“Madara Bun” (Spotted Writings) Price: ¥2,200 As the heart desires, walk the places associated with Tomioka Tessai, and for a while, frolic in Florence. Just when you think you're enjoying Edo's humorous writings, you freely explore historical novels. Sometimes you become absorbed in Chopin played by Takeshi Kakehashi, and other times you reminisce about the late Shinichiro Nakamura... A book where refined prose is colored with gentle humor. A luxurious feast for the spirit, fully savoring painting, music, and literature; a refined collection of artistic essays. Contents Tessai Exhibition Valéry's Fingerprints Torikaji Year 14 of Bunka Era The Blind Person Solomon The Land of the Dead Waiting Face - Preface to "The Century of Historical Novels" Strindberg, Rilke The Deceased of Kanhua Cave Floating Clouds Two Dreams Early Writings Hidetaro Sugimoto Born in Kyoto in 1931. Honorary Professor at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies. Member of the Japan Art Academy. Received the Japan Essayist Club Award for "Rakuchu Seisoku," the Minister of Education's Newcomer Award for Art Encouragement for "Bungaku Engi," the Yomiuri Literary Award for "Tsurezuregusa," and the Jiro Osaragi Prize for "Heike Monogatari." Other works include "Otagaki Rengetsu," "Shizuo Ito," "Roundabout," "Parisian Light Bulbs," "Picture Books," "Blue Rabbit," and "Half Day, Half Night." Major translations include Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs du Mal," "Pour la musique: Debussy's Writings on Music," Alain's "Visites aux musiciens," Fromentin's "Les Maîtres d'autrefois," Maeterlinck's "Pelléas and Mélisande," and A. France's "The Red Lily." His family home is the Kyoto kimono merchant "Narayaya," founded in 1743 (Kanpo Era). The building, rebuilt in 1870 (Meiji Era), is a Kyoto City Tangible Cultural Property. The author serves as the chairman of the board of directors of the Foundation Naraya Memorial Sugimoto Family Preservation Society. #HidetaroSugimoto #Hidetaro_Sugimoto #book #JapaneseLiterature/Essays #AnatoleFrance #TheRedLily