Kawabata Yasunari is regraded as the
finest Japanese novelist and essayist. The
winner of Literary Nobel Prize in 1968. His biography is as much
gripping as his books, he was born in Osaka.
He was orphaned in a very early age, being only four. His childhood was marked
by loss, all his close relatives died, left alone, he moved in with the family
from his mother’s side. Loneliness and isolation is vividly marked in his
works, his characters are representatives of ‘impenetrable souls’ who build a
wall around their vicinity – forbidding anyone to cross the fragile line. The
privacy and the personal matter is the most important. He was a versatile
student, he learnt fast and passed all his exams with flying colors. His life
was very dramatic, the worst had to come with the Second World War. His works are
sad, reflect war, the post-war Japan,
the destruction and desolation of the generation, the dissociation of
sensitivity. His sensitivity was immerse, the genius unbound, the death tragic,
yet, predictable, he committed suicide. His writing was influenced by Cubism,
Dadaism, Expressionism and Neo-Impressionism.
The game of go
is very important, the championships are about to choose the master. Two the
highest ranking players take part in it, Honnimbo Shusai called “Master of Go” and
much more younger opponent – Otake. The players fiercely fight for the title,
eventually, the younger one wins, the death of the “Master of Go” marks the end
of the competition as well as the end of one era in Japan and the start of
another.
The book has got
the form of a diary, a review, the tale told by the reporter who used to go and comment
each of the game of the “Master of Go”. The beginning is an invocation, an
introduction of the Mater, his long and turbulent way that marked his life, the
stress Master underwent, the heart problems that overwhelmed him and his way of
perception of the game, more ill he is more personal the competition becomes. Despite of his age he is very ambitious. He doesn’t give up easily. He is
not an original man, he is an aristocrat, he has always been treated with
respect and dignity. The centre of the game is Koyokan, where the game of go is
played. Hakone is the city which is privileged to host the participants and their
supporters.
The game itself seems to be easy, however it not so, it is played
by white and black stones, 19by19 grid. The origin of the game is Chinese,
nonetheless, it evolved, its custom and tradition changed, were absorbed by
Japanese players, making it Japanese.
The historical
and traditional context of the game is very decisive, the setting is pre-war
period, 1938, the Second World War is about to break out, the world is uneasy
of upcoming events, full of anger and uncertainty. The Japan is not at all the peaceful country at that
time, there is a war time between Japan
and China.
The master of Go represents old Japan,
he was born in Meji era, in archaic, very traditional Japan. His virtues
and values diverse from the opponent he encounters with. Otake represents modern
Japan.
The narrator explains that one era must vanish, give place to new, modern one, with up-to-date
notions. This process cannot be changed, however the old patterns has to be remembered,
there is no room for oblivion.
The descriptions
are full of admiration for the Master of Go, the narrator is proud of him, he
prizes him, feels the Master of Go is a legend, already. The admiration comes
from the background the Master of Go came from, he is indeed a tragic, romantic
figure, unique and special as much as the game he played.
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