In this episode of Nan’pusha, we delve into the profound and poignant world of Natsume Sōseki’s The Gate. Set against the backdrop of Tokyo during the Meiji era, this novel invites us into the quiet lives of Sosuke and his wife, Oyome, who share a love intertwined with the complexities of their past.

Join us as we explore themes of redemption, humility, and the nuanced dynamics of love and remorse. Through Sosuke’s journey, we reflect on the concept of happiness found in simplicity and the weight of unspoken truths. This episode illuminates how Sōseki crafts a narrative that balances beauty and melancholy, showing us that the most meaningful connections often grow in the shadows of regret.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Japanese literature or new to Sōseki’s work, this episode offers rich insights into a story that resonates with timeless themes and emotional depth. Tune in and discover how The Gate reveals the quiet struggles and triumphs of the human heart.

About Kasumi Kobayashi – Narrator at 南風舎 (Nan’pusha)

Welcome! I’m Kasumi Kobayashi, a passionate narrator and podcaster dedicated to sharing the beauty of Japanese literature, culture, and philosophy with a global audience. Through my storytelling, I bring both classic and modern Japanese works to life, weaving in my personal experiences with Iaido and Noh to offer deeper connections to Japan’s timeless traditions.

🎧 Where to Listen and Follow:

iTunes (Main Channel):

南風舎 - Nan’pusha features all my programs in one place. Enjoy weekly narrations and bonus episodes for subscribers, perfect for immersing yourself in Japanese stories.

👉 iTunes: https://apple.co/3Nzqh6B

Patreon:

Dive deeper with exclusive content! Supporters enjoy weekly episodes, early access, and bonus features that enrich the exploration of Japan’s literary and cultural heritage.

👉 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kasumikobayashi

YouTube:

Explore 南風舎 on YouTube, where visual and audio content bring Japanese culture to life at your own pace. Exclusive, unlisted content is available to iTunes and Patreon members.

👉 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kaseumin

Social Media:

Stay connected with updates and behind-the-scenes insights:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaseumin/

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of the Aestheticism movement in Japanese literature, known as 耽美派 (Tanbi-ha). Rooted in the idea that beauty itself holds intrinsic value, Tanbi-ha emerged in opposition to the stark realism of Naturalism, favoring instead a devotion to art, sensuality, and the pursuit of beauty as life’s highest goal. We’ll explore how writers like Kitahara Hakushu, Nagai Kafū, Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, and others shaped this movement, each weaving aesthetics into narratives that continue to influence Japanese culture and literature.

Join me as we unpack the backgrounds, inspirations, and notable works of these visionary authors, who were drawn to both traditional Japanese beauty and Western influences from writers like Charles Baudelaire and Oscar Wilde. Discover the themes of passion, transience, and artistic elegance that define Tanbi-ha and consider its lasting impact on Japan’s literary landscape.

Whether you’re new to the Aestheticism movement or a longtime admirer, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on Japan’s journey through beauty, art, and literature.

Dive into the world of 耽美派 with my curated audiobook collection!

1. ​Charles Baudelaire

[Bilingual JP/FR]「港」ボードレール Le Port - Baudelaire

https://youtu.be/zA-ypy7A7KQ

1. ​Mori Ōgai

Episode 2023-03 Ogai MORI (森鴎外)- Author Spotlight in English

https://youtu.be/hdn-_8cjfnU

1. ​Ueda Bin

Kaichō on by Bin UEDA 上田敏『海潮音』(全) Part 1

https://youtu.be/9OFIsLc6GrA

1. ​Kitahara Hakushu

“Heretics” by Hakushu KITAHARA ( Unabridged ) 北原白秋『邪宗門』(全) (1)

https://youtu.be/veuR9bzcUy4

1. ​Nagai Kafū

永井荷風 (Kafu NAGAI)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwqiwuMgsh-J1d8VZCOKn6ikzawXRCWLL

1. ​Jun’ichirō Tanizaki

谷崎潤一郎 ( Junichiro TANIZAKI )

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwqiwuMgsh-LWMetKiddCwyjrI2rR_FPI

About Kasumi Kobayashi – Narrator at 南風舎 (Nan’pusha)

Welcome! I’m Kasumi Kobayashi, a passionate narrator and podcaster dedicated to sharing the beauty of Japanese literature, culture, and philosophy with a global audience. Through my storytelling, I bring both classic and modern Japanese works to life, weaving in my personal experiences with Iaido and Noh to offer deeper connections to Japan’s timeless traditions.

🎧 Where to Listen and Follow:

iTunes (Main Channel):

南風舎 - Nan’pusha features all my programs in one place. Enjoy weekly narrations and bonus episodes for subscribers, perfect for immersing yourself in Japanese stories.

👉 iTunes: https://apple.co/3Nzqh6B

Patreon:

Dive deeper with exclusive content! Supporters enjoy weekly episodes, early access, and bonus features that enrich the exploration of Japan’s literary and cultural heritage.

👉 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kasumikobayashi

YouTube:

Explore 南風舎 on YouTube, where visual and audio content bring Japanese culture to life at your own pace. Exclusive, unlisted content is available to iTunes and Patreon members.

👉 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kaseumin

Social Media:

Stay connected with updates and behind-the-scenes insights:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaseumin/

Introduction of the audiobook

Kajii Motojiro, born in 1901 in Osaka, is an extraordinary figure in modern Japanese literature whose brief life ended at only 31 due to tuberculosis. Though his professional writing career was cut short before he could publish widely in mainstream literary magazines, he left a profound legacy through a series of powerful short stories published in smaller literary magazines. Today, authors including Yukio Mishima consider his work among the finest of Japan’s Showa period, a time when Japanese literature was undergoing a deep transformation and exploration of new forms and themes.

Kajii’s writing stands out for its lyrical sensitivity and immersive calm, bringing readers into a world where the tangible meets the intangible, and small, vivid details evoke complex emotions. His well-known short story Lemon, for instance, captures a moment of defiance, beauty, and melancholy in the simplest of objects—a lemon placed at a bookstore. This story has resonated with many for its subtle rebellion against the pressures of modern urban life and its delicate portrayal of the artist’s inner world.

Despite the praise from figures like Mishima, Kajii is not as widely recognized as his contemporaries, such as Akutagawa Ryunosuke. Some speculate that his appearance may have played a role in this. With features that some might describe as “rakkan” or roguish, Kajii’s looks did not align with the stereotypical image of a refined, introspective writer. This may have made it harder for the public to connect his external image with the sensitivity and depth present in his stories. Furthermore, he doesn’t appear in popular depictions like the manga Bungou Shikkaku, which has brought many literary figures back into modern cultural awareness.

Special thanks / スペシャルサンクス :

Translation by Max Blivenマックス・ブリヴェン(翻訳)

Intro music “ 7b2 ”by kuma (イントロ音楽) https://soundcloud.com/sbarbery/7b2

♣️️Subscribe to my literature channel 南風舎 at iTunes to dive deep into the Japanese literature. Weekly updates.

🔗 iTunes: https://apple.co/3YTK6tW

🎙️ My reading in the original Japanese

梶井基次郎『檸檬』" Lemon " by Motojiro KAJII (Copyright Free)

https://youtu.be/BBwOMVvvcI8

🎙️ Playlist :梶井基次郎 ( Motojiro KAJII )

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwqiwuMgsh-KT6mNeAj_-SKWmtJ4j42L6

“ A note on the translation : I began translating this story several years ago, so the first third of my translation has a different rhythm and feel than the latter half or more, which I translated in just the past year. ” by Max

Transcript

https://japaneseclassicallit.blogspot.com/2023/02/lemon-by-motojiro-kajii-translation-by.html

About Kasumi Kobayashi – Narrator at 南風舎 (Nan’pusha)

Welcome! I’m Kasumi Kobayashi, a passionate narrator and podcaster dedicated to sharing the beauty of Japanese literature, culture, and philosophy with a global audience. Through my storytelling, I bring both classic and modern Japanese works to life, weaving in my personal experiences with Iaido and Noh to offer deeper connections to Japan’s timeless traditions.

🎧 Where to Listen and Follow:

iTunes (Main Channel):

南風舎 - Nan’pusha features all my programs in one place. Enjoy weekly narrations and bonus episodes for subscribers, perfect for immersing yourself in Japanese stories.

👉 iTunes: https://apple.co/3Nzqh6B

Patreon:

Dive deeper with exclusive content! Supporters enjoy weekly episodes, early access, and bonus features that enrich the exploration of Japan’s literary and cultural heritage.

👉 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kasumikobayashi

YouTube:

Explore 南風舎 on YouTube, where visual and audio content bring Japanese culture to life at your own pace. Exclusive, unlisted content is available to iTunes and Patreon members.

👉 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kaseumin

Social Media:

Stay connected with updates and behind-the-scenes insights:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaseumin/