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.

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.

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...

内容紹介

日本の文学史上最古にして最高傑作ともいわれる『源氏物語』。

紫式部によって書かれた全五十四帖にわたる長編小説を、わかりやすく情感豊かに読み上げました。

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

夕顔の忘れ形見、玉鬘をめぐる、恋の駆け引き。揺るぎない地位を築いた光源氏の苦悩と迷い――人間ドラマを描く筆が冴えわたる巻！

One of the first recorded alien visitor stories, from Japan in around 900 AD. Taken from the translation by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Includes a very early version of an interplanetary society. The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Japanese: 竹取物語, Hepburn: Taketori Monogatari) is a monogatari (fictional prose narrative) containing elements of Japanese folklore. Written by an unknown author in the late 9th or early 10th century during the Heian period, it is considered the oldest surviving work in the monogatari form.

日本最古とも言われ、仮名によって書かれた最初期の物語とも言われる。さぬきのみやつこまろは、竹を取り色々なものを作って商売をしていたため、竹取の翁と言われていました。いつものように竹やぶを歩いていると光り輝く竹があり、中には三寸ばかりの美しい女の子がおりました。翁は少女を大切に育て、なよたけのかぐやひめと名づけました。成長したかぐやひめの美しさはいつしか評判となり、やがて5人の男が結婚を申し出てきました。かぐやひめは逢うための条件として、5人の男に大変むずかしい注文を言いつけました…。竹取物語のストーリーはとても有名で、古文の問題としてもよく出題されています。そんな竹取物語を分かりやすい現代語訳で聴いてみませんか?

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.

When her cozy hometown is visited by death, Emma's investigative skills are enlisted by a secretive ghost. But with the uncooperative spirit holding so much back, and with the handsome local doctor pressing Emma for answers, will she ever get to the bottom of the case? Or will the Hollow be forever haunted by the secrets of the past?

「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

日本最古の和歌集。現代に響く万葉びとの歌声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。「万葉集」は、飛鳥時代から奈良時代中期までの歌を集めた約4500首、全20巻の歌集。代表的歌人は額田王、柿本人麻呂、高市黒人、山部赤人、山上憶良、高橋虫麻呂、大伴旅人、大伴家持など。

栄華の頂点と、忍び寄る影――藤壺の宮との秘めた子が新帝に立ち、理想郷である広大な六条院が落成する。愛とかなしみに、ますますドラマが動く！

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――

口やかましい妻を男性がやりこめ、従順な奥さんに仕立て上げるこの物語は、中世の男権社会において、女性のアイデンティティの確立は結婚にありという常識を前提として、非常な人気を博した作品である。しかし、本作は喜劇という形を取りながら、キリスト教的な考え方から男性の所有物として認識されていた当時の女性の立場の中、男性が勝ち気な女を貞淑な妻に改心させました、めでたしめでたし、という一方的に夫が妻をしつけるという短絡的なお話ではなく、お互いの出方を見ながら徐々にうまい関係性を築き、最終的には共犯者的な関係に落ち着くような夫婦の形を暗にほのめかしている。じゃじゃ馬を馴らすのは、本当は誰なのか。草食男子はびこる現代にも十二分に通じる、男女が共生していく駆け引きのひとつの形を、皮肉たっぷりの普遍の笑いでお楽しみいただきたい。 ※本商品はラム姉弟『シェイクスピア物語』をもとに、シェイクスピアの原典にある台詞(および野上豊一郎訳のプロローグ)を加え、再編集しています。※本商品はラム姉弟『シェイクスピア物語』をもとに、シェイクスピアの原典にある台詞(および野上豊一郎訳のプロローグ)を加え、再編集しています。 ・Charles and Mary Lamb's TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE: MACBETH edited by Yu Okubo translated by Yuka...

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.