Taketori Monogatari: The Tale of the Bamboo-Cutter (Japanese and English Edition)

JAPANESE - ENGLISH EDITION

A Gentle Introduction to Japanese Literature

Taketori Monogatari is the classic tale of the mysterious moon-child Kaguyahime and the unsettling effect that she has on the lives of all those around her.

The story is one of the earliest surviving works of Japanese literary fiction and in this edition it has been interpreted for modern readers by a specialist in ancient texts, Dr. Mankichi Wada.

It is written in a straightforward, elegant style and although the premise of the tale is fantastic, the characters and the situations in which they find themselves are described with realism, pathos and humor.

This Japanese–English edition features:

- Modern Japanese text

- Kanji with furigana readings

- Detailed notes in English

*Recommended for advanced beginner and intermediate students.

About the authors -

Mankichi Wada (1865–1934) was a highly respected scholar of ancient texts and a pioneer of library science in Japan. His other works include classics such Noh Plays and Montanus Nihon Shi, a translation of, and commentary on, Ogildby’s 1670 English version of Arnoldus Montanus’ Atlas Japannensis.

The English text was prepared by Elizabeth Plain, whose other works include the popular Kanji-Kan series of puzzle books.