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Review
‘(Ross's) digressive reflections on his quest are personal, pertinent and philosophical: he gives a vivid picture of a Japan still haunted by nostalgia and nationalism.' The Times
'Entertaining, deftly written and wise…a very good book. Its achievement is that not only does it make the reader learn, it makes the reader think.' Daily Telegraph
'An engaging patchwork of a book, a blend of cultural history, memoir, travelogue and philosophical rumination.' Hari Kunzru, Sunday Telegraph
‘“Mishima's Sword” resembles a bento, those beautiful lacquered lunch boxes in which delicacies nestle side by side in separate compartments, each a feast in miniature.' New Statesman
'A fascinating read.' Arena Magazine
Review
'(Ross's) digressive reflections on his quest are personal, pertinent and philosophical: he gives a vivid picture of a Japan still haunted by nostalgia and nationalism.' The Times 'Entertaining, deftly written and wise!a very good book. Its achievement is that not only does it make the reader learn, it makes the reader think.' Daily Telegraph 'An engaging patchwork of a book, a blend of cultural history, memoir, travelogue and philosophical rumination.' Hari Kunzru, Sunday Telegraph '"Mishima's Sword" resembles a bento, those beautiful lacquered lunch boxes in which delicacies nestle side by side in separate compartments, each a feast in miniature.' New Statesman 'A fascinating read.' Arena Magazine
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read this after finishing Mishima's Sea of Fertility and feel that anyone unfamiliar with Mishima's work might struggle a bit to get the most out of the distilled understanding of Mishima's idiosyncratical world view found in Ross's fantastic quest book. But there is much more than Mishima here. His approach is matter of fact rather than wide-eyed about Japan and shows a deep knowledge of Japanese culture. I lived in Japan for two years and can see and smell Tokyo in the pages of this book. It is also extremely well written and a page turner. If you have read Mishima, are interested in Japan or especially in samurai culture this book is a must.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read this after finishing Mishima's Sea of Fertility novels and wonder if anyone unfamiliar with Mishima's work might struggle a bit to get the most of the distilled understanding of Mishima's idiosyncratical world view found in Ross's fantastic quest book. But this apart there is much more than Mishima to be found here. The author's position is, I am happy to say, matter of fact rather than wide-eyed about Japan and shows a deep knowledge of Japanese culture. I lived in Japan for two years and can see and smell Tokyo in the pages of this book. It is also extremely well written and a page turner. If you have read Mishima, are interested in Japan or especially in samurai culture this book is a must.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Yukio Mishima was an oddball. A writer who towards the end of his life ‘lost faith’ in words and fantasized about how he might transform himself into a hero. He was obsessed with death. He was also painfully self conscious and understood himself clearly – and this self knowledge caused him to reject the rapidly Westernizing Japan and to wonder if he might shock society into (he thought) a necessary realization that they were destroying all that was valuable about their own culture. Christopher Ross’s fascinating examination of these themes it seems to me adopts a Japanese aesthetical approach. Instead of analysis and conclusion there is allusion and suggestion. In his small chapters, like Kawabata’s Palm of the Hand stories, he examples something and leaves it to resonate in your mind until, juxtaposed with something else, an echo returns a new insight. He has managed this very artfully, but it is subtle. One review I saw described Mishima’s Sword as a bento, a beautiful lacquered box with small sections separately displaying something delicious. An accurate description of a book that is greater than the sum of its parts. Mishima’s Sword also makes me want to read Mishima again and I shall look into Ross’s earlier work too. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Journey to the Soul
A cleverly constructed shaggy dog story with inner meaning. The author gradually debunks one component of Mishima mythology. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
Mishima's pencil case
This book could have been about the search for Mishima's pencil case given the pointlessness of the whole work. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2009 by Jonathan T. Coller
A bizarre autobiography of an avowed orientalist
I'll be pithy like the other reviews. If you really like MMA, cheap samurai swords, and wandering around in a hoodie imagining yourself a ninja . . . Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2007 by Juviebetfixer
This author understands Mishima and Japanese culture
I was not going to review this book as there seemed to be enough positive comments to make my opinion unnecessary. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2006 by Tanaka Masayuki
Nan desu ka?
That's Japanese for 'what is it?' which is my response to this odd, sometimes entertaining, sometimes informative book. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2006 by D. Humphries
Page-turner
I'd read Christopher Ross's first book, Tunnel Visions, about his philosophical adventures working on the London Underground, and had thoroughly enjoyed it. Read more
Published on 21 July 2006 by Jennifer
Packed with facts
Mishima's Sword is packed with facts about Japan - its blood soaked history, subtle culture and rich literature. Read more
Published on 20 April 2006 by James
With this book, you travel first class.
I am sitting on an aeroplane after finishing this book. It's rare to find a book on Mishima that you can get through in a single read. Read more
Published on 14 April 2006 by Richard Seldon
fascinating journey through culture in time
An enriching book that introduces a western reader to the complexities and depth of Japanese culture without moralising or lecturing. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2006 by Charlie Griffiths
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