is a short story by Japanese writer

Tatsuo Hori was a Japanese translator and writer of poetry, short stories and novels. Early life Born in Tokyo, Hori studied Japanese literature at Tokyo Imperial University under Saisei Murō and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. In addition to Japanese writers of ...

first published in 1930. It was the first work for which Hori received recognition, and is regarded as an early important example of Modernist Japanese literature.

Plot

At the funeral service for Mr. Kuki, Kuki's twenty-year-old disciple Henri Kono meets widow Mrs. Saiki, with whom Kuki had a passionate love affair. Some time later, Mrs. Saiki invites Henri to her home and introduces him to her daughter Kinuko. Mrs. Saiki tells him that Kinuko discovered a book on the paintings of

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael (; or ; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of works by Raphael, His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of ...

in a used book store, which had been in Kuki's possession. Henri admits that he had once received it as a gift from his mentor, but had to sell it due to his tight financial situation. Mrs. Saiki sends him money to buy the book back, and during his following visits, Henri and Kinuko begin to develop an affection for each other. Yet, they are not only unable to communicate their feelings, Henri doesn't even recognise that Kinuko is the reason for his emotional confusion, and seeks distraction in an affair with a revue dancer. Kinuko learns of Henri's affair, but sublimates her jealousy. One day Henri shows up at the Saikis' home to announce that he will leave town for a while. Kinuko falls ill afterwards and realises that she is in love with him. At his new home in a small town by a lake, Henri realises that Kiku's shadow still haunts him. He sends a postcard to the Saikis, which not only reveals to Mrs. Saiki how much Henri is obsessed with his dead mentor, but also awakens in her the sensation that she has fallen in love with Henri like her daughter has. Kinuko, who had felt estranged from her mother, starts feeling closer to her again.

Publication and background

''Sei Kazoku'' first appeared in '' Kaizō'' magazine in 1930 and was published in book form in 1932. It was written under the impression of the early death of writer

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa , art name , was a Japanese writer active in the Taishō period in Japan. He is regarded as the "father of the Japanese short story", and Japan's premier literary award, the Akutagawa Prize, is named after him. He committed suicide at the age of ...

, whom Hori regarded as his mentor, and even paid reference to Akutagawa in the shape of the deceased character Kuki. The story also shows the influence of

Raymond Radiguet Raymond Radiguet (18 June 1903 – 12 December 1923) was a French novelist and poet whose two novels were noted for their explicit themes, and unique style and tone. Early life Radiguet was born in Saint-Maur, Val-de-Marne, close to Paris, th ...

, whom Hori had read and translated in his student years. The title refers to Raphael's painting of the same name. ''Sei kazoku'' has been reprinted in Japan numerous times after the war. It has not seen an English translation and publication yet. A translation into German by Kakuji Watanabe appeared in 1960.

Bibliography

Notes

References

{{Reflist 20th-century Japanese literature 1930 short stories Japanese short stories Works by Japanese writers Modernist short stories