The Old Capital
Encyclopedia
The Old Capital is a novel by Yasunari Kawabata
originally published in 1962. It was first translated into English
in 1987 by J. Martin Holman
. Holman's newly-revised edition of his translation was published in February 2006 by Shoemaker and Hoard Press.
in awarding the 1968 Prize for Literature to Kawabata. The other two were Snow Country
and Thousand Cranes
.
wholesale business in Kyoto
. Now twenty, Chieko has known since she was in middle school that she was a foundling
adopted by Takichiro and Shige. However, as told by Shige, they snatched Chieko when she was a baby "Under the cherry blossoms at night at Gion Shrine" The discrepancy on whether Chieko was a foundling or stolen is part of the plot and is revealed later in the story.
Soon after a chance encounter at Yasaka Shrine
, Chieko learns of a twin sister Naeko, who had remained in her home village
in Kitayama working in the mountain
forest
s north of the city. The identical looks of Chieko and Naeko confuse Hideo, a traditional weaver, who is a potential suitor of Chieko. The novel, one of the last that Kawabata completed before his death, examines themes common to much of his literature: the gulf between the sexes and the anxiety its recognition brings. The Old Capital also reflects Kawabata's writing style, airy and delicate, as seen in this passage: "she stood for a moment on Oike Street gazing at the sky, which blazed like flame from Hieizan across to Kitayama... The vast flames spread across the heaven... Chieko took out a small mirror and looked at her own face reflected amid the colors of the clouds. 'I won't forget this. For all my life, I'll never forget this... Man is certainly an emotional creature.'"
The story is set in Kyoto, and incorporates various festivals celebrated there. One of these is the Gion festival
(Gion Matsuri) which occurs in the book during July. As part of the Gion festival, there is a parade of floats constructed by various neighborhoods in Kyoto and one of Chieko fond memories is of Shin'ichi, who is interested in Chieko, participating as a festival boy. The Festival of the Ages
(Jidai Matsuri) is another important festival and this is where Hideo takes Chieko's twin, Naeko, to view the parade.
into a Japanese
feature film
known in English under the title Twin Sisters of Kyoto
. Directed by Noboru Nakamura, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
. A second film adaptation was made in 1980 by director Kon Ichikawa
. The movie was the last in which actress Momoe Yamaguchi
appeared before she retired to marry her co-star, Tomokazu Miura
.
Yasunari Kawabata
was a Japanese short story writer and novelist whose spare, lyrical, subtly-shaded prose works won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968, the first Japanese author to receive the award...
originally published in 1962. It was first translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1987 by J. Martin Holman
J. Martin Holman
James Martin Holman, Jr. is a literary translator, professor, puppeteer, and puppet theater director. He received a BA in Japanese from Brigham Young University and did graduate work in Japanese literature at the University of California, Berkeley.Holman lived in Japan for more than ten years as a...
. Holman's newly-revised edition of his translation was published in February 2006 by Shoemaker and Hoard Press.
Nobel prize
Although Kawabata did not consider it his best work, it shares the same themes as his other novels.The Old Capital was one of only three novels cited by the Nobel CommitteeNobel Committee
A Nobel Committee is the working body responsible for the most of the work involved in selecting Nobel Prize laureates. There are five Nobel Committees, one for each Nobel Prize....
in awarding the 1968 Prize for Literature to Kawabata. The other two were Snow Country
Snow Country
is the first full-length novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata. The novel established Kawabata as one of Japan's foremost authors and became an instant classic.- Name :...
and Thousand Cranes
Thousand Cranes
is a novel by Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968. This was the first time any Japanese author won this prize.-Plot:...
.
Contents
Chieko Sada is the daughter of Takichiro and Shige, who operate a kimonoKimono
The is a Japanese traditional garment worn by men, women and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear" , has come to denote these full-length robes...
wholesale business in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Now twenty, Chieko has known since she was in middle school that she was a foundling
Child abandonment
Child abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one's offspring with the intent of never again resuming or reasserting them. Causes include many social and cultural factors as well as mental illness. An abandoned child is called a foundling .-Causes:Poverty is often a...
adopted by Takichiro and Shige. However, as told by Shige, they snatched Chieko when she was a baby "Under the cherry blossoms at night at Gion Shrine" The discrepancy on whether Chieko was a foundling or stolen is part of the plot and is revealed later in the story.
Soon after a chance encounter at Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka Shrine
', once called , is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri , the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage.-History:...
, Chieko learns of a twin sister Naeko, who had remained in her home village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Kitayama working in the mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s north of the city. The identical looks of Chieko and Naeko confuse Hideo, a traditional weaver, who is a potential suitor of Chieko. The novel, one of the last that Kawabata completed before his death, examines themes common to much of his literature: the gulf between the sexes and the anxiety its recognition brings. The Old Capital also reflects Kawabata's writing style, airy and delicate, as seen in this passage: "she stood for a moment on Oike Street gazing at the sky, which blazed like flame from Hieizan across to Kitayama... The vast flames spread across the heaven... Chieko took out a small mirror and looked at her own face reflected amid the colors of the clouds. 'I won't forget this. For all my life, I'll never forget this... Man is certainly an emotional creature.'"
The story is set in Kyoto, and incorporates various festivals celebrated there. One of these is the Gion festival
Gion Matsuri
The takes place annually in Kyoto and is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It spans the entire month of July and is crowned by a parade, the on July 17. It takes its name from Kyoto's Gion district....
(Gion Matsuri) which occurs in the book during July. As part of the Gion festival, there is a parade of floats constructed by various neighborhoods in Kyoto and one of Chieko fond memories is of Shin'ichi, who is interested in Chieko, participating as a festival boy. The Festival of the Ages
Jidai Matsuri
The is a traditional Japanese festival held on October 22 annually in Kyoto, Japan. It is one of Kyoto's renowned three great festivals, with the other two being the Aoi Matsuri, held annually on May 15, and the Gion Matsuri, which is held annually from 17 to July 24...
(Jidai Matsuri) is another important festival and this is where Hideo takes Chieko's twin, Naeko, to view the parade.
Film
The novel was adapted in 19631963 in film
The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
into a Japanese
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
known in English under the title Twin Sisters of Kyoto
Twin Sisters of Kyoto
is a 1963 Japanese drama film directed by Noboru Nakamura and based on the novel The Old Capital by the Nobel-winning Japanese writer Yasunari Kawabata...
. Directed by Noboru Nakamura, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. A second film adaptation was made in 1980 by director Kon Ichikawa
Kon Ichikawa
was a Japanese film director.-Early life and career:Ichikawa was born in Ise, Mie Prefecture. In the 1930s Ichikawa attended a technical school in Osaka. Upon graduation, in 1933, he found a job with a local rental film studio, J.O. Studio, in their animation department...
. The movie was the last in which actress Momoe Yamaguchi
Momoe Yamaguchi
is a former Japanese singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. In that time, she became one of the most notable singers in Japanese music, and an acclaimed actress. She withdrew from the entertainment business at the peak of her career to marry her frequent costar, fellow...
appeared before she retired to marry her co-star, Tomokazu Miura
Tomokazu Miura
is a Japanese actor. Born January 28, 1952 in Enzan, Yamanashi, his real name is Miura Minoru . He attended Hino high school in Tokyo, and married actress and singer Momoe Yamaguchi in 1980...
.