Kotaro Chiba

Unquestionably a beautiful volume. The woodcut illustrations by Chiba are stunning.

The tales in this collection are taken from the works of Lafcadio Hearn and Yei Theodora Ozaki (which are in the public domain), which is where the flaws begin. Hearn's works have some footnotes, but the language is stilted and I'm not sure he's really the best source for traditional stories. Ozaki is much the same, known to be very liberal in her translations. Her stories have no footnotes, and in a modern show more edition of any traditional tales I would like extra information, not just a pretty package. show less

These fifteen delightful tales are drawn from works by Lafcadio Hearn and Yei Theodora Ozaki. Even though the texts are available elsewhere it is the presentation that makes this edition worth while. The selections are thematically arranged in three sections: "Journeys", "Ghosts and Monsters", and "Justice." The design--the size, the cover, the art work, the typeface, the paper--all perfect. The illustrations are wonderful--whimsical when they should be and monstrous when that is what is show more needed. This is a book I love to hold.

The selections include eight stories from Ozaki's Japanese Fairy Tales and seven from Hearn's Kwaidan. The source works are in the public domain and available on Project Gutenberg. show less

I received this book from the publisher as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

When I first held this book in my hands, I was struck by its sheer handsomeness. It is true that one should never judge a book by its cover, but even so the handsome, hardcover binding with its metallic sheen and Japanese-inspired artwork impressed upon me that this was no ordinary book of Japanese folklore.

The stories within range from classic Japanese folktales to ever popular (and no less classic) show more Japanese ghost stories, giving what I would consider a very good starting range for those who are perhaps first "dipping their toes" into Japanese folklore. Drawn from many respectable literary sources, the tales are told in a clear and simple manner without becoming dull, and each is unique and memorable. Alongside the text are several striking and often beautiful illustrations in the style of traditional Japanese paintings or woodcuts, which add greatly to the reader's interest and enjoyment.

Overall, my impression of this book is overwhelmingly positive. Simple enough for a child, comprehensive and beautiful enough for an adult, it would make a handsome gift for anyone with a budding interest in Japanese culture, world folklore, fairytales, and/or classic horror. It also makes a handsome and intriguing addition to any coffee table, a quality which no doubt will raise it in the eyes of many.

Kudos to Chronicle Books for this well-researched, well-designed, and well-written volume. I hope that the great care they obviously took with it is repaid with great appreciation and success. show less

Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic was a Library Thing Early Reviewers book featuring fairy stories and folk tales originally collected and translated from Japanese into English by Lafcadio Hearn and Yei Theodora Ozaki with new illustrations by Kotaro Chiba. This is yet another beautifully illustrated hardcover book collecting fantastic tales from cultures around the world in a series published by Chronicle Books. Each story is preceded by a full page illustration show more acting as a lovely introduction. Some tales are short and impressionistic while others depict epic adventures ranging from magically mythical to delightfully domestic. One could race through these stories in a short while, however I strongly encourage you to read only a single tale per day. Better yet, curl up with the book in bed to absorb the fullness of each while allowing them to permeate a night of dreams or even nightmares! show less