Childhood Years: A Memoir

Description

In Childhood Years, originally published serially in a literary magazine between 1955 and 1956, Tanizaki Jun’ichiro (1886–1965) takes a meandering look back on his early life in Tokyo. He reflects on his upbringing, family, and the capital city with a conversational—and not necessarily honest—eye, offering insights into his later life and his writing.    Introduction My earliest memories Father and Mother The Kakigara-chō and Hama-chō districts Tanizaki Kyūmon II Our first house in Minami Kayaba-chō The Sakamoto Primary School Mr. Nogawa Childhood friends The Little Kingdom The Sino-Japanese War Our second house in Minami Kayaba-chō The Kairakuen Gen-chan Kagura dances and chaban farces Memories of great Kabuki actors Growing up Sad things, happy things The print-shop uncle and rice-shop relatives Mr. Inaba Seikichi Graduation from primary school The Akika Academy and the Summers’ school A passion for literature Plates