The Mysterious Bird and Other Essays and Sketches

What makes a work of art live? Tayama Katai imagines a mysterious bird that appears, vanishes, and settles where no amount of learning can compel it. Around that elusive image, these five pieces gather a remarkably varied record of attention.

A journey through northern Manchuria leads to Russian refugees and a girl seen at a small window. A monthly review of fiction offers candid judgments on established authors and younger writers, including Tanizaki Jun’ichirō and Kawabata Yasunari. In a suburban garden, spiders, cicadas, bamboo, grapes, and stray dogs become occasions for wonder and irritation. Along the Atsumi Peninsula, Katai recalls Bashō and describes a village removed for military use.

Known as a central figure in Japanese literary naturalism, Katai also wrote searching criticism and vivid travel sketches. This collection preserves his changes of register, forceful opinions, and unresolved questions, with brief notes on names, allusions, and textual uncertainties. A new English translation, prepared from the supplied Japanese texts, brings these five complete works together. AI-assisted translation, prepared and edited by Valentin Sarić.