In Praise of Shadows and Other Essays

This all-new translation of landmark essays by the great Japanese novelist and short-story writer Junichiro Tanizaki brings together his famous meditation on aesthetics and three other fascinating cultural commentaries. Illustrated with atmospheric images by renowned Kyoto photographer John Einarsen, the book will appeal to fans of Japanese literature and anyone with an interest in art and design. The essays in the book include:

• "In Praise of Shadows," an ode to the subtle, refined aesthetic of traditional Japan and the dangers posed to it by modernization
• "At Okamoto," a reflection on Tanizaki's nostalgia for the old Tokyo and his humorously inept attempts at writing poetry
• "Osaka and Osakans as I See Them," an account of Tanizaki's great love for Japan's second city, his adopted home and the setting of his masterpiece, The Makioka Sisters
• And "On the Lavatory," a tongue-in-cheek treatise on the elements of the ideal bathroom