Japan's Other Places

In article , John W.
wrote:

What Hideyoshi? You mean "Taiko" by Yoshikawa? I read that this
year and it floored me. A fat read but I may even do it again...

Sorry; yep, that's the one. It really got me interested in the rulers of
that era in Japan. After reading Musashi for my tenth time, I felt I
needed to try another book about Japanese history.

I read both in the past year as well as a few other fat tomes. These
provide a stunning example of how a translator can make or break a
book. I bought Yoshikawa's popular re-write of "The Heike Story" and
found the reading amazingly laborious. Whereas, both Taiko and Musashi
or amazingly effortless reading.

I haven't given up completely on it, but it is daunting. Are there any
others in this historic vein that appeal?

--
First they gerrymander us into one-party fiefs. Then they tell us they only
care about the swing districts. They they complain about voter apathy.
-- Gail Collins

Gerry wrote:
In article , John W.
wrote:


What Hideyoshi? You mean "Taiko" by Yoshikawa? I read that this
year and it floored me. A fat read but I may even do it
again...


Sorry; yep, that's the one. It really got me interested in the
rulers of that era in Japan. After reading Musashi for my tenth
time, I felt I needed to try another book about Japanese history.


I read both in the past year as well as a few other fat tomes. These
provide a stunning example of how a translator can make or break a
book. I bought Yoshikawa's popular re-write of "The Heike Story" and
found the reading amazingly laborious. Whereas, both Taiko and
Musashi or amazingly effortless reading.

I haven't given up completely on it, but it is daunting. Are there
any others in this historic vein that appeal?

Those are the main ones I've read as well. I read a couple of James
Clavell's books for some reason they just didn't appeal to me. There are
a ton of books in Japanese, of course, but there might not be enough
demand to translate them. Did you know that they made a 'drama' in Japan
based on the Musashi story? I got to see the first six weeks or so, then
moved to a place where I can't get Japanese television.

I'm looking forward to my Christmas present this year: I've asked my
family to get me Kurosawa DVDs. Don't like all of them, but in general I
like Samurai movies.

John W.

In article , John W.
wrote:

I read both in the past year as well as a few other fat tomes.
These provide a stunning example of how a translator can make or
break a book. I bought Yoshikawa's popular re-write of "The Heike
Story" and found the reading amazingly laborious. Whereas, both
Taiko and Musashi or amazingly effortless reading.

I haven't given up completely on it, but it is daunting. Are there
any others in this historic vein that appeal?

Those are the main ones I've read as well. I read a couple of James
Clavell's books for some reason they just didn't appeal to me.

We sure are on the same page: I started one of Clavell's but it's so
shallow, and pop-fiction-ish, I could barely make it 30 pages. I
started "Before the Dawn" by Toson, but got waylayed after a couple
hundred pages, and re-starting such name-overloaded books is a drain.
I also go the newest even-more-improved edition of Genji, which I've
not attempted. One of the more enlightening books this past year was a
non-fiction on Perry's "opening" of Japan. Excellent reading, but it's
already migrated to the garage so can't remember the author/title.

There are a ton of books in Japanese, of course, but there might not
be enough demand to translate them. Did you know that they made a
'drama' in Japan based on the Musashi story? I got to see the first
six weeks or so, then moved to a place where I can't get Japanese
television.

I've come in on this series in the middle TWICE on KSCI, the
multi-cultural channel in nearby San Bernandino. In fact,
channel-hoping last night I noted it was on yet again. So now I've
missed it 3 times as I'm reluctant to start in the middle. I saw a
couple of episodes last year and wasn't so greatly impressed. Then
there is the 3-video film of the movie by Hiroshi Inagaki; Samurai I,
II and II with Toshiro Mifune. Pretty good, but what effort can beat
the combined detail and sprawl of the book?

I'm looking forward to my Christmas present this year: I've asked my
family to get me Kurosawa DVDs. Don't like all of them, but in
general I like Samurai movies.

After a trip to nearby Kino Kuniya bookstore and a perusal of their DVD
collection of Japanese film we went out and got a good DVD player last
week.

--
First they gerrymander us into one-party fiefs. Then they tell us they only
care about the swing districts. They they complain about voter apathy.
-- Gail Collins