Sanshiro, a young man from rural Kyushu, goes to Tokyo to study at the Imperial University in the late Meiji era. He is overwhelmed by the city, the trains, the new ideas, and the people he meets, including the mysterious Professor Hirota, the student Nonomiya, and the independent Mineko, with whom he falls into an unclear attachment. Natsume Soseki shows his protagonist's hesitation and naivety as he struggles with the choice between tradition and modernity. The novel is the first in a loose trilogy with Sorekara and Mon.
It is for readers who like quiet coming-of-age stories and Japanese classics. It gives a picture of a country changing quickly.
Thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1908
- Language
- EN
