{"product_id":"in-praise-of-shadows-and-other-essays-9784805319352","title":"In Praise of Shadows and Other Essays","description":"\u003cp\u003eIllustrated with artful images by renowned Kyoto-based photographer John Einarsen, this book is a 'must-have' for all fans of Japanese literature and anyone interested in Japanese art and design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIllustrated with artful images by renowned Kyoto-based photographer John Einarsen, this book is a 'must-have' for all fans of Japanese literature and anyone interested in Japanese art and design.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese all-new translations of four landmark essays by Junichiro Tanizaki bring fresh insights to the work of one of Japan's most acclaimed writers. The translations by Michael P. Cronin bring together Tanizaki's famous meditation on Japanese aesthetics with three other fascinating cultural commentaries that appear here in English for the first time:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'In Praise of Shadows'\u003c\/b\u003e Tanizaki's best-known work – an ode to the subtle, refined aesthetic of Japan and the dangers posed to it by rapid modernisation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'At Okamoto'\u003c\/b\u003e A reflection on Tanizaki's nostalgia for old Tokyo and his humorous attempts at writing poetry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'Hanshin Observations'\u003c\/b\u003e An early essay revealing Tanizaki's initial disdain for the Osaka region, where he moved following the 1923 earthquake that destroyed Tokyo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'Osaka and Osakans as I See Them'\u003c\/b\u003e An account of Tanizaki's nuanced love for Japan's second city, his adopted home and the setting for his masterpiece, \u003ci\u003eThe Makioka Sisters\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn Praise of Shadows\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e belongs to that special order of slim, enormously powerful books that enchant the lay reader with an esoteric subject, leaving a lifelong imprint on the imagination.' – Maria Popova\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDetails\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eISBN13: 9784805319352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of Pages: 192\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdition: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication Date: 01 May 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher: Tuttle Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication City, Country: Boston, United States\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (cm): 20.3(H)x13(L)x1.9(W)360\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight (gm): 360\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJunichiro Tanizaki\u003c\/b\u003e (1886–1965), widely considered one of Japan's finest modern authors, was born in the heart of Tokyo at a time when the city was just beginning to modernize. He studied Japanese literature at Tokyo Imperial University and entered the literary scene in 1910 with the much-lauded short story \"The Tattoo.\" After the earthquake of 1923, he moved to the Kyoto-Osaka region, the setting for his later masterpiece, \u003ci\u003eThe Makioka Sisters\u003c\/i\u003e. Many of his most important novels, stories, essays and translations were written after this move. He received the Imperial Prize for Literature in 1949 and Japan's prestigious Tanizaki Prize is given in his name.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael P. Cronin\u003c\/b\u003e is a translator, scholar of Japanese literature and cinema, and Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at The College of William \u0026amp; Mary. He is the translator of Junichiro Tanizaki's final novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Maids\u003c\/i\u003e and the author of \u003ci\u003eOsaka Modern\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Einarsen's\u003c\/b\u003e photography books include \u003ci\u003eKyoto: The Forest Within the Gate\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSmall Buildings of Kyoto vol. 1 \u0026amp; II\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the founding editor and publisher of Kyoto Journal and has lived in Kyoto for over 40 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eReviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\"Cronin preserves Tanizaki's original style and rhythm by retaining his long, unbroken sentences. The result is mesmerizing.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The three added essays form a prequel to the retranslated edition of \"In Praise of Shadows.\" Reading them together, \"we better appreciate…how Tanizaki's growing understanding of, and affection for, Kansai produced 'In Praise of Shadows,'\" says translator Michael P. Cronin.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Japan Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Unlike someone such as Yukio Mishima, whose philosophical ideas can sometimes feel lofty and manufactured, Tanizaki often feels startlingly transparent. You don't merely read his arguments, you watch him think. The most fascinating part of the collection may be watching his views change over time.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOrange County Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Junichiro Tanizaki","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50628760338649,"sku":"9784805319352","price":27.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0502\/9530\/8441\/files\/9784805319352_63651308-6624-41ed-bc01-c785079fac7c.jpg?v=1791458800","url":"https:\/\/www.arielbooks.com.au\/products\/in-praise-of-shadows-and-other-essays-9784805319352","provider":"Ariel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}