The Black Donkey and the White Goat and Other Writings

A white goat and a black donkey emerge from moonlight in a Tokyo garden. A journey toward the sea follows, through dark tunnels and shifting clouds. Miyamoto Yuriko’s luminous sketch gives this varied anthology its title, but its other voices lead into very different landscapes.

Shimizu Usaburō argues for writing ordinary people can read. Two poets transform factory labor and a remembered act of kindness into images of exploitation and collective strength. Okakura Yoshisaburō recalls his brother’s art, travels, and love of tea, while Shibazaki Yoshitarō recounts the hazards and unexpected discoveries of climbing Mount Tsurugi.

Mizuno Yōshū gathers reports of dreams, dying apparitions, and a fox encountered on a moonlit pass. Kasai Zenzō closes the collection with a restless account of snow, wandering, faith, and a remembered woman. These ten complete works preserve their individual voices, with brief notes on historical references, uncertain readings, and inconsistencies in the sources. AI-assisted translation, prepared and edited by Valentin Sarić.