Yukio Mishima
From the moment he published his first novel at age 21, the works of Yukio Mishima have captivated readers across the world. His prolific output and gripping style of writing earned him the status as one of the most important authors in post-war Japan. However, his literary legacy has since been entangled in a web of mystery and controversy. His political views, sexuality, his enigmatic personal life and the dramatic circumstances of his death continue to inspire debate to this day.
This is the story of Yukio Mishima.
Yukio Mishima speaks at a debate at the University of Tokyo, 1969.
Episodes (listed in reverse order)
Still from the 1966 short film Patriotism, written, directed, and staring Yukio Mishima.
Bibliography
Inose, Naoki, and Hiroaki Sato. PERSONA: a Biography of Yukio Mishima. Stone Bridge Press, 2020.
Nathan, John. Mishima: a Biography. Little, Brown, and Company, 1974.
Stokes, Henry Scott. The Life and Death of Yukio Mishima. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1995.
Mishima, Yukio. Confessions of a Mask. New Directions, 1958.
After Mishima suffers the first major setback in his career, he grows disillusioned with post-war Japanese society. In response, he begins to formulate his own political ideology- one based on ultranationalism and militarism- and which would ultimately lead to his tragic demise.