WIT Life #132: Kwaidan
Events, Film, Translating/Interpreting, Uncategorized, WIT Life, Writers 
Comments Off on WIT Life #132: Kwaidan
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last night kicked off Japan Society’s current “Zen and Its Opposite” Monthly Classic Film Series, which features films from the late ’50s to ’60s that showcase the paradoxical unity of zen and violence. It began with the 1965 film 怪談 (Kwaidan or Kaidan), said to be the most expensive production of its time. It clocks in at a whopping 161 minutes and although the pacing is slow at certain points, the suspense draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat for most of it. Kwaidan is comprised of four separate stories, each haunting in its own way. My favorite was 耳なし芳一 (Hoichi the Earless) for its lush scenery, absorbing plot and well-placed humor. The picture here shows Hoichi undergoing the ritual that is supposed to save him from the spirits who come back to claim him night after night. However, the best laid plans…
All four stories deal with supernatural phenomena like relentless dead spirits and ghosts who can walk through walls, and constantly keep you questioning what is real and what isn’t. They are adapted from author Lafcadio Hearn’s book of Japanese ghost stories with the same name. Hearn was born in Greece but raised in Ireland, and made his way to Japan in 1890 after over 20 years in the States as a journalist. He went on to acquire Japanese citizenship and the new name 小泉八雲 (Koizumi Yakumo), as well as a Japanese wife and family. The reason I am familiar with him is he taught for a time in my JET hometown of Kumamoto at a middle school which is now part of the Kumamoto University campus. However he began his Japan journey in Matsue Prefecture, so each area likes to claim him as their own.
At any rate, make sure to check out the four remaining films in the series which goes through next February. They are sure to provide much entertainment, thrills and perhaps sleepless nights as well.
Comments are closed.