Frank
Hello, Frank here.
Let me share my impressions of this short story collection, with a nod to the insightful review featured at the end of the book.
As mentioned in the review, Hyakken Uchida—well known as a disciple of Natsume Sōseki—wrote the brilliant parody “The Fake I Am a Cat” in which he revives the famously deceased cat from I Am a Cat and lets it roam freely once again.
Hyakken was a notoriously stubborn man. In December 1967, he was nominated to become a member of the Japan Art Academy. Despite the honor and the generous 600,000 yen pension (a significant sum at the time), Uchida declined the offer. Why? He simply said:
“…However, I would like to decline. Why? Because I don’t want to be part of the Art Academy. Why not? I just don’t feel like it. Why don’t I feel like it? Because I don’t.”
That almost childlike honesty and refusal to conform resonates deeply with me. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I read about his refusal—it felt oddly familiar.
The story I’d like to highlight begins with an eerie yet intriguing scene:
“It’s possible I had spent some time at this unfamiliar house. The host walked me to the crossroads ahead. He might have told me to be careful on my way back—perhaps I looked unsteady on my feet.”
The protagonist stops by an ice shop on his way home and encounters a bizarre twist: a person who was supposedly dead appears. “I’m heading home now,” he says, to which the shopkeeper replies, “You must be coming from the cemetery, right?”
The review captures the mood perfectly: “If you’re in the mood for a story that feels like a splash of cold water, this one is worth reading.”
This peculiar short piece from the famously headstrong Uchida resonated with me. It’s a perfect gem that mirrors aspects of my own personality. Absolutely brilliant. I love this work.
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新品価格 |
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Thank you for reading today.
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