A Mobilization Episode and Other Writings

An army officer prepares to leave for war, but the groom who cares for his horse has a wife who refuses to let him go. In two versions of A Mobilization Episode, Kishida Kunio turns a household conversation into a struggle over duty, dependence, love, and the pressure to appear brave. The versions differ sharply in their dialogue and final moments.

In No Bargain, a tobacco-shop proprietor sees an unexpected chance to profit from a bamboo flute left as security for cigarettes. His daughter’s wish to work independently, a barber’s gossip, and a gentleman’s grand claims surround a transaction that grows increasingly uncertain. December Reflections adds a brief self-portrait of a writer suspicious of heroic figures and of literature that makes shallow things seem deep.

These works reveal the irony, tension, and intimate observation of a major modern Japanese playwright. This complete English selection preserves the supplied order, dialogue, silences, and stage directions, with concise notes on names, customs, and textual uncertainties.