Some Prefer Nettles

by Junichiro Tanizaki

  "I feel much better," he said, as if he hoped the sound of his voice might drive off these strange fancies. The terry cloth was cool against his skin.

  "You must have been uncomfortable in such a dirty bath."

  "On the contrary, a clove bath is a good change now and then."

  "But a bright bathroom like yours—it's not for me, I'm afraid."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "Everything so pure and white, everything so bright—to someone as good-looking as Misako I suppose it doesn't matter."

  "Is she as good-looking as all that?" A note of derision, of hostility toward his absent wife, crept into Kaname's voice. He quickly emptied the first cup of sake O-hisa had poured for him. "But won't you have some yourself?"

  "Thank you. Perhaps I shall."

  "The salmon roe is excellent.... How are you coming with the music?"

  "Oh, that—tedious, monotonous."

  "You aren't practicing any more?"

  "I go on with it. Misako sings the Tokyo way, I suppose."

  "I suspect she graduated from that long ago and has gone on to jazz."

  O-hisa drove a moth from the clear-lacquer table, the breeze from her fan cool through Kaname's light kimono. The clean smell of spring mushrooms rose faintly from the soup. It was pitch-dark now in the garden, and the croaking of the rain-frogs had risen to a clamor.

  "I'd like to learn the Tokyo style myself."

  "You'll be scolded for dangerous thoughts. And I'm afraid I'll have to join the scolding—you've no idea how much better the Osaka style is for you."

  "I don't object to it so much. But the teacher is rather a problem."

  "Let me see—you go to someone in Osaka, don't you?"

  "That's right. But I was thinking more of the teacher here."

  Kaname laughed.

  "He's unbearable. Lecture, lecture, lecture."

  "All old people are that way." Kaname laughed again. "That reminds me. I noticed the bran bag. You still use it?"

  "That's right. He uses soap himself, but he won't let me. He says women mustn't ruin their skin with soap."

  "And the nightingale dung?"

  "I go on with that too. But it hasn't made my skin a bit whiter."

  Kaname was finishing off the meal with his second decanter of sake, and O-hisa had brought in a dish of loquats when the telephone rang. She ran to answer it, leaving a half-peeled loquat in an antique glass saucer.

  "Yes... yes... I see. I'll tell him." Kaname could see her in the hall nodding into the telephone. In a minute or two she was back. "Misako will stay too, he says. They'll be home before long."

  "Really? And she said she wouldn't.... It seems an awfully long time since I last spent the night here."

  "It has been a long time."

  More than that, though, it seemed a long time since he and Misako had slept alone together. There had of course been those two or three nights—their first alone in he did not know how many years— when Hiroshi was in Tokyo with Takanatsu; but they had been able then to lie down side by side and go off to sleep as unconcernedly as two strangers at an inn, so deadened had their marital nerves become. He suspected that tonight, however, the old man hoped for great changes to come from throwing them together. This benevolent scheming was a little disconcerting, but not enough so that Kaname felt pressed to try for an escape. He was sure that the time had passed when one night could make a difference.

  "Hasn't it grown heavy?" said Kaname. "Not a breath of air." He looked out to the veranda. The incense, on the point of going out, sent a column of smoke straight and unwavering into the air. The breeze in the garden had died, and with it the breeze from O-hisa's fan, motionless in her lap and as though forgotten.

  "It's clouding over. I wonder if it will rain."

  "It might well. I almost hope it will."

  Above the motionless leaves a star here and there broke through the clouds. For a moment he thought he could hear, as with a sixth sense, Misako's voice fighting back the old man; and he knew that almost unconsciously he had come to a point where he could support his wife's decision with an even stronger one of his own.

  "What time do you suppose it is?"

  "Eight thirty, possibly."

  "Only eight thirty. Isn't it quiet, though?"

  "It's still early, but you may want to go to bed. They should be back before long."

  "I suppose it seemed from what he said over the telephone that the conversation was not going very well?" Kaname was secretly more interested in having O-hisa's views than the old man's.

  "Shall I bring you something to read?"

  "Thank you. What sort of things do you read?"

  "He brings home old wood-block books and tells me I should read them. But I can't get interested in the dusty old things."

  "You'd rather read a woman's magazine?"

  "He says if I have time for that sort of trash I should be practicing my calligraphy."

  "What copybook does he have you on?"

  "There are a couple. O-ie method."

  "Well, let me look at one of your dusty books."

  "How about a travel guide?"

  "That should do, I suppose."

  "Let's go out to the cottage, then. I have everything ready."

  O-hisa led the way along a covered passage to the garden cottage. As she slid back the paper-paneled door to the rear of the tearoom, Kaname caught the rustling of a mosquito net in the darkness beyond. A cool breath of air came through the open door.

  "The wind seems to have come up again."

  "And all of a sudden it's a little chilly," Kaname answered. "We'll have a shower before long."

  The mosquito net rustled again, this time not from the wind. O-hisa felt her way inside and, groping for the lamp at Kaname's pillow, turned the switch.

  "Shall I get you a larger bulb?"

  "This will do nicely. The print's always big in old books."

  "Suppose I leave the shutters open. You won't want it too hot."

  "I wish you would. I can close them later."

  Kaname crawled under the net himself when O-hisa had gone. The room was not a large one, and the linen mosquito netting cut it off smaller yet, so that the two mattresses were almost touching. It was a novel arrangement for Kaname and Misako. At home these summer nights they hung up as large a mosquito net as possible and slept, one at each end, with Hiroshi between them. Kaname rolled over on his stomach, a little bored, and lighted a cigarette. He tried to make out the picture in the alcove beyond the light-green netting. Something in modest, neutral colors, a landscape it seemed to be, wider than it was high. With the light inside the net, however, the rest of the room lay in deep shadow, and he could make out neither the details nor the artist's signature. Below it in a bowl was what he took to be a blue and white porcelain burner. There was a faint smell of incense through the room—he noticed it for the first time. Plum blossom, he judged. For an instant he thought he saw O-hisa's face, faint and white, in a shadowy corner beside the bed. He started up, but quickly caught himself. It was the puppet the old man had brought back from Awaji, a lady puppet in a modest dotted kimono.

  A gust of wind came through the open window and the shower began. Kaname could hear large drops falling against the leaves. He raised himself on an elbow and stared out into the wooded depths of the garden. A small green frog, a refugee from the rain, clung halfway up the fluttering side of the net, its belly reflecting the light from the bed lamp.

  "It's finally begun."

  The door slid open, and this time, half a dozen old-style Japanese books in arm, it was no puppet that sat faintly white in the shadows beyond the netting.

  TUTTLE CLASSICS

  LITERATURE (* = for sale in Japan only)

  ABE, Kobo

  The Box Man ISBN 978-4-8053-0395-5 (4-8053-0395-6)*

  The Face of Another ISBN 978-4-8053-0120-3 (4-8053-0120-1)*

  Friend ISBN 978-4-8053-0648-2 (4-8053-0648-3)*

  Inter Ice Age 4 ISBN 978-4-8053-
0268-2 14-8053-0268-2)*

  The Ruined Map ISBN 978-4-8053-0654-3 (4-8053-0654-8)*

  Secret Rendezvous ISBN 978-4-8053-0472-3 (4-8053-0472-3)*

  The Woman in the Dunes ISBN 978-4-8053-0900-1 (4-8053-0900-8)*

  AKUTAGAWA, Ryunosuke

  Japanese Short Stories ISBN 978-4-8053-0464-8 (4-8053-0464-2)*

  Kappa ISBN 978-0-8048-3251-9 (0-8048-3251-X); ISBN 978-4-8053-0901-8*

  Rashomon and Other Stories ISBN 978-0-8048-1457-7 (0-8048-1457-0)

  DAZAI, Osamu

  Crackling Mountain and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3342-4 (0-8048-3342-7)

  No Longer Human ISBN 978-4-8053-0756-4 (4-8053-0756-0)*

  The Setting Sun ISBN 978-4-8053-0672-7 (4-8053-0672-6)*

  ENDO, Shusaku

  Deep River ISBN 978-0-8048-2013-5 (0-8048-2013-9); ISBN 978-4-8053-0618-5*

  The Final Martyrs ISBN 978-4-8053-0625-3 (4-8053-0625-4)*

  Foreign Studies ISBN 978-0-8048-1626-7 (0-8048-1626-3)

  The Golden Country ISBN 978-0-8048-3337-0 (0-8048-3337-0)

  A Life of Jesus ISBN 978-4-8053-0668-0 (4-8053-0668-8)*

  Scandal ISBN 978-0-8048-1558-1 (0-8048-1558-5)

  The Sea and Poison ISBN 978-4-8053-0330-6 (4-8053-0330-1)*

  Stained Glass Elegies ISBN 978-4-8053-0624-6 (4-8053-0624-6)*

  Volcano ISBN 978-4-8053-0664-2 (4-8053-0664-5)*

  When I Whistle ISBN 978-4-8053-0627-7 (4-8053-0627-0)*

  Wonderful Fool ISBN 978-4-8053-0376-4 (4-8053-0376-X)*

  HEARN, Lafcadio

  In Ghostly Japan

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3661-6 (0-8048-3661-2); ISBN 978-4-8053-0749-6*

  Kokoro ISBN 978-0-8048-3660-9 (0-8048-3660-4); ISBN 978-4-8053-0748-9*

  Kwaidan ISBN 978-0-8048-3662-3 (0-8048-3662-0); ISBN 978-4-8053-0750-2*

  Lafcadio Flearn's Japan ISBN 978-4-8053-0873-8 (4-8053-0873-7)*

  INOUE, Yasushi

  The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3701-9 (0-8048-3701-5); ISBN 978-4-8053-0910-0*

  The Counterfeiter and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3252-6 (0-8048-3252-8)

  The Hunting Gun ISBN 978-0-8048-0257-4 (0-8048-0257-2)

  KAWABATA, Yasunari

  Beauty and Sadness ISBN 978-4-8053-0394-8 (4-8053-0394-8)*

  The Izu Dancer and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-0-8048-1141-5 (0-8048-1141-5); ISBN 978-4-8053-0744-1*

  The Master of Go ISBN 978-4-8053-0673-4 (4-8053-0673-4)*

  The Old Capital ISBN 978-4-8053-0972-8 (4-8053-0972-5)*

  The Palm-of-the-Hand Stories ISBN 978-4-8053-0653-6 (4-8053-0653-X)*

  Snow Country ISBN 978-4-8053-0635-2 (4-8053-0635-1)*

  The Sound of the Mountain ISBN 978-4-8053-0663-5 (4-8053-0663-7) *

  Thousand Cranes ISBN 978-4-8053-0971-1 (4-8053-0971-7)*

  MISHIMA, Yukio

  After the Banquet ISBN 978-4-8053-0968-1 (4-8053-0968-7)*

  Confessions of a Mask ISBN 978-4-8053-0232-3 (4-8053-0232-1)*

  Death in Midsummer and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0617-8 (4-8053-0617-3)*

  The Decay of the Angel ISBN 978-4-8053-0385-6 (4-8053-0385-9)*

  Forbidden Colors ISBN 978-4-8053-0630-7 (4-8053-0630-0)*

  Madame de Sade ISBN 978-4-8053-0659-8 (4-8053-0659-9)*

  Runaway Horses ISBN 978-4-8053-0969-8 (4-8053-0969-5)*

  The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0629-1 (4-8053-0629-7)*

  The Samurai Ethics and Modern Japan

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0645-1 (4-8053-0645-9)*

  The Sound of Waves ISBN 978-4-8053-0636-9 (4-8053-0636-X)*

  Spring Snow ISBN 978-4-8053-0970-4 (4-8053-0970-9)*

  The Temple of Dawn ISBN 978-4-8053-0373-3 (4-8053-0373-5)*

  The Temple of the Golden Pavilion ISBN 978-4-8053-0637-6 (4-8053-0637-8)*

  Thirst for Love ISBN 978-4-8053-0634-5 (4-8053-0634-3)*

  The Life and Death of Mishima (by Henry Scott Stokes)

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0651-2 (4-8053-0651-3)*

  Mishima : a Biography (by John Nathan)

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0639-0 (4-8053-0639-4)*

  MORI, Ogai

  Vita Sexualis ISBN 978-0-8048-1048-7 (0-8048-1048-6)

  Wild Geese ISBN 978-0-8048-1070-8 (0-8048-1070-2)

  NAGAI, Kafu

  Geisha in Rivalry ISBN 978-0-8048-3324-0 (0-8048-3324-9)

  A Strange Tale from East of the River and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-4-8053- 0266-8 (4-8053-0266-6)*

  NATSUME, Soseki

  And Then ISBN 978-0-8048-1537-6 (0-8048-1537-2); ISBN 978-4-8053-0615-4*

  Botchan ISBN 978-0-8048-3703-3 (0-8048-3703-1); ISBN 978-4-8053-0802-8*

  Grass On the Wayside ISBN 978-4-8053-0258-3 (4-8053-0258-5)*

  The Heredity of Taste

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3602-9 (0-8048-3602-7); ISBN 978-4-8053-0766-3*

  I am a Cat ISBN 978-0-8048-3265-6 (0-8048-3265-X)

  Inside My Grass Doors ISBN 978-0-8048-3312-7 (0-8048-3312-5)

  Kokoro ISBN 978-4-8053-0746-5 (4-8053-0746-3)*

  Light and Darkness ISBN 978-4-8053-0652-9 (4-8053-0652-1)*

  The Miner ISBN 978-4-8053-0616-1 (4-8053-0616-5)*

  Mon ISBN 978-4-8053-0291-0 (4-8053-0291-7)*

  My Individualism and the Philosophical Foundations of Literature

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3603-6 (0-8048-3603-5); ISBN 978-4-8053-0767-0*

  Spring Miscellany ISBN 978-0-8048-3326-4 (0-8048-3326-5)

  Ten Nights of Dream, Hearing Things, The Heredity of Taste

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3329-5 (0-8048-3329-X); ISBN 978-4-8053-0658-1*

  The Three-Cornered World ISBN 978-0-8048-0201-9 (4-8053-0201-1)*

  To The Spring Equinox and Beyond

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3328-8 (0-8048-3328-1); ISBN 978-4-8053-0741-0*

  The 210th Day ISBN 978-0-8048-3320-2 (0-8048-3320-6)

  Tower of London ISBN 978-4-8053-0860-8 (4-8053-0860-5)*

  The Wayfarer ISBN 978-4-8053-0204-0 (4-8053-0204-6)*

  OSARAGI, Jiro

  Homecoming ISBN 978-4-8053-0649-9 (4-8053-0649-1)*

  The Journey ISBN 978-0-8048-3255-7 (0-8048-3255-2)

  TANIZAKI, Junichiro

  Diary of a Mad Old Man ISBN 978-4-8053-0675-8 (4-8053-0675-0)*

  The Key ISBN 978-4-8053-0632-1 (4-8053-0632-7)*

  The Makioka Sisters ISBN 978-4-8053-0670-3 (4-8053-0670-X)*

  Naomi ISBN 978-0-8048-1520-8 (0-8048-L520-8): ISBN 978-4-8053-0622-2*

  The Secret History of the Lord of Musashi and Arrowroot

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0657-4 (4-8053-0657-2)*

  Seven Japanese Tales ISBN 978-4-8054-0640-6 (4-8053-0640-8)*

  Some Prefer Nettles ISBN 978-4-8055-0633-8 (4-8053-0633-5)*

  UNO, Chiyo

  Confessions of Love ISBN 978-4-8053-0613-0 (4-8053-0613-0)*

  The Sound of the Wind ISBN 978-4-8053-0614-7 (4-8053-0614-9)*

  OTHERS

  AGAWA, Hiroyuki Burial in the Clouds

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3759-0 (0-8048-3759-7)

  ATODA, Takashi The Square Persimmon and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-0-8048-1644-1 (0-8048-1644-1)

  Donald Richie Memoirs of the Worrior Kumagai

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3722-4 (0-8048-3722-8); ISBN 978-4-8053-0847-9*

  EDOGAWA, Rampo Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination

  ISBN 978-0-8048-0319-9 (0-8048-0319-6)

  ENCHI, Fumiko Masks ISBN 978-4-8053-0674-1 (4-8053-0674-2)*

  ISHIKAWA, Takuboku Romaji Diary and Sad Toys

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3253-3 (0-8048-3253-6)

  John Allyn The 47 Ronin Story ISBN 978-0-8048-3827-6 (0-8048-3827-5)

  KAIKO, Takeshi Darkness in Summer

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0644-4 (4-8053-0644-0)*

  KAWAGUCHI, Matsutaro Mistress Oriku

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3725-7 (0-8048-3325-7); ISBN 978-4-8053-0886-8*

  KODA, Rohan Pagoda, Skull and Samurai

  ISBN 978-0-
8048-3332-5 (0-8048-3332-X); ISBN 978-4-8053-0769-4*

  MIURA,Ayako Shiokari Pass ISBN 978-0-8048-1529-1 (0-8048-1529-1)

  NIWA, Fumio The Buddha Tree ISBN 978-0-8048-3254-0 (0-8048-3254-4)

  NOSAKA, Akiyuki The Pornographers

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0646-8 (4-8053-0646-7)*

  OE, Kenzaburo A Personal Matter

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0641-3 (4-8053-0641-6)*

  OOKA, Shohei Fires on the Plain ISBN 978-0-8048-1379-2 (0-8048-1379-5)

  Richard Neery Japanese Mistress

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0654-7 (4-8053-0654-4)*

  SETOUCHI, Harumi Beauty in Disarray

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3322-6 (0-8048-3322-2); ISBN 978-4-8053-0747-2*

  SHIGA, Naoya The Paper Door and Other Stories

  ISBN 978-0-8048-1893-3 (0-8048-1893-2)

  SUMII, Sue The River With No Bridge

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3327-1 (0-8048-3327-3); ISBN 978-4-8053-0650-5*

  TAKEYAMA, Michio Harp of Burma

  ISBN 978-0-8048-0232-1 (0-8048-0232-7)

  TATEMATSU, Wahei Distant Thunder

  ISBN 978-0-8048-2120-9 (0-8048-2120-8)

  TOKUTOMI, Kenjiro Footprints in the Snow

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0638-3 (4-8053-0638-6)*

  TSUBOI, Sakae Twenty-Four Eyes

  ISBN 978-4-8053-0772-4 (4-8053-0772-2)*

  UCHIDA, Yasuo The Togakushi Legend Murders

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3554-1 (0-8048-3554-3)

  William Dale Jennings The Ronin ISBN 978-4-8053-0883-7 (4-8053-0883-4)

  YAMAMOTO, Shugoro The Flower Mat

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3333-2 (0-8048-3333-8)

  YOSHIKAWA, Eiji The Heike Story

  ISBN 978-0-8048-3318-9 (0-8048-3318-4)