Akutagawa, Ryunosuke.
Rashomon and other Stories
. (Takashi Kojima, trans.). Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle, 1952.
This is the source volume for the two stories, "Rashomon" and "In A Grove," that form the basis for Kurosawa's
Rashomon.
They are great stories in their own right, as well. I have heard them described as reminiscent of O'Henry and Edgar Allan Poe.
Keene, Donald.
Anthology of Japanese Literature
from the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century.
New York: Grove Press. 1955.
Much of the premodern and early modern Japanese writing on poetics and aesthetics is excerpted or included here.
Hearn, Lafcadio.
Kwaidan
: Stories and Studies of Strange Things. Rutland, Vermont: 1971.
Three of the tales that comprise the film
Kwaidan
are found here, two of which I have referred to specifically in this unit. The fourth is also interesting, and could easily be included in this unit.
Hearn, Lafcadio.
Shadowings
. Rutland, Vermont: 1971.
The story "The Reconciliation," which is the source for "Black Hair" in the film
Kwaidan,
can be found here.
Sakai, Stan.
Usagi Yojimbo
Book Six
. Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics Books. 1994.
This volume is a compilation of Usagi Yojimbo comics. Chapter One, "The Bridge," has an interesting story about Japanese demons, or
oni.
Chapter Three, "Yurei," tells another story about female ghosts that is sourced from Japanese folklore.
Sakai, Stan.
Usagi Yojimbo, v. 12
. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Comics. 1999.
The four prologues in this volume cover a lot of Japanese religious and historical ground. The first two are adaptations of the Kojiki, the Japanese Shinto creation myth. The fourth, "Dan-no-Ura," is essential reading before watching "Mimi Nashi Hoichi" in
Kwaidan.
It tells the story of the Battle of Dan-no-Ura that serves as an introduction to "Mimi Nashi Hoichi".
1. McCormick, Kathleen.
Reading Our Histories, Understanding Our Cultures.
p.3
2. http://classes.yale.edu/film-analysis/, 7/13/05.
3. Ritchie, Donald. "The Influence of Traditional Aesthetics on Japanese Film" Found in
Cinematic Landscapes.
p. 154
4. ibid., 156
5. Richie, "Influence of Traditional Japanese Aesthetics on Japanese Film," in Cinematic Landscapes, p. 158.
6. Japanese History: Overview.Japan-Guide.com.May 26, 2005http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2126.html>.
7. p. 258 Keene,Donald.Anthology of Japanese Literature.New York:Grove Press,1955.
8. http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kojiki.htm