Sawako Ariyoshi's Masterpiece Short Stories 'Yakusha Haigyo / San-Baba' to be Released by Shinchosha Bunko on May 28th!

Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd. will release Sawako Ariyoshi's 'Yakusha Haigyo / San-Baba' (Shinchosha Bunko) on May 28th. Do you remember the first work by Sawako Ariyoshi you ever read? With many of her works adapted into films and dramas, such as 'About the Wicked Woman' and 'The Doctor's Wife,' many may have encountered her through screen adaptations. The massive success of 'The Twilight Years,' which became a social phenomenon, even led to the construction of an annex building across from Shinchosha's main office, nicknamed the 'Twilight Building.' The author, who left behind numerous acclaimed works, passed away at the young age of 53. Her overwhelming writing prowess was in full gear from a young age. The works included in this book, 'Yakusha Haigyo / San-Baba,' were all written when she was around the age of 30. With Japanese as beautiful as fine craftsmanship, unparalleled storytelling, and a journalistic perspective that delves deep into her subjects, these masterpieces remain fresh even today. This is a valuable collection that we hope young readers who discovered Ariyoshi through 'The Blue Jar' will pick up. We have received a recommendation comment from Tamasaburo Bando for the obi. Book Content: 'Ariyoshi-san, I hear you are writing novels,' begins the sushi chef who visited on a winter night, recounting the sorrow of a genius Kabuki actor's life in 'Yakusha Haigyo.' In 'San-Baba,' amidst the chaos of the post-war period, a wealthy old man dies suddenly, leading to a swirl of jealousy and suspicion among his legal wife, mistress, and sister-in-law, while capturing the terror of 'aging' within the laughter. 'Namayoi' vividly carves the wounds gouged by the atomic bomb. 'Kiyu no Shi' depicts the life of a late Edo period courtesan who was elevated to a symbol of the anti-foreign movement, later adapted into a play by the author herself and performed by great actors like Tamasaburo Bando. This is a valuable short story collection (a retitled new edition of 'San-Baba') where the talent of the young author shines. The new commentary by Eri Watanabe, who has long played the role of Taki in the stage play 'San-Baba,' is also a must-read.