The Tale of Genji

The poet Akiko Yosano’s early 20th-century translation first made “The Tale of Genji” accessible to modern audiences. Since then, the depictions of daily life in the Imperial Court during the Heian period have captivated successive generations of readers. The book revolves around Hikaru Genji, the son of an ancient Japanese emperor and low-ranking concubine, Kiritsubo Consort. When Genji’s father removes him from the line of succession and demotes him to the rank of a commoner, he attempts to improve his fortunes by becoming an imperial officer. Although it lacks a plot in the traditional sense, the novel’s nuanced characterizations,penetrating psychological insights, and contemporary account of life in an ancient Japanese court have cemented its reputation as a literary classic.