It is not easy to say why, unless perhaps the point is that the hero of 'Confessions One would expect the more subjective and autobiographical of the two, 'Confessions of a Mask,' to make one more uncomfortable but such is not the case. Writing, is incongruously combined with rather a lot of quite strained intellectualizing. Not to say self- gratification in both there is a great deal of sadism and masochism, quite at home in a flamboyantly amoral world and in both a denial of intellect and glorification of the senses, fundamental to all of Mishima's Both contain a strong element of narcissistic subjectivity, Both works have as their heroes handsome young homosexuals. It insists upon comparison with an even earlier Mishima novel, 'Confessions of a Mask,' which was first published inġ949 and appeared in English translation in 1959 and it is inferior to the earlier novel in most respects save price and bulk. 'Forbidden Colors,' which was serialized in Japan between 19, will be a disappointment in another sense. Of 'Forbidden Colors' for this most recent translation means the slighting of recent works thought more important by the author himself.

For those of us who hoped so, the appearance of 'Forbidden Colors' is a disappointment, for here we are taken back to an earlier Mishima, and a Mishima already familiar to the English-reading public. In recent years it appeared that Mishima might be the first Japanese author to join the international literary community by having his works made available to an international audience in generally the same order as, and not too long after, their publication

Since 1963 his translations have been appearing at the rate of very nearly a volume a year. His novels, plays and short stories, including the novel under review, have appeared in this country. Since 1956, when a Mishima novel appeared for the first time in English translation, no fewer than nine volumes of Possibly the adjective 'living'Ĭould be changed to 'modern,' but one or at most two of his deceased compatriots might run him a bit of a race.

Ukio Mishima is at this point far and away the most thoroughly translated of living Japanese writers. JYuichi Was a Doll By EDWARD SEIDENSTICKERīy Yukio Mishima.

Forbidden Colors by Yukio Mishima