Remembering Mishima, a writer of genius who committed seppuku
To add to the spectacle, he first staged a quixotic “coup”
BIRTH IS THE obvious place to start a life story, but how can Mishima Yukio’s not begin with death? That of Japan’s finest author of the 20th century was both spectacular and absurd.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Death of a novelist”
Asia December 5th 2020
- Covid-19 has ravaged economies all over the world—but not Taiwan’s
- India’s super-rich are getting much richer
- As the federal government harrumphs, Australia moves away from coal
- Indonesian politics is becoming a family affair
- A crash in tourism leaves Japanese deer ravenous for treats
- Remembering Mishima, a writer of genius who committed seppuku
From the December 5th 2020 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Asia
Can Donald Trump maintain Joe Biden’s network of Asian alliances?
Discipline and creativity will help, but so will China’s actions
What North Korea gains by sending troops to fight for Russia
Resources, technology, experience and a blood-soaked IOU
Is Arkadag the world’s greatest football team?
What could possibly explain the success of a club founded by Turkmenistan’s dictator
After the president’s arrest, what next for South Korea?
Some 3,000 police breached his compound. The country is dangerously divided
India’s Faustian pact with Russia is strengthening
The gamble behind $17bn of fresh deals with the Kremlin on oil and arms
AUKUS enters its fifth year. How is the pact faring?
It has weathered two big political changes. What about Donald Trump’s return?