Patriotism
by Yukio Mishima
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a little history on the great mishima..
FROM WIKIPEDia:
"On November 25, 1970, Mishima and four members of the Tatenokai, under pretext, visited the commandant of the Ichigaya Camp - the Tokyo headquarters of the Eastern Command of Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Inside, they barricaded the office and tied the commandant to his chair. With a prepared manifesto and banner listing their demands, Mishima stepped onto the balcony to address the soldiers gathered below. His speech was inten...more
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Read in July, 1996
recommends it for:
"Authenticity" junkies, Nippon-o-philes
An incredibly straightforward story of a samurai and his wife who are ordered to commit seppuku and then do so. Most of the story is devoted to their last night together and the preparations they go through prior to their ritual double suicide. This story is notable mostly because Yukio Mishima himself committed ritual suicide after attempting a coup d'etat at JSDF headquarters in Tokyo in 1970. Maybe "Patriotism" loses something in translation, but I found it relatively staid and unex...more
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This is the short story that eventually defined the Mishima mystique. Which is the manner how he died and why. Well, the why we'll never know, but one could pick up the clues that are in this short story as well as look as his life in whole. He was a man who I think thought himself as a performer. The writing was his foundation to do other things - and I think he was so into that identity thing, he would never have ignored his 'death' impulses. It's part of his DNA at that point.
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recommended to Scott by:
My tiny friend Sara and her cat Isabel
recommends it for: Anyone
recommends it for: Anyone
I was hung over, and riding the L train, and this energetic lucid meditation on the ritual suicide of a couple was so vibrant that I nearly vomited all over the haircut next to me. Mishima is bad as hell, and his own life was just as interesting as this ode to duty, ritual, and honor.
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This is where Mishima shines- Western culture vs. traditional Japanese values, honor, duty, and death. It's a real insight into bushido and ritual suicide. The way Mishima writes about suicide makes death and gore synonymous with life and beauty. Reading this and seeing his feelings on the subject makes his own seppuku a lot easier to understand.
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Read in January, 2007
recommended to Cheryl by:
Picked it up from Brian's college required readings. recommends it for: Men, those interested in Japanese literature
This was an intense, flawlessly written story of a soldier and his love of wife and country, with country first and foremost, and the extent he was willing to go to express this supreme loyalty. Delves into intense tender romantic bond between husband and wife, in a delicate and sensual manner. Quite graphic and literal.
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The short book certainly puts into perspective the American view of patriotism put on display by small flags out of car windows and country songs. Not, obviously, that we only show patriotism that way - but I'm fairly confidant that ritual suicide remains a scarce practice.
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Read in January, 1997
recommends it for:
politicos
A quick, gut-punching story about tradition, obligation, and honor. Read this in an hour and then realize when your partner asks you to do the dishes, clip his toenails, host a dinner, or spank his ass, your getting off easy.
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Read it in class... students very reactive to ideas of honor, suicide, culture. I found it strangely beautiful how Mishima managed to weave ideas of life, beauty, passion, death, fear,love in a sensual, affecting way.
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A dear friend and I categorize people as either "getting it" or not, in regards to this book.
For us, it is a litmus test. This is a story of love, honor, devotion, and sacrifice.
Absolutely gorgeous.
For us, it is a litmus test. This is a story of love, honor, devotion, and sacrifice.
Absolutely gorgeous.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
people who are into samuri stuff.
the sex scenes....nice.
the book in a whole (all 57 pages) were beautiful.
have to read this for class, I don't want to buy it and you can't find it in the Portland public library system! lame!!
the book in a whole (all 57 pages) were beautiful.
have to read this for class, I don't want to buy it and you can't find it in the Portland public library system! lame!!
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recommends it for:
people interested in bushi-do.
More interesting if you know Mishima's life and personal characteristics. It definitely lives up to the "romantic" aspects of seppuku, honor, obligation, duty and all that other stuff.
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Read in January, 2002
recommends it for:
anyone
This has got to be the single most beautiful book ever written. Mishima has captured the soul of love and honor.
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This short story is breathtaking. I read it in college and I was brought to tears reading it on the subway.
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Powerful Descriptive Prose about loyalty based around the act of seppuku.
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visceral, delicious, and depressing. the se7en of japanese literature.
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