LightNovelLingo
Home / Library / Takiji Kobayashi

Takiji Kobayashi: 2 works in the original Japanese, with translation

Takiji Kobayashi (October 13, 1903 – February 20, 1933) was a Japanese writer of proletarian literature, best known for his short novel Kani Kōsen (Crab Cannery Ship), published in 1929, which depicts the hard life of cannery workers, fishermen and seamen aboard a cannery ship and the start of their revolt against the company and its managers. He died at 29 after being arrested by the Special Higher Police and subjected to violent torture.

Works in the library

Cultural notes (selection)

花札 The Crab Cannery Ship

A traditional Japanese card game with forty-eight cards, each month depicted with scenes such as pine, cherry blossoms, and miscanthus grass; often used for gambling.

荒木又右衛門 The Absentee Landlord

Araki Mataemon was a swordsman of the early Edo period. His tale of revenge, the 'Iga-goe Vendetta', was retold over and over in kōdan storytelling, kabuki and other forms, making it known to every household. Naruto Hichō is a popular novel by Yoshikawa Eiji. The author draws an analogy with this kind of popular reading matter, hoping that this book too will become light reading that poor farmers can enjoy with ease.