The Story of a Blind Man by Tanizaki Junichiro

Review of the book “The Story of a Blind Man” by Tanizaki Junichiro

In this article, I am going to talk about the book “The Story of a Blind Man” by Tanizaki Junichiro, one of the great masters of Japanese literature of the 20th century. It is a historical novel set in feudal Japan in the 16th century, which tells the life of Yaichi, a blind musician and masseuse who serves Lady Okichi, wife of Mr. Nagamasa.

The novel is a masterpiece by Tanizaki, who manages to recreate the feminine and hidden universe of medieval Japan, through the eyes and ears of the blind Yaichi. The protagonist witnesses the historical events that marked the destiny of Japan, such as the civil wars between feudal lords, the arrival of the first Europeans and the conversion of some nobles to Christianity. But he also witnesses the passions, tragedies and joys of Lady Okichi and her three daughters, all of them real characters who remained in the shadow of the great men of their time.

Tanizaki uses the main character’s blindness as a metaphor to explore the idea of ​​perception, truth, and illusion. Tanizaki’s prose is elegant and subtle, and the story is full of evocative details and symbolism.

In “A Blind Man’s Story,” Tanizaki creates a moving and deeply human portrait of a man struggling to find his place in a rapidly changing world. It is a masterpiece of Japanese literature that offers profound reflection on the nature of perception and truth.

Tanizaki was inspired by a historical chronicle written by Yaichi himself, which is preserved in the Tokyo National Museum. The author researched the period and the characters exhaustively, and added his own imagination and sensitivity to create a fascinating novel, which combines historical rigor with literary beauty. The novel was first published in 1931, and has since been translated into several languages ​​and adapted to film and theater.

Tanizaki uses the figure of Yaichi, a blind musician and masseuse, to recreate the feminine, and always ignored, universe of medieval Japan. The blind servant will be part of the most intimate entourage of Lady Okichi, wife of Mr. Nagamasa, who will become his most devoted admirer. He will faithfully accompany her in life’s troubles, in its tragedies and in its few joys, and will be a direct witness of key events in Japanese history through the lives of Okichi and her three daughters, all of them historical figures in the shadows. of the great men of his time. Tanizaki gives voice to women (mothers, wives and daughters) who were silenced and hidden behind the veil of History.

“The Story of a Blind Man” is a novel that allows us to discover a different side of Tanizaki, more interested in Japanese tradition and culture than in Western influence. It is also a novel that shows us the complexity and richness of Japanese history and society, from an original and unforgettable perspective.