EPISODE 45: Higuchi Ichiyō, ”Child’s Play” (1895), Part Two

2025-03-16

Pages 269-82: 0:00—Midori & Nobu. 5:02—Love’s fools. 8:03—What eels Nobu. 10:45—Ichiyo’s realism. 13:38—Language of the implied. 15:01—Ihara Saikaku & other influences. 17:53—Nobu’s perspective. 20:06—Young Murasaki. 22:41—Clogged emotions. 28:20—Maple & mud. 30:24—Interlude. Pages 282-87: 31:11—Pretty things. 34:04—A lyrical passage. 35:47—A Kyoto doll. 38:44—Vague things. 40:10—A period of debate. 43:02—Stepping into the debate. 49:18—The paper narcissus. 50:20—Midori & Nobu. 51:31—Paper narcissus & dark robe. 52:23—...

Pages 269-82: 0:00—Midori & Nobu. 5:02—Love’s fools. 8:03—What eels Nobu. 10:45—Ichiyo’s realism. 13:38—Language of the implied. 15:01—Ihara Saikaku & other influences. 17:53—Nobu’s perspective. 20:06—Young Murasaki. 22:41—Clogged emotions. 28:20—Maple & mud. 30:24—Interlude.

Pages 282-87: 31:11—Pretty things. 34:04—A lyrical passage. 35:47—A Kyoto doll. 38:44—Vague things. 40:10—A period of debate. 43:02—Stepping into the debate. 49:18—The paper narcissus. 50:20—Midori & Nobu. 51:31—Paper narcissus & dark robe. 52:23—Acclaim & ambush. 58:01—Closing.

Text: Higuchi Ichiyō. "Child's Play." Translated by Robert Danly. In the Shade of Spring Leaves: The Life and Writings of Higuchi Ichiyo. A Woman of Letters in Meiji Japan, Yale Univ. Press, 1981.

Interlude: Kimio Eto, "Yorokobi," The Japanese Koto Music of Kimio Eto, World Pacific Records (1424 / ST-1424), 1960 (Internet Archive).

Image: Higuchi Ichiyō, 1896, National Diet Library.

Click here for transcript

Contact: jimjneilson@gmail.com

Comments (3)