Issue 53 (October 2014, Volume 9, Number 5)

In issue 53, we again provide a wide range of reviews across many aspects of Japanese culture. We consider an overview of Japan from a broad range of perspectives, a mystical jigsaw compilation of fiction, artisanal crafts, another collection of short stories veering away from the romanticisation of Japan, a film that sets its sights on issues of fatherhood and finally an insight into an East Asian film festival.

Sir Hugh Cortazzi kicks off issue 53 with a review of Japan and the Shackles from the Past which, despite its flaws, provides an insightful perspective on modern Japan.

We then turn our attention to the first of two sets of short stories. Jack Cooke reviews Tales from a Mountain Cave and focuses in particular on its dreamlike, mythical quality as it draws us through Japanese fairy-tales and folklore via the figure of the ‘storyteller’.

We continue on with another review from Sir Hugh, this time on Washi: the Art of Japanese Paper, an excellent and highly visual introduction to the craft. Sir Hugh also highlights the relevance of washi to Anglo-Japanese relations, noting that Sir Harry Parkes sent home many samples of the craft.

We then turn our attention to the second set of short stories. Rivers is perhaps a more grounded offering, and Chris Corker analyses this set of stories that attempt to de-romanticise and in a way, de-mythologise Japan by re-working metaphors and imagery of water that are usually associated with purity.

We move onto Mike Sullivan’s review of Like Father Like Son, a striking and poignant piece of cinema about the bittersweet love of fatherhood and the conflict between nature and nurture.

Finally we have a round up of some of the featured films at the Terracotta Far East Film Festival including films from current Asian cinema and an all-night horror spectacular.

Guest Editor
William Cottrell
Managing Editor
Isabel Barne
Special Reviewer
Sir Hugh Cortazzi

Reviewers
Chris Corker, Jack Cooke and Mike Sullivan

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