Title
Floating Clouds (Japanese Studies Series),Used
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In this groundbreaking novel, Fumiko Hayashi tells the powerful story of tormented love and one woman's struggle to navigate the cruel realities of postwar Japan. The novel's characters, particularly its resilient heroine Koda Yukiko, find themselves trapped in their own drifting, unable to break out of the morass of indecisiveness. Set in the years during and after World War II, their lives and damaged psyches reflect the confusion of the times in which they live.Floating Clouds follows Yukiko as she moves from the physically lush and beautiful surroundings of Japaneseoccupied French Indochina to the desolation and chaos of postwar Japan. Hayashi's spare, affecting novel presents a rare portrait of Japanese colonialism and the harshness of Japan's postwar experience from the perspective of a woman. Its rich cast of characters, drawn from the back alleys of urban Japan and the low rungs of society, offers an unforgettable portrait of Japanese society after the war.The tortured relationship between Yukiko and Tomioka, a minor official with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, provides the dramatic center of the novel. Yukiko meets Tomioka while working as a typist for the Japanese ministry in Indochina, where they begin their affair. After the war, Tomioka returns to his wife but remains emotionally inscrutable to Yukiko, refusing to break off their relationship. Meanwhile, Yukiko must find her way in a radically changed postwar Japan. When Yukiko and Tomioka's lives once again cross, the two set down a path shaped by their passion and sense of desperation.First published in 1951, Floating Clouds is a classic of modern Japanese literature and was later made into a film by legendary Japanese director Mikio Naruse.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Floating Clouds'? A: The main theme of 'Floating Clouds' revolves around tormented love and the struggle of the protagonist, Koda Yukiko, to navigate the harsh realities of postwar Japan.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Floating Clouds'? A: The author of 'Floating Clouds' is Fumiko Hayashi, a notable figure in modern Japanese literature.
- Q: What year was 'Floating Clouds' first published? A: Floating Clouds was first published in 1951.
- Q: What kind of binding does this book have? A: This edition of 'Floating Clouds' is bound in hardcover.
- Q: How many pages are in 'Floating Clouds'? A: The book contains 328 pages.
- Q: What historical context does 'Floating Clouds' address? A: The novel addresses the historical context of postwar Japan, particularly the confusion and turmoil faced by individuals during this period.
- Q: Is there a film adaptation of 'Floating Clouds'? A: Yes, 'Floating Clouds' was adapted into a film by the renowned Japanese director Mikio Naruse.
- Q: What is the significance of the character Koda Yukiko? A: Koda Yukiko is significant as she represents the struggles of women in postwar Japan, grappling with personal relationships and societal changes.
- Q: What is the relationship between Yukiko and Tomioka? A: Yukiko's relationship with Tomioka is complex and tumultuous, marked by passion, emotional turmoil, and the challenges of their postwar realities.
- Q: What genre does 'Floating Clouds' belong to? A: Floating Clouds is classified as a work of modern Japanese literature, specifically within the genre of literary fiction.