I am searching for an English version of the book The Crime of S. Karuma, written be the great author and theater director Kobo Abe. I've read in the book "Fake Fish" (by Nancy Shields) that Donald Keene has translated this book by himself. The people from the Donald Keene Center didn't respond to my mail. So, if anyone in the U.S. or Japan knows where to get an English version of this book please tell me. I'm searching for nearly 6 months now. So far I've got nearly everything (14 books), also the theater works and rare short stories, only published in books together with stories written by others. I loved the Kangaroo Notebook the most btw. I can clearly see now, where Akira Yamaoka, Kenji Eno and so many others might have got their inspiration. There is a excerpt from "Kabe" in "Beyond the Curve" - I've read it. But that's not enough! I need more. And, to the Japanese people: Is there really the book "The Flying Man" written by him floating aroung? Kobo Abe is so great, he is one of the most visionary authors of the 20th and 21st century, in my opinion. It's like Franz Kafka wrote Ray Bradbury stories. Hopefully someone can help.
Wish I could help, but can't. I love Kobo as well. Infact his short stories where the first novels I read in Japanese. I even translated Akai Mayu into English so that one will always have a special place for me. Hope you get what you evidently want!
Yes, but a book in the first way. It is Guidebook III. Sadly the 70ies with it's Abe theater are over. I'm impressed. I eny you. Reading Abe in Japanese is the true understanding. I've sent an email to the Embassy of Japan in Germany, but they also couldn't help me with the book. Thanks!
I can't go on without this book, it need it like water. My desire grows and grows. I just finished "The Ghost is here".
It wasn't easy to find information on this particular novel but here goes: "In particular, I want to acknowledge [E. Dale Saunders'] kindness in allowing me to use his unpublished translation of The Crime of S. Karma." it says in "Fake Fish" on p. 20-21 according to what Google Book Search is willing to give away. You should be able to confirm. So maybe you misread that it was Donald Keene who translated it. Or can you post the quote where Shields claims he did? I'd be interested. I mean, maybe there is a translation Keene made hidden somewhere. There is at least one other source that refers to Saunder's translation also as an unpublished manuscript. Saunders died in 1995 and I couldn't find a hint that it has ever been published. So you might not be lucky on that one. On a sidenote, your post and all the research got me interested and I bought the "Kabe" collection with Karuma-shi no hanzai today. Well, it might not console you...
This really makes me mad. I envy you. And you are absolutely right! I've read "Fake Fish" so intense and even so I mistook the names. But now it is even harder to track down anyone who could help. At the moment I'm reading "The Green Stockings". There are so beautiful descriptions of the man, like becoming a shadow hard as a knife. For me it's hardly possible to decide who is greater: Samuel Beckett or Kobo Abe. I don't want to see Abe's Work just as allegories, as many do. There are many allegories, but at the same time, just as Abe himself has said, the theater is not the place for drama, it is the place for the absurd of life. And, "Kabe / Wall" (Guidebook III, btw.) is one of the most perfect examples for this theory. The excpert found in "Beyond the Curve" (the last story is similar to the "Ruined Map") shows an intense feeling being delivered to the reader by transformaton of object / subject, meaning into roles we have in. The Object problem is also in the works of Magritte, Manders or Lem's Solaris. "Fake Fish" also explains Abe's neutral position. And why "Kabe" wasn't translated is a complete riddle. It is one of the most important books in Japanese post war history, I think. This is not acceptable. I'll go on.
Cez, are you still there? (PM), I also would like to buy the "Kabe" collection with Karuma-shi no hanzai. Could you explain what's inside the collection? I thought Kabe is one story. Although can't read Kanji, I need that book. I want to open it. And, if you also could get Mikkai -I pay for both + shipping. You name the price. Is this the cover of Mikkai ? http://www2.odn.ne.jp/~cbl82640/P6130015.jpg I have the book in English and French, but I need the original. Source (with relaunch of Abe theatre ??? I can't believe it): http://www2.odn.ne.jp/~cbl82640/why/why4.htm Many articles about Abe - it seems. And, Cez, could you help me finding an article of Neri Abe publishes in the Miyazawa Kenji Gakkai - Iihatobu Center / 1-1-1 Takamatsu, Hanamaki City? But I believe this is hardly possible. Thanks, edit: I also would like to buy "The Flying Man" of course. edit2: Thanks cez (post can be closed)
