Short Fiction · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō.
Chapter 1
Short Fiction
A collection of short fiction pieces exploring themes of beauty, obsession, transformation, and the supernatural through various characters and their intertwined fates.
Chapter 2
Tattooing
The chapter introduces the art of tattooing in Edo-period Japan, focusing on the skilled tattooer Seikichi. It describes his artistic philosophy, his sadistic pleasure in causing pain, and his long-cherished desire to find a beautiful girl to tattoo with his soul. After years of searching, he encounters a young girl whose feet captivate him, and she eventually visits his home, leading to the fulfillment of his obsession.
Chapter 3
A Springtime Case
Tsuya and Shinsuké plot revenge against Seiji for Shinsuké's apparent murder, while Tsuya's past as a geisha and her manipulation of Seiji are revealed. The chapter culminates in a violent confrontation where Shinsuké beats Tsuya after accusing her of infidelity with Ashizawa, leading to her escape and eventual murder on the riverbank.
Chapter 4
The White Fox
A one-act play exploring themes of enchantment, transformation, and the supernatural through the story of a white fox spirit.
Chapter 5
Persons in the Play
This chapter introduces the characters of the play, including Kakutaro, a young man enchanted by a fox; his lover Osayo; Osayo's mother; the fox and its children; a foreign woman and her attendant; a foreign man; and a policeman.
Chapter 6
Scene
Kakutaro tries to convince Osayo that the mysterious woman bathing in the cottage is not a fox but a foreign woman named Miss Rosa, whom he knew in Kobe. Despite Osayo's fears and the villagers' beliefs, Kakutaro insists on the truth and eventually escapes to speak with Rosa. They reminisce about their past in Kobe, and Rosa reveals her affection for him, showing him rubies set in her skin and inviting him to come with her to Paris.
Chapter 7
Endnotes
This chapter provides explanatory notes on Japanese cultural terms, customs, and historical context referenced throughout the book, including honorifics, currency, holidays, social hierarchies, theater practices, family succession, geisha customs, and musical instruments.