What do you think?
Mermaid Meat and Other Japanese Ghost Stories
About this Gift-Book 6 1/2 X 6 1/2 77 pages plus CD recording Mermaid Meat the Secret to Immortality features a purple embossed silk cover surrounding an inlay of an exquisite woodblock print of a geisha. Inside, the thick crème paper and vintage fonts were inspired by the storybooks of old published around the turn of the last century in the Japonais style celebrating the exotic East. The book features traditional Japanese ghost stories illustrated with full color plates by Yoshitoshi, a woodblock artist famous for his portraits of women and ghosts. San Francisco writer/recording artist Brenda Wong Aoki , is acclaimed as one of the foremost storytellers in the country. These stories have been test marketed internationally and consistently remain her audience's favorites. The market for this book women, folklorists, people interested in Japanese culture, people learning English and storytelling aficionados and theater artists. About the writing and recording The haunting eloquence of master storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki woven with the music of Asian Jazz pioneer Mark Izu . Obsessive greed, crimes of passion, abuse of power; today's headlines, are the stuff of ghost stories. Meat the secret to immortality and other Japanese Ghost Stories features four powerful tales that explore the dilemmas of life people around the world have grappled with since the beginning of time. Mermaid Meat the horrific tale of a girl who eats the flesh of a mermaid and lives forever The Bell of Dojoji a Kabuki story of a simple maiden transformed by her ungovernable lust for a pious monk Dancing in California the last dance of a ballerina inside a World War II American Japanese Prison Camp Black Hair a dead wife's incorporeal revenge Brenda Wong Aoki the foremost narrative voice working in America today. - Robert Shay, CEO New Line Cinema ...stories, ancient and new...dominated by women battling the odds with a strength bordering on obsession. - The Washington Post
77 pages, Hardcover
Published December 15, 2007
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2021
I know Brenda Wong Aoki to be a great storyteller and I was very intrigued when I discovered her book, “Mermaid Meat: The Secret to Immortality.” The work is described as a collection of Japanese ghost stories, but that is not entirely an accurate description in my opinion.
Beautifully written and exquisitely illustrated with Japanese woodblock images, “Mermaid Meat,” is a collection of stories about women. Brenda prefaces each story with a short personal anecdote which gives the reader insight into this brilliant performer’s life experiences. Each macabre story explores the less desirable series of female virtues and the unpleasant consequences which result from them.
“Mermaid Meat” focuses on a woman’s eternal desire to remain young and beautiful. “The Bell of Dojoji” tells the tale of a woman’s senseless devotion to a man who does not love her, while “Dancing in California” relates the woeful tale of a woman who despite her shortcomings wanted desperately to become a ballet dancer and drove herself to madness in a Japanese Internment Camp during the 1940s.
The last story, “Black Hair,” is also about a woman ― a wife so devoted to her samurai husband that she sacrificed all that she had to please him; only to be abandoned by him for another woman. But in this story, in a strange cadaverous manner, the good wife is finally avenged.
Brenda and Mark were thoughtful enough to include a glossary that defines various Japanese words used throughout the book. A useful tool for the non-Japanese speaking readers. The book also contains a CD that I have yet to listen to. As an author, I first wanted to absorb the words from the book’s pages with my eyes before treating my ears to Brenda’s amazing storytelling.
This work is a real treasure in many aspects, and I would highly recommend it.
Beautifully written and exquisitely illustrated with Japanese woodblock images, “Mermaid Meat,” is a collection of stories about women. Brenda prefaces each story with a short personal anecdote which gives the reader insight into this brilliant performer’s life experiences. Each macabre story explores the less desirable series of female virtues and the unpleasant consequences which result from them.
“Mermaid Meat” focuses on a woman’s eternal desire to remain young and beautiful. “The Bell of Dojoji” tells the tale of a woman’s senseless devotion to a man who does not love her, while “Dancing in California” relates the woeful tale of a woman who despite her shortcomings wanted desperately to become a ballet dancer and drove herself to madness in a Japanese Internment Camp during the 1940s.
The last story, “Black Hair,” is also about a woman ― a wife so devoted to her samurai husband that she sacrificed all that she had to please him; only to be abandoned by him for another woman. But in this story, in a strange cadaverous manner, the good wife is finally avenged.
Brenda and Mark were thoughtful enough to include a glossary that defines various Japanese words used throughout the book. A useful tool for the non-Japanese speaking readers. The book also contains a CD that I have yet to listen to. As an author, I first wanted to absorb the words from the book’s pages with my eyes before treating my ears to Brenda’s amazing storytelling.
This work is a real treasure in many aspects, and I would highly recommend it.
December 2, 2018
An interesting, immersive, experience of fairy tales, hauntings, and love gone wrong for all involved. The artist/storyteller uses a variety of musical instruments from drums to her hands to her voice a Koto to bring her stories to life.
All have an element of grief, but the saddest one is "Dancing in California" about a young woman who used to dance in a ballet before she and her father get taken to a Japanese Internment Camp in Arizona. The stress of her loss is too much and she ends up in an institution for her mental health.
"Mermaid Meat" is the fairy tale, in which a young woman's greed brings her, and the mermaid in question, much grief.
"The Bells of Dojoji" is about a young woman who chases after a monk who has sworn to celibacy and comes an unhappy end.
"Black Hair" sees an unfaithful Samuri run off after wealth and a pretty, but shallow, young woman, leaving behind his loving wife who sacrificed not only her possessions, but her hair, in an attempt to keep a roof over their heads and her husband fed. When he finally realized his mistake, it's too late.
A rather memorable set of tales worth listening to and reading. The CD also includes excerpted music to enhance the listening experience.
All have an element of grief, but the saddest one is "Dancing in California" about a young woman who used to dance in a ballet before she and her father get taken to a Japanese Internment Camp in Arizona. The stress of her loss is too much and she ends up in an institution for her mental health.
"Mermaid Meat" is the fairy tale, in which a young woman's greed brings her, and the mermaid in question, much grief.
"The Bells of Dojoji" is about a young woman who chases after a monk who has sworn to celibacy and comes an unhappy end.
"Black Hair" sees an unfaithful Samuri run off after wealth and a pretty, but shallow, young woman, leaving behind his loving wife who sacrificed not only her possessions, but her hair, in an attempt to keep a roof over their heads and her husband fed. When he finally realized his mistake, it's too late.
A rather memorable set of tales worth listening to and reading. The CD also includes excerpted music to enhance the listening experience.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews