Little Birds and Other Writings

A woman watches the small birds sharing her home. At a mountain hot spring, New Year arrives amid music, theater, and a quiet greeting. A young German pupil accompanies her troublesome teacher to the coast, where changing sails briefly interrupt the human complications surrounding them.

These five complete works by Miyamoto Yuriko follow affection through ordinary rooms and journeys. “Little Birds” and “New Year in the Mountain Gorge” give intimate observations of domestic and seasonal life; “Sails” moves between lessons, friendships, obligations, and a seaside excursion. “A Disciple’s Heart” honors the influence of a teacher, while “The River of the Heart” enters a marriage whose outward harmony conceals a painful failure of understanding.

First published between 1922 and 1927, these writings retain their distinct voices and original endings. Brief reader notes explain customs, geographical and literary references, provisional name readings, and unusual source wording. The collection includes the original poem and song quotations in fresh English translation. AI-assisted translation, prepared and edited by Valentin Sarić.