The Makioka Sisters

Jun'ichiro Tanizaki

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nuanced character development

intimate family dynamics

social change in pre war japan

traditional versus modern values

lyrical and patient writing style

mundane daily events

declining aristocracy

complexities of societal expectations

measured pacing

family saga

impact of wwii on daily life

japanese cultural intricacies

The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichiro Tanizaki is a novel set in the 1930s and '40s Japan, focusing on the lives of the four Makioka sisters as they navigate through marriage, family dynamics, and societal expectations. The book delves into the daily minutiae of the sisters' lives, showcasing distinctively Japanese culture and events amidst the backdrop of the looming WWII. Tanizaki's writing captures the intimate everyday moments of the once powerful Makioka family, highlighting the complexities of family dynamics and the struggles of a declining aristocracy in a rapidly changing society.

Characters:

The characters are nuanced and richly depicted, each reflecting a distinctive approach to family obligations and societal expectations.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by its lyrical and patient style, immersing readers in the detailed and often introspective lives of the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intricately weaves the mundane events of the Makioka sisters' lives with larger themes of tradition and societal change, particularly surrounding marriage.

Setting:

The setting intricately captures the societal intricacies of pre-war Japan, emphasizing the contrast between tradition and modernization.

Pacing:

The pacing is measured, allowing for a deep exploration of character dynamics and cultural context through everyday experiences.

Seeing in the mirror that Taeko had come up behind her, Sachiko stopped powdering her back and held out the puff to her sister. Her eyes were still on the mirror, appraising the face as if it belonged...

Notes:

The Makioka Sisters follows the lives of four sisters from a declining aristocratic family in pre-WWII Japan.

The story is set against the backdrop of the socio-political changes leading to World War II.

Each sister represents different responses to the pressures of tradition and modernity.

Yukiko, the third sister, struggles with marriage prospects as her family repeatedly rejects potential suitors.

Taeko, the youngest sister, embodies modernity and independence, frequently clashing with traditional family values.

The narrative explores the themes of family duty, societal expectations, and the tension between old and new ways of life.

The book was serialized from 1943 to 1948 and reflects the author's awareness of the looming war.

Tanizaki's writing style is noted for its rich imagery and detailed character thought processes.

References to historical events like the Sino-Japanese War hint at the grim reality outside the sisters' domestic concerns.

The novel captures the minutiae of everyday life, illustrating the beauty and decay of a bygone era.

The story features scenes of traditional Japanese culture, including cherry blossom viewings and family rituals.

The eldest sister Tsuruko is deeply committed to family traditions while struggling against modern influences.

The Makioka family faces challenges like a diminishing reputation and social standing, mirroring Japan's historical trajectory.

The family dynamics are complex, filled with jealousy, anxiety, and enduring sisterly bonds.

The novel is sometimes likened to a Japanese version of Pride and Prejudice due to its focus on marriage and social class.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes related to societal expectations, the struggles with arranged marriages, and subtle foreshadowing of war, which could be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

While romance is not the central focus, the novel features elements of romantic tension and the search for suitable marriages for the sisters, particularly Yukiko.

From The Publisher:

Junichirō Tanizaki's magisterial evocation of a proud Osaka family in decline during the years immediately before World War II is arguably the greatest Japanese novel of the twentieth century and a classic of international literature.

Tsuruko, the eldest sister of the once-wealthy Makioka family, clings obstinately to the prestige of her family name even as her husband prepares to move their household to Tokyo, where that name means nothing. Sachiko compromises valiantly to secure the future of her younger sisters. The shy, unmarried Yukiko is a hostage to her family's exacting standards, while the spirited Taeko rebels by flinging herself into scandalous romantic alliances and dreaming of studying fashion design in France. Filled with vignettes of a vanishing way of life, The Makioka Sisters is a poignant yet unsparing portrait of a family-and an entire society-sliding into the abyss of modernity. It possesses in abundance the keen social insight and unabashed sensuality that distinguish Tanizaki as a master novelist.

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About the Author:

Junichiro Tanizaki was born in Tokyo in 1886 and lived in the city until the earthquake of 1923, when he moved to the Kyoto-Osaka region, the scene of one of his most well-known novels, The Makioka Sisters (1943-48). The author…

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