Yasunari Kawabata

5 summariesFiction, Romance, Historical Fiction

Yasunari Kawabata was a Japanese novelist and short story writer whose spare, lyrical, subtly shaded prose works won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, the first Japanese author to receive the award. His works have enjoyed broad international appeal and are still widely read.

Books by Yasunari Kawabata

5 books available

The Sound of the Mountain
Yasunari Kawabata
3.8 (10k) average on GoodreadsFiction
An aging Tokyo businessman hears the mountain's rumble, a sign of his approaching death, as he navigates the subtle desires and disappointments within his fractured family, finding solace in his daughter-in-law's quiet presence.
Thousand Cranes
Yasunari Kawabata
3.8 (9k) average on GoodreadsRomance
In the world of tea ceremonies, a young man's affair with his deceased father's mistress, and later her daughter, reveals a story of desire, regret, and the past's lasting hold.
Beauty and Sadness
Yasunari Kawabata
3.9 (8k) average on GoodreadsRomance
A celebrated writer's reunion with his former, much younger lover ignites a dangerous game of obsession and revenge, orchestrated by her jealous protégée amidst the ancient beauty of Kyoto.
The Old Capital
Yasunari Kawabata
3.8 (4k) average on GoodreadsHistorical Fiction
In Kyoto, an adopted daughter of a kimono designer uncovers her past, mirroring the city's balance of tradition and change.
The Master of Go
Yasunari Kawabata
3.8 (4k) average on GoodreadsFiction
In his final Go match, an aging Master, representing traditional Japan, faces a younger, modern challenger, symbolizing the unavoidable conflict with the twentieth century.