Tales of the Night Watch

A collection of astonishing, instructive, frightening, and spicy stories represents the centuries-old tradition of Japanese mystical prose, starting from adaptations of folk tales and Chinese sources to distinct and extraordinarily colorful works of modern times. The book includes stories by authors such as Ihara Saikaku, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Suzuki Shōsan, Ogita Ansei, Asai Ryōi, Tsuga Teisyo, and Tanaka Kotaro. The works of writers from different generations provide a comprehensive view of the "supernatural" direction in Japanese literature, recounting the whimsical world of demons, magical beings, mischievous shapeshifters, vengeful ghosts, and mysterious incidents. The publication is illustrated with engravings and fragments of paintings by Japanese Ukiyo-e artists — Katsushika Hokusai, Toriyama Sekien, Kawakabe Kiyosai, Suzuki Shōnen, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Mori Yuzan, Masasumi Ryukansai, and others.