Picture of author.

Yukio Mishima (1925–1970)

Author of The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

231+ Works 22,010 Members 366 Reviews 133 Favorited

About the Author

Yukio Mishima, the pseudonym for Hiraoka Kimitake, was born in Tokyo in 1925. His work covers many styles: poetry, essays, modern Kabuki ja Noh drama, and novels. Among his masterpieces are The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and the four-volume novel Sea of Fertility, which outlines the Japanese show more experience in the 20th century. Each of the four volumes in this series has a distinct title--Spring Snow, Runaway Horses, The Temple of Dawn, and Five Signs of a God's Decay--and they were published over a six-year period, from 1965-1970. Mishima's plays include Tenth Day Chrysanthemum, and the Kabuki piece The Moon Like a Drawn Bow. Although Mishima was been nominated three times for the Nobel Prize for Literature, he never received it. Nevertheless, he is considered by many critics as one of the most important Japanese novelists of the 20th century. Yukio Mishima died by his own hand in 1970, committing seppuku (ritual disembowelment). (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Shirou Aoyama (1956)

Series

Works by Yukio Mishima

Confessions of a Mask (1949) 2,507 copies
Spring Snow (1967) 2,442 copies
The Sound of Waves (1954) 1,749 copies
Runaway Horses (1969) 1,237 copies
The Temple of Dawn (1970) 1,031 copies
The Decay of the Angel (1971) 1,010 copies
Forbidden Colors (1953) — Author — 885 copies
After the Banquet (1960) 625 copies
Thirst for Love (1950) 609 copies
Sun and Steel (1970) 527 copies
Patriotism [short story] (1960) 320 copies
The Sea of Fertility (1971) 217 copies
The Way of the Samurai (1967) 203 copies
Life for Sale (1968) — Author — 200 copies
Five Modern Nō Plays (1956) 157 copies
The Frolic of the Beasts (1961) 143 copies
The Music (1965) 137 copies
Star (1961) 137 copies
Madame de Sade (1967) 124 copies
A School of the Flesh (1993) 81 copies
Dojoji and Other Stories (2002) 79 copies
Beautiful Star (1962) — Author — 73 copies
The Pearl (1963) 62 copies
Correspondance avec Mishima (1901) 42 copies
The Age of Blue (1950) 40 copies
Wings (1951) 39 copies
Trastulli d'animali (1961) 33 copies
Silk and Insight (1964) 32 copies
The Forest in Full Bloom (1941) 29 copies
Une matinée d'amour pur (1965) 28 copies
Martyrdom | Sword (2004) 27 copies
New Writing in Japan (1972) — Editor — 22 copies
The House of Dolls (1963) 18 copies
Patriotism [1966 film] (1966) 17 copies
Evening Dress (1967) 14 copies
Drie verhalen (1961) 12 copies
The Misstepping of Virtue (1957) 10 copies
Mar Inquieto (2002) 9 copies
Yaz Ortasinda Olum (2019) 8 copies
Zimny płomień (2008) 7 copies
Kyoko's House (1959) 7 copies
Rouw om het vaderland (1961) 6 copies
The Sunken Waterfall (1955) 6 copies
Inquietudine d'amore (1993) 6 copies
Sword (2009) 6 copies
Letters (1991) 5 copies
La casa de Kyoko (2023) 5 copies
O tumulto das ondas (2012) 5 copies
The Death of Radiguet (2006) 5 copies
Vita in vendita (2022) 4 copies
Too Much of Spring (1956) 4 copies
Dalgalarin Sesi (2014) 3 copies
Altin Kösk Tapinagi (2017) 3 copies
La crociata dei bambini-Il mare e il tramonto (2004) — Author — 3 copies
Thieves (1948) 3 copies
Six Modern Noh Plays (1962) 3 copies
Natsuko's Adventure (1951) 3 copies
Goddess (1955) 3 copies
Leben zu verkaufen (2020) 3 copies
Sotoba Komachi (2008) 3 copies
Martirio (2009) 2 copies
Bahar Karlari (1992) 2 copies
Tumultul valurilor: roman (2010) 2 copies
頭文字 2 copies
獅子・孔雀 2 copies
Amazing Oceans 2 copies
CAVALOS EM FUGA 2 copies
荒野より (1975) 2 copies
Amurgul marinarului (2017) 2 copies
The lady Aoi 2 copies
Le Lézard noir (2000) 2 copies
Racconti e romanzi (2006) 2 copies
Sunflowers At Night (1952) 2 copies
Eight Modern Noh Dramas (2005) 2 copies
Boom uit de tropen (1987) 1 copy
That Complicated Guy (1966) 1 copy
Cuentos completos (1987) 1 copy
Pseudo Art (1995) 1 copy
Hanjo 1 copy
Kantan 1 copy
The Peacocks (2001) 1 copy
Élet eladó (2021) 1 copy
Raisin Bread (1963) 1 copy
Yildiz (2020) 1 copy
The Cup of Apollo (1952) 1 copy
Melegin rys 1 copy
Three Million Yen (1960) 1 copy
Pure White Nights (1950) 1 copy
Ispovest maske (2010) 1 copy
Nap és Vas 1 copy
Soare Si Otel (2022) 1 copy
I'tirafat qina' (2004) 1 copy
Fobidden Colors (1968) 1 copy
Dupa banchet 1 copy
The Pearl 1 copy
Nouvelles du monde (2009) 1 copy
Horse(Chinese Edition) (2015) 1 copy
Hyōron. 10 (2003) 1 copy

Associated Works

House of the Sleeping Beauties (1961) — Contributor, some editions — 557 copies
The World of the Short Story: A 20th Century Collection (1986) — Contributor — 454 copies
The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories (2018) — Contributor — 328 copies
The Life and Death of Yukio Mishima (1974) — Contributor — 321 copies
The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories (1997) — Contributor — 225 copies
Mishima: A Biography (1664) — Contributor — 193 copies
The Penguin Book of International Gay Writing (1995) — Contributor — 175 copies
Modern Japanese Stories: An Anthology (1962) — Contributor — 161 copies
The Gates of Paradise (1993) — Contributor — 112 copies
Ba-ra-kei: Ordeal by Roses (1963) — Photographer, some editions; Model — 63 copies
One World of Literature (1992) — Contributor — 23 copies
Naked Festival (1968) — Introduction, some editions — 19 copies
Young Samurai: Bodybuilders of Japan (1967) — Introduction, some editions — 19 copies
De Japanse herfst : moderne Japanse verhalen (1989) — Author — 11 copies
Japans verhaal elf moderne Japanse verhalen (1983) — Contributor — 8 copies
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea [1976 film] (2003) — Original author — 6 copies
Afraid to Die [1960 film] (1960) — Actor — 4 copies
日本の名随筆 (19) (1984) — Contributor — 2 copies
Black Lizard [1968 film] (1968) — Actor — 2 copies
Hitokiri [1969 film] (1969) — Actor — 2 copies
日本の名随筆 (15) (1983) — Contributor — 1 copy
芸術家 (書物の王国) (1998) — Contributor — 1 copy
日本の名随筆 (18) (1984) — Contributor — 1 copy
日本の名随筆 (9) (1983) — Contributor — 1 copy
1968 [2] 文学 (2018) — Contributor — 1 copy
友 (日本の名随筆) (1989) — Contributor — 1 copy
現代詩殺人事件 (光文社文庫) (2005) — Contributor — 1 copy
Groot zomerboek (1993) — Contributor — 1 copy
王侯 (書物の王国) (1998) — Contributor — 1 copy
バージンラブ — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

1001 (48) 20th century (431) 20th century literature (49) anthology (188) Asia (86) Asian (45) asian literature (87) autobiography (45) biography (174) Buddhism (69) classics (66) drama (54) fiction (2,532) gay (123) goodreads (44) historical fiction (54) homosexuality (57) Japan (1,812) Japanese (909) Japanese fiction (217) Japanese literature (1,275) literary fiction (59) literature (703) Mishima (287) narrativa (64) non-fiction (91) novel (621) Novela (112) paperback (44) philosophy (48) read (187) Roman (138) romance (63) Sea of Fertility (70) short stories (436) to-read (1,419) translated (106) translation (218) unread (154) wishlist (44)

Common Knowledge

Legal name
三島由紀夫
Other names
Hiraoka, Kimitake (English real name)
Shobuin Bunkan Koi Koji (kaimyo)
Birthdate
1925-01-14
Date of death
1970-11-25
Burial location
Tama Reien, Tama-cho, Fuchu City, Tokyo, Japan
Gender
male
Nationality
Japan
Country (for map)
Japan
Birthplace
Tokyo, Japan
Place of death
Tokyo, Japan
Cause of death
seppuku
Places of residence
Tokyo, Japan
Education
Gakushuin
University of Tokyo (LLB | 1947 | German Law)
Occupations
novelist
playwright
actor
translator
poet
stage director (show all 8)
stage designer
short-story writer
Relationships
Sugiyama, Yoko (wife)
Tomita, Noriko (daughter)
Hiraoka, Iichiro (son)
Hiraoka, Azusa (father)
Hiraoka, Shizue (mother)
Hiraoka, Mitsuko (sister) (show all 17)
Hiraoka, Chiyuki (brother)
Kawabata, Yasunari (patron)
Ishihara, Shintarō (friend)
Ishikawa, Jun (acquaintance)
Mayuzumi, Toshiro (collaborator)
Abe, Kobo (friend)
Azuma, Fumihiko (friend)
Weatherby, Meredith (friend, translator)
Morris, Ivan (friend, translator)
Stokes, Henry Scott (friend)
Nathan, John (friend, translator)
Organizations
Shirakabaha (1939)
Ministry of Finance, Banking Bureau, National Savings Section (1948)
Hachi no Ki Kai / the Potted Cherry Tree Club
Bungakuza theatre company
Japan Self-Defense Forces
Tatenokai (show all 7)
Nissay Theatre
Awards and honors
Emperor's Award (1944)
Iaido Shodan / 1st Dan (1967)
AJKF Kendo Godan / 5th Dan (1968)
Participant in the 1st World Kendo Championships (1970)
Agent
Audrey Wood (New York)
Short biography
Three-time winner of the Yomiuri Prize (1956 in literature, 1958 and 1961 in drama), winner of the Shinchosha Prize (1954), the Kunio Kishida Award (1956), the Mainichi Art Award (1964), and the Ministry of Education's Arts Festival Award (1965), "Mishima Yukio was probably the most prodigiously endowed Japanese writer of the twentieth century. Although he was only forty-five when he died, under spectacular circumstances that brought him worldwide fame, he had already completed a more voluminous oeuvre than most writers who live twice that long. His writings extended to every genre. Although he was best known as a novelist, he excelled also as a short-story writer. His works of fiction ranged from the philosophic to the farcical; he could write in whatever style was appropriate to each. He published numerous essays on literary, political, cultural and purely journalistic topics. He was also the most successful playwright of his generation." (Donald Keene. “Forward: Mishima’s Kabuki Plays” in “Mishima on Stage.” Ed. Laurence Kominz. Ann Arbor: Center for Japanese Studies 2007, viii–x.)

Members

Discussions

The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea (Bowie's Top 100) in 75 Books Challenge for 2016 (April 2016)
Mishima: The Decay of the Angel. The Sea of Fertility finally ends. in Le Salon Littéraire du Peuple pour le Peuple (October 2013)
NEW MISHIMA THREAD in Le Salon Littéraire du Peuple pour le Peuple (August 2013)
Mishima, tetralogy, by god, the whole fucking thing! in Le Salon Littéraire du Peuple pour le Peuple (May 2013)
Mishima : The Samurai ethic and modern Japan in Author Theme Reads (January 2013)
Mishima : The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea in Author Theme Reads (October 2012)
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima in Author Theme Reads (October 2012)

Reviews

First half: Greg Heffley
Second half: Raskolnikov
 
Flagged
_takechiya | 35 other reviews | Nov 29, 2023 |
favorites were death in midsummer, the priest and his love, onnagata, and above all: patriotism.
 
Flagged
femmedyke | 13 other reviews | Sep 27, 2023 |
“the priest and his love”, “patriotism”, and “onnagata” changed me.
 
Flagged
milanagt | 13 other reviews | Sep 27, 2023 |
I have long been a fan of the Sea of Fertility tetralogy but my reaction to this particular work is different: No. Just no. Simple and simplistic to a fault. The writing is unexceptional, the situation(s) unexceptional, and indeed the whole thing just struck me as unremarkable in every way. Even the protagonist, who is far better drawn than the secondary characters, stuck me as not very well filled out. Aspects of his thoughts and feelings were detailed even as a sympathetic or full understanding and motivations were absent. The mother and stepfather are so sketchily drawn as to be almost laughable. The story seemed overly plotted with the denouement inevitable from the first line. Because I am such a fan of the Sea of Fertility, I will pick up and try other works, but this left me enormously disappointed.… (more)
½
 
Flagged
Gypsy_Boy | 55 other reviews | Aug 25, 2023 |

Lists

1940s (1)
1970s (1)

Awards

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Associated Authors

Ivan Morris Translator
Teiji Itoh Author
Teiji Itō Author
Alfred H. Marks Translator
Sam Bett Translator
John Nathan Translator
Ryôji Nakamura Translator
Takeji Iwamiya Photographer
Shuntaro Tanikawa Contributor
Shotaro Yasuoka Contributor
Takashi Tsujii Contributor
Kunio Tsukamoto Contributor
Mutsuo Takahashi Contributor
Minoru Yoshioka Contributor
Ryuichi Tamura Contributor
Kazuko Shiraishi Contributor
Kenzaburo Oe Contributor
Kobo Abe Contributor
Shun Akiyama Contributor
Hitoshi Anzai Contributor
Yutaka Haniya Contributor
Taruho Inagaki Contributor
Shintaro Ishihara Contributor
Hatsu Mizushima Contributor
Kimio Watanabe Cinematography
Donald Keene Translator, Introduction
C. Ouwehand Introduction, Translator
Gerrit de Blaauw Translator
Helmut Hilzheimer Übersetzer
David Ford Cover designer
E. Dale Saunders Translator
Yuko Shimizu Cover artist
Nancy Wilson Ross Introduction
Fumi Komatsu Illustrator
Maxim de Winter Translator
Jordi Fibla Translator
Keiko Takahashi Translator
Jef Last Translator
Anna Crone Cover artist
Stephen Dodd Translator
John Bester Translator
Chris Burke Cover artist
Kathryn Sparling Translator
Vincent Torre Cover designer
Andrew Clare Translator
Tomoko Senoo Translator
Roberto Sguazzi Cover artist
Hiro Sato Translator

Statistics

Works
231
Also by
44
Members
22,010
Popularity
#974
Rating
3.8
Reviews
366
ISBNs
829
Languages
29
Favorited
133
About
2
Touchstones
552

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