The Dancing Girl

Mori Ogai remains one of Japan’s most popular writers. This collection includes works in the romantic genre—of which Ogai was the founder in his country—as well as historical novellas and stories, forming a kind of encyclopedia of samurai life and everyday life.

Among the works presented in the book is an autobiographical novella. It tells of a young Japanese man who goes to Germany for work and accidentally meets an attractive dancer. Their relationship is disapproved of by society, and soon the girl discovers that she is pregnant.

Historical works also leave no one indifferent. One of them is about a prince who is dying. His vassals, who have come to say goodbye, ask for permission to perform ritual suicide. For those who are refused, it will become a source of family shame.

Mori Ogai holds as important a place among Japanese authors as Natsume Sōseki and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa—because of them, such contemporary writers as Haruki Murakami and Sōji Shimada appeared.

The series mascot is a white cat, Michi, who will accompany you on your literary journey through Asian countries—from Japan to Taiwan. Michi will appear on the book’s pages, and you can share your impressions of what you’ve read with him. In memory of your journey, Michi will give you a collectible bookmark.

“Mascot. Journey to Asia with a White Cat” is a series of hardcover books in pocketbook format. The text is printed on white paper, and inside each book you can find various collectible bookmarks featuring the white cat Michi.

“He read old books as if he were visiting dearly loved deceased people. He read new books as if he were going to the market, to see modern people.”