Nagai Kafu’s “A Strange Tale From the East of the River” Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction

Nagai Kafu’s “A Strange Tale from the East of the River” is a beautiful story that depicts Tokyo in the early twentieth century. It was initially published in 1937 and is considered Kafu’s one of the best works, containing a very accurate illustration of the city (Kafu, 1965). The story’s central theme is the main character’s relationship with O-Yuki, a beautiful prostitute and a former Geisha who wears traditional Japanese clothing. The author considers her a muse, who was a too beautiful and interesting person to continue selling “her charms … at an exceedingly low price” (Kafu, 1965, p. 327). Kafu’s depiction of this short interaction with a detailed description of Tokyo is beautifully embedded within the main character’s nostalgia for old Japan.

Discussion

It seems that the primary source of the author’s frustration about modernization and Westernization is the gradual loss of delicacy and eloquence pertinent to Japanese culture. He shows this specific problem in his conversation with police officers who interrogated him on the street. Both were rude to the main character, refusing to respond to his gentle humor. Furthermore, he laments that the new generation has started to forget history because when he associates a specific year with a historic event, the policemen cannot recognize it (Kafu, 1965).

Therefore, the narrator’s relationship with O-Yuki becomes his refuge because she appears to be the perfect model of the old Japan of the era before assimilation with the West. However, much like the author could not reverse the speed of the progress, the protagonists realized that their connection with this woman should stop to allow both of them to continue their own paths.

Conclusion

In summary, Kafu’s “A Strange Tale from the East of the River” is a beautiful story about the life of Tokyo, where most citizens praise modernization while some lament the disappearance of traditional Japanese culture. It is shown in the main character’s interaction with other people and his relationship with O-Yuki. The narrator and the woman seem to be the fading representatives of old Japan, while police officers are guardians of the new Westernized country.

Reference

Kafu, N. (1965). A strange tale from the east of the river. In E. Seidensticker (Ed.) Kafu the scribbler: The life and the writings of Nagai Kafu, 1879-1959 (pp. 279–328). Stanford University Press.