The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea
First English-language edition
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| Author | Yukio Mishima |
|---|---|
| Original title | 午後の曳航 (Gogo no Eiko — Eng trans. Afternoon Shiptowing) |
| Translator | John Nathan |
| Cover artist | Susan Mitchell |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre | Philosophical, Psychological |
| Publisher |
Kodansha Alfred A. Knopf (U.S.) |
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Publication date
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1963 |
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Published in English
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1965 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 181 pp |
| OCLC | 29389499 |
| 895.6/35 20 | |
| LC Class | PL833.I7 G613 1994 |
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (Japanese: 午後の曳航, meaning The Afternoon Towing) is a novel written by Yukio Mishima, published in Japanese in 1963 and translated into English by John Nathan in 1965.
Much of the story is told following the actions of Noburu Kuroda, an adolescent boy living in Yokohama, Japan, who does well in school but is secretly "Number Three" in an adolescent group of boys who reject conventional morality and are led by another schoolchild, the "Chief". Noburu discovers in his chest of drawers a secret peephole into his widowed mother's room (speculated to have been put there by previous occupants, American troops), and uses it to spy on her. Since Noburu has a strong interest in ships, his upper-class mother Fusako, who owns Rex, a European-style haute fashion clothing store, takes him to visit one near the end of the summer. There they meet Ryuji Tsukazaki, a sailor and second mate aboard the commercial steamer Rakuyo with vague notions of a special honor awaiting him at sea. Ryuji has always remained aloof from the land, and while accruing a substantial savings, has no real ties with other sailors either. Ryuji and Fusako develop a romantic relationship, their first night of sex is spied upon by Noburu at the peephole but the second takes place at a hotel to Noburu's disappointment. The relationship continues but ultimately ends when the Rakuyo sets sail again.
Noburu at first reveres Ryuji, but a chance encounter on the second day of their acquaintance changes this stance. Noburu and his friends have just come from Noburu killing (and then the "Chief" eviscerating) a tiny stray kitten, and he has lied about his whereabouts to his household. Ryuji has combatted the extreme heat by dousing himself with water. Noburu takes issue with what he perceives as an undignified appearance and greeting by Ryuji, although he is later thrilled by Ryuji recounting his voyages around the world.
While Ryuji is sailing, he and Fusako exchange letters, and they fall deeply in love. Returning to Yokohama around the New Year, he moves into the house, lets the Rakuyo sail without him, and ultimately decides to marry Fusako (Fusako plans to install him in a managing position at Rex, after Ryuji passes a private investigator audit of his circumstances). This estranges him from Noburu, whose group resents fathers as a terrible manifestation of a terrible position. Noburu is nonetheless able to hide his true feelings behind a mask of youthful innocence. Noburu is discovered in his peephole position (for which he must crawl into his chest of drawers) but Ryuji does not punish him severely despite being asked to by Fusako.
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