The lemon

The Lemon

Book Summary

This edition presents "The Lemon," the celebrated short story by Motojiro Kajii, a fundamental piece of modern Japanese literature known to every student in the country. The work, translated by Cirilo Iriarte, gathers a selection of short stories where plot fades away to give way to descriptions of moods and tactile, visual, and auditory sensations. Kajii, admired by his friend and Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata, uses words with the plastic intensity of a Zen painter, offering the reader a unique literary experience that captures the keen perception of worldly objects and the human emotions they emanate.

What is it about?

The book collects the short stories of Motojiro Kajii, an author who published his work exclusively in magazines and only managed to see a compilation volume edited shortly before his death thanks to the support of his circle of intellectual friends. In these texts, the author does not develop conventional plot-driven stories, but rather focuses on describing minor anecdotes and human sensations. The story that gives the book its title, "The Lemon," is a true literary gem where the protagonist places a lemon on a bookstore shelf, a gesture that has become a tradition among Japanese students. Through this seemingly simple action, Kajii captures his ability to seize the essence of objects and the emotions they awaken.

Main Themes

• The sensory perception of the world through everyday objects
• Moods and emotional introspection
• The beauty of minor anecdotes and fleeting moments
• The influence of Zen aesthetics on modern Japanese literature
• The relationship between the human being and the elements that surround them

Who is it recommended for?

This book is aimed at readers interested in classical and contemporary Japanese literature, especially those who appreciate short works of great lyrical intensity. It is also recommended for students of literature and Japanese culture, as well as those seeking a contemplative and sensory reading experience, far from conventional plots. Followers of authors like Yasunari Kawabata or Junichiro Tanizaki will find in Kajii a unique voice within the Japanese literary landscape.

What this book offers

• An approach to Japanese aesthetic sensibility through literature
• Short stories that invite reflection and introspection
• The discovery of a key author in Japanese letters, admired by figures like Borges
• A reading experience that prioritizes sensations over narrative plot
• A careful edition that includes the most iconic story in Japanese student literature

Technical Specifications

• Author: Kajii, Motojiro
• Publisher: Erasmus Ediciones
• Language: Spanish
• Topic: CLASSIC TEXTS, MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, CLASSIC FICTION, GRAPHIC NOVELS: MANGA, SHORT STORIES
• Collection: CLASSICS IN THE PRESENT
• Binding: Other
• Publication date: May 2012
• Number of pages: 144
• Weight: 224 g

Editorial Assessment

This work represents an exceptional opportunity to delve into early 20th-century Japanese literature through one of its most unique authors. Kajii's prose, which Borges considered part of the most important secondary literature in the world, offers a literary experience that transcends conventional narration to become an exercise in pure perception. The Erasmus Ediciones edition, within its "Classics in the Present" collection, allows the Spanish reader access to a text that is a tradition among Japanese students and deserves the fame it enjoys for its ability to capture the essence of the everyday with an almost pictorial intensity.