Japanese Phantom

Author: (Japanese) Yojūme Kōzu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This book is a representative work of Yojūme Kōzu. The author views early 20th-century Japanese life through the eyes of a Westerner, presenting readers with the beautiful landscapes, folk customs, ghost stories, and religious superstitions of Japan. Unlike many Westerners who approach the East with a sense of curiosity, the author does not look down upon Japan's relatively backward science and technology compared to the West from a position of superiority. Instead, he observes Japan with admiration and even reverence, using fresh and moving prose to recount his impressions of this strange and unfamiliar country in the Far East. Beneath the light and entertaining content lies an examination of the character of a nation and its civilization, as well as an emotional comparison and judgment of different Eastern and Western philosophical ideas. It can even be said that this is a Westerner's version of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" about Japan. The content and style, which appeal to both refined and popular tastes, allow readers of different backgrounds to gain different experiences and insights.