Snow Country (originally, Yukiguni, 1948), a novel by Yasunari Kawabata, takes place at a mountain resort on the west-coast of one of the Islands of Japan. In the introduction, the translator, Edward G. Seidensticker, explains that the novel is filled with the ‘essence’ of Haiku.

The arc of the story portrays a bleak love affair between a geisha and a somewhat cold-hearted dilettante. It is a story filled with loneliness; both characters strive for a connection, but they are unable to cross the gulf of differences.

The book also acknowledges the shadow of western influence and its effects on Japanese traditions.

Komako, though partially trained in Tokyo, is a geisha at a mountain resort. Mountain geishas are considered to be unsophisticated (compared to the geishas of Tokyo) and are little more than stylized prostitutes. Komako falls in love with Shimamura; but, in her heart, she knows that the love-affair has no future and she is destined to fall from grace as she ages. She suffers through Shimamura’s indifference, is filled with bitter melancholy, and longs for salvation.

Shimamura became wealthy through inheritance. He visits the mountain resort three times during the length of the novel. He is married, with children, and comes to the resort to ‘relax’ in the hot springs. Apparently, this type of vacation (without family) was common in Japanese society. Shimamura enjoys Komako, but has designs on a younger woman, Yoko. So, here we have a married man, cavorting with a geisha (and he knows Komako is in love with him), thinking about yet another woman. He wants to feel like a sophisticated man, but he is immature and indolent, as demonstrated by his belief that he is an expert in western ballet, but has only read about them and has never bothered to watch one.

The novel relates the story subtly. Many authors would have further enumerated, dissected, and analyzed the story-line; but, in this little gem of a book (not quite two-hundred pages), the reader must pay attention. The ending is quite abrupt, and it is left to the reader to decide what happens to a certain character, although there are hints throughout the book that signify the author’s intent.

Recommended.

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