Love’s Raiment and Other Writings

A white lily becomes an image of love and grief. A poet begs her younger brother not to die in war. A child learns how his demands can wound those who care for him. This anthology presents nine complete Japanese works, centered on the entire 1905 poetry collection Love’s Raiment by Yamakawa Tomiko, Masuda Masako, and Yosano Akiko.

Around the poems, Tomioka Makoto commemorates Ōsugi Sakae; Tsuda Mamichi remembers intellectual friendship and study in Leiden; Wada Mankichi retells a courtly encounter and introduces readers to older Japanese literature. Kiyozawa Manshi describes the faith that transformed his life, while Nakai Masakazu examines detective fiction, existential anxiety, painting, and the new vision of the camera. Kusuyama Masao closes the volume with Grandmother, a quiet story of affection, frustration, and regret.

Each work retains its original ending and distinctive voice. Complete poems, source line breaks, author attributions, dates, and concise reader notes accompany this new English translation. AI-assisted translation, prepared and edited by Valentin Sarić.