A review by staircase
Takekurabe 'Growing Up by Natsu Higuchi, Ichiyō Higuchi

5.0

I read Danly's translation of this and I haven't gotten around to the rest of Ichiyo's works in the collection but oh my god. This was so cleverly written, so concise, and gave way to each character so perfectly. It was such a bittersweet read that somehow left you leaving not completely pessimistic solely because of the choice of having children as the main characters. The complexity in the relationships and how they were all interconnected from their close physical proximity but also because of the "predetermined fates" they have because of their parents left me rereading their interactions multiple times. The way the pleasure court itself was the main character, and the way I could write essays upon essays on how it was portrayed. The way Ichiyo's poeticism translated so well over to the novel all comes to form a work of art. The Mother of the Japanese Short Story for a reason!!! Higuchi Ichiyo you are insane!!!!