The Tale of Genji, A. Waley Edition 2

I finished it in an all-nighter (Jakucho Setouchi). It's like the romance of the dynasty in "The Rose of Versailles" (Minako Saito).

Genji, the Shining Prince exiled to Akashi, sees his fate change! He raises his son to emperor, brings his lovers to live in a newly built palace, and revels in the glory of his life!

Arthur Waley's masterpiece, which captivated Europe 100 years ago, has been retranslated into modern Japanese, reviving the vivid drama of women living for love and weeping for love, and men struggling with the vicissitudes of fate. The highly acclaimed and much-talked-about second volume of Waley's Tale of Genji is now available!

[Synopsis] Genji is welcomed back to the capital from which he was once banished. While Kokiden (Koukiden) glares bitterly at him, he places his unknown son, Reizei (believed to be the son of Genji's mother, Fujitsubo), on the throne and enjoys the splendors of this world. As he seizes power as Minister of the Interior, he builds a grand palace that rivals the Palace, populating it with the women he has fallen in love with and resuming relationships that were cut short during his exile (exile to Akashi).

Genji reaches his peak and deepens his relationships with one woman after another, and as a father, he also finds fulfillment in his life. While experiencing the light and dark sides of power, Tonochujo continues to hope for his sons and daughters. A Lady of Akashi is invited to the capital carrying Genji's daughter, filled with anxiety and hope in her heart. Genji and Aoi's child, Yugiri, experiences childhood love.

With Genji at the center of the story, the lives of a diverse range of people, from men and women of all ages, from the Emperor to the Lady, intersect in these 18 vibrant chapters.

The second volume is packed with highlights, including "Picture Competition," a chapter in which Murasaki Shikibu unfolds her soulful narrative theory, and is presented in slightly exotic, easy-to-read Japanese.

An essay by Setouchi Jakucho is included at the end of the volume.

Long ago, when she devoted her life to translating all 10 volumes into modern Japanese, Jakucho reveals an anecdote from her time as a schoolgirl about Waley's version of The Tale of Genji.

Waka notation supervision: Fujii Sadakazu