成した「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。「今昔物語集」は平安末期に成立したと考えられている説話集。天竺＝インド、震旦＝中国、本朝＝日本の三地域にわけて収めた千を超える説話から、本朝部の著名な37話を選び出しました。

貴族・僧・武士・庶民・盗賊…さまざまな生を描く日本最大の説話集訳文で楽しむ「現代語訳編」古典文学の主要作品をセレクトした「日本の古典をよむ」（全20冊）シリーズの1冊です。「今昔物語集」は平安末期に成立したと考えられている説話集。天竺＝インド、震旦＝中国、本朝＝日本の三地域にわけて収めた千を超える説話から、本朝部の著名な37話を選び出しました。