Yukio Mishima's 'Spring Snow' is a beautifully written novel that delves into the forbidden love affair between two aristocratic young adults in early 1900s Tokyo. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Japanese society transitioning from feudal tradition to modernity, the story follows Kiyoaki, an aristocrat's son, and his secret relationship with Satoko, a longtime family friend engaged to a prince. Mishima's prose elegantly portrays the clash between social norms and personal desires, creating a poignant narrative that explores themes of love, societal expectations, and the struggle between tradition and modernization.

The novel is a blend of a tragic romance and a commentary on Japanese society, with Mishima's descriptive writing style capturing the emotional turmoil of the characters and the cultural nuances of the time period. Through the characters of Kiyoaki and Satoko, Mishima weaves a tale of love, manipulation, and impending doom, showcasing the complexities of human emotions and the conflicts between individual desires and societal constraints.

Characters:

The characters are complex, often troubled individuals whose emotional struggles drive the narrative, making their flaws and conflicts central to the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by elegant, vivid descriptions and thoughtful philosophical musings, creating a deeply immersive reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative weaves a tale of forbidden love set within the rigid structures of early 1900s Japanese society, culminating in tragic misunderstandings and societal pressures.

Setting:

The setting captures the transitional period of early 20th-century Japan, blending traditional aesthetics with the turmoil of modernization.

Pacing:

The story exhibits fluctuating pacing, balancing introspective passages with more frenetic scenes of emotional climax.

WHEN CONVERSATION at school turned to the Russo-Japanese War, Kiyoaki Matsugae asked his closest friend, Shigekuni Honda, how much he could remember about it. Shigekuni’s memories were vague—he just b...

Notes:

Spring Snow is the first book in Yukio Mishima's tetralogy, The Sea of Fertility.

The novel is set in early 20th century Japan during the Taisho era, a time of social and cultural change.

The main character, Kiyoaki Matsugae, is a wealthy son of a samurai family who struggles with his feelings for his childhood friend, Satoko Ayakura.

Kiyoaki is depicted as self-absorbed and immature, which many readers find frustrating yet relatable.

Death and the cycle of rebirth play significant roles in the story, reflecting Buddhist philosophies.

Kiyoaki and Satoko's love is described as tragic, paralleling famous doomed love stories like Romeo and Juliet.

Mishima's prose is noted for its beautiful and poetic descriptions of nature and emotions, often capturing the essence of Japanese aesthetics.

The book examines the clash between tradition and modernity as Japan westernizes after the Russo-Japanese War.

Mishima's own life and leanings towards beauty and nationalism are reflected in the themes of the novel.

Readers frequently comment on the emotional toll it takes due to Kiyoaki's flaws and ultimately tragic fate.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Spring Snow include themes of mental health, emotional distress, and societal pressures, which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

Romance is a central theme in Spring Snow, driving much of the narrative and character motivations.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Yukio Mishima's Spring Snow is the first novel in his masterful tetralogy, The Sea of Fertility. Here we meet Shigekuni Honda, who narrates this epic tale of what he believes are the successive reincarnations of his friend, Kiyoaki Matsugae.

It is 1912 in Tokyo, and the hermetic world of the ancient aristocracy is being breached for the first time by outsiders - rich provincial families unburdened by tradition, whose money and vitality make them formidable contenders for social and political power. Shigekuni Honda, an aspiring lawyer and his childhood friend, Kiyoaki Matsugae, are the sons of two such families. As they come of age amidst the growing tensions between old and new, Kiyoaki is plagued by his simultaneous love for and loathing of the spirited young woman Ayakura Satoko. But Kiyoaki's true feelings only become apparent when her sudden engagement to a royal prince shows him the magnitude of his passion - and leads to a love affair both doomed and inevitable.

Ratings (11)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (4)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (28):

Read It (11)
Want To Read (15)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

zozopuff

Loved It

8 months

This book was my introduction to the works of Mishima and while I had a very weird enjoyment of this novel, I sort of wish I'd started with something else of his that's maybe shorter or focuses more on one idea so I could feel him out better. But that's just a personal preference and doesn't take away from 'Spring Snow' itself.

Even though I had a great dislike of the MC, my boy Kiyoaki, for his fickle, childish, and borderline narcissistic attitudes he displays at the beginning (and then passionate delusions at the end), I was super invested in his story and how he suffers, (which I knew he would considering the gloomy foreshadowing is extremely heavy - even without my glasses I would've seen it coming a mile away).

Each theme of the book is explored deeply and is woven into a complex webbing where each point is interconnected. It's quite beautifully done. There's the transition of boyhood into manhood (or the perception of, and how it falters), the changing of an era and being born during in-between times, that there are people born now who fit better into the era of the past and those born who fit into an era to come, that passion is the epitome of youth and of life - that once it's realized and passes, the best part of life is now behind you.

I did have a good time reading about mens' nipples and chest hair, though, I've been told this is typical for Mishima and I have to say I appreciate it.

What can you read after
Spring Snow?

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About the Author:

Yukio Mishima was born in Tokyo in 1925. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's School of Jurisprudence in 1947. His first published book, The Forest in Full Bloom, appeared in 1944, and he established himself as a major author with…

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Spring Snow

Yukio Mishima