Classic Japanese

A humble clerk and his loving wife scrape out a quiet existence on the margins of Tokyo. Resigned, following years of exile and misfortune, to the bitter consequences of having married without their families' consent, and unable to have children of their own, Sosuke and Oyone find the delicate equilibrium of their household upset by a new obligation to meet the educational expenses of Sosuke's brash younger brother. While an unlikely new friendship appears to offer a way out of this bind, it also soon threatens to dredge up a past that could once again force them to flee the capital.

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.

Chris Harding's enormously enjoyable new book distils Japan's long, complex and fascinating history into the stories of 20 remarkable individuals. These vivid and entertaining portraits take the listener from the earliest written accounts of Japan right through to the life of the current empress, Masako. We encounter shamans and warlords, poets and revolutionaries, scientists, artists and adventurers - each offering insights of their own into this extraordinary place.

Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji in the 11th century to entertain the other women in the court. It follows the romantic exploits of the title character, an emperor’s son, as he navigates life within aristocratic society and eventually outside of it. Praised for its psychological insight into the characters’ motivations, the book greatly influenced Japanese culture and is widely considered the world’s first novel. In 1882, Suematsu Kencho translated a condensed version of the text into English, allowing this classic tale to reach a wider audience.

琵琶法師の語りによって全国に広まった物語を今、朗読であらためて語り継ぐ――

Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, was an Irish writer known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo. His book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, comprises two parts, the first being the "Kwaidan Proper" and the second, "Insect-Studies", which consists of an essay each on ants, butterflies and mosquitos. According to the author, most of the folk tales and ghost stories in the first part were translated from old Japanese texts. The themes encompass resurrection, sacrifice, magic, and the realm of dreams.

In ancient Japan, a peasant couple discovers a little boy inside a giant peach. Momotaro, the Peachboy, grows up to become a courageous hero who vanquishes forever the evil band of ogres who have been tormenting his people. In this wonderful tale, narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, good triumphs over evil, life overcomes death, and nature flourishes in the face of destruction.

This audiobook is for those who want an easy-to-follow guide that will make learning the Japanese language both fun and simple. This audiobook is specifically created for travelers, students, and businesspeople who visit Japan.

Based on Japanese literature and foldlore, Kwaidan contains 17 stories. The story of Loichi, the blind biwa player who was called to perform for the dead; of Muso, the journeying priest who encountered a man eating goblin; of the samurai who outwitted the ghost of a dead man. All these plus 14 other spooly tales are included in this collection.

二大勅撰和歌集の精髄にふれる！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。平安初期、紀貫之らによって編まれた最初の勅撰集「古今和歌集」と、鎌倉初期、後鳥羽上皇の命により藤原定家らが編んだ「新古今和歌集」から約300首を厳選。また、文学紀行コラムも収録しています。

A novella with the quirkiness of Japanese mysteries and lingering suspense that grows with every page. They barely know each other, but their lives are about to entangle in unexpected ways. Paul, Krishna, Gloria, and Varsha have nothing in common. Only that they have time on their hands to take Spanish language classes and are free for an hour after it to hang around in a café. Over the course of three months, the four grow close to each other, sharing the joys and tribulations of their lives. Paul is lonely after his wife’s death and wanders about the city, collecting plants. Krishna is...

Discover the endless fascination of Japanese culture with seven ancient tales, selected for you for their power of evocation, wisdom and humor. Not unlike the western folk tales compiled by the Brothers Grimm, these stories faithfully preserve the spirit of medieval Japan, while rendered in a translation accessible to all ages.

『雨ニモマケズ』 この作品は作者である宮沢賢治の没後に発見された手帳に書かれていたメモであり、この手帳の存在は賢治の生前には家族にも知られておらず、本作が最初に活字化されたのは、没後1年を経たのちであった。 【雨にも負けず 風にも負けず 雪にも 夏の暑さにも負けぬ 丈夫な体を持ち 欲はなく 決して怒らず いつも静かに笑っている 一日に玄米4合と 味噌と少しの野菜を食べ あらゆることを自分を勘定に入れずに よく見聞きし 分かり そして忘れず 野原の松の林の陰の小さな茅葺き小屋にいて 東に病気の子どもあれば行って看病してやり 西に疲れた母あれば行ってその稲の束を負い 南に死にそうな人あれば行って怖がらなくてもいいと言い 北に喧嘩や訴訟があればつまらないからやめろと言い 日照りの時は涙を流し 寒さの夏はおろおろ歩き みんなにデクノボーと呼ばれ ほめられもせず 苦にもされず そういうものに わたしはなりたい】 宮沢賢治の代表的な作品です。オーディオブックで聴いてみてください。 「春と修羅」序 「永訣の朝」 「猫の事務所」を同時収録。

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.

This collection of Japanese poetry was compiled and translated into English from an anthology known as The Collection of Myriad Leaves, and from a number of other anthologies made by imperial decree between the tenth and fifteenth centuries. This period has come to be considered the golden age of Japanese literature. These examples of Japanese poetry exhibit the most exquisite polish, allied with an avoidance of every shocking or perturbing theme; they combine the enduring luster of a precious metal with the tenuity of gold-leaf.

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.

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.

A collection of stories from the Land of the Rising Sun. The tales come from a rich folk tradition. Fantasy and horror intermingle in these imaginative narratives.

「命がけの実利主義」ともいわれる剣豪・宮本武蔵の兵法。彼は、人生の最末期、熊本にある洞窟内にこもり命を削るようにして『五輪書』を書かれたと言われています。いわば後の世にむけての武蔵の遺言の書ともいえるその一書を、今、まさに脂の乗ってきた朗読家・渡部龍朗が、剣豪と真剣でわたりあう気迫で読みあげました。武蔵を偲ぶ書として。古兵法の世界への指南書として。ビジネス書として。哲学書として。人生をたたかう心得書として。さまざまな読み方(聴き方)を、奥深く堪能してください。・・余談ながら、オリンピックのことを「五輪」と呼ぶのはこの『五輪書』が由来です。方丈記・雪女・武士道・茶の本につづく日本の心を伝える名著「五輪書」お楽しみください。 ことのは出版オーディオブックの情報はhttp://www.kotonoha.co.jpにて

明治期の文学者、夏目漱石の中編小説。初出は「ホトトギス」［1906（明治39）年4月。