The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories

The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories Edited by Theodore Goossen (1997, 452 pages)

A Wonderful Collection of Short Stories

A Good Starter Book on Japanese Literature

Japanese Literature on The Reading Life


The Japanese Literature Five Challenge-consider joining

I have already posted on several of the stories in this collection.    Most of the "big names" of Japanese literature are among the thirty- five stories included in the anthology.   The translators include Donald Keen and Jay Rubin.   The stories range from the beginnings of "Western style" short  stories in Japan up to works by Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto.


Two of the most famous short stories by Japan's two Nobel prize winners for literature are  included.     Perhaps the most famous of all Japanese short stories "The Grove" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa is part of the collection.    A wonderful story by Yukio Mishima, "Onnagata" takes us deeply into the life behind the stage at a Kobe theater.   There are also two excellent WWII stories.   There are good stories about the darker side of the Tokyo nightlife and a look at the life of an old geisha.   




Theodor Goossen has done a great job with this book.   His short introduction is very useful and helped me a lot.   He also includes a short biography of each author,  a list of films made on their works, and a publication history.   


I read all these stories and there is not a bad one in the book!    Some are funny, some are sexy, some are very dark and several are world class masterworks of the art of the short story.   You can learn a lot about Japanese culture and history from these stories.


This book is also very useful as it lets you "sample" the writings of thirty five different artists.   There were a lot of "new to me" writers in this anthology that I hope to read more of in the future.


If you like short stories and/or Japanese literature, you will love this book.     This book might be the perfect first Japanese literature book for those who do like short stories.   


In his introduction Goossen says in Japan prior to WWII the short story was considered a "purer" form than the novel (meaning less Westernized).


I also have The Oxford Book of Short Stories edited by William Trevor and, leaving aside the question of the quality of the stories, Goossen has done a better job with his book.   


Mel u