Kimitake Hiraoka , known by his pen name Yukio Mishima , was a Japanese novelist, playwright, short story writer, actor, martial artist, model, and the leader of an attempted coup d'état that culminated in his seppuku.
He is considered one of the most important postwar stylists of the Japanese language.
Original publication
2026
Average rating
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Opening Excerpt
From the storyLooking out at the fierce summer sunlight, Kikuko felt that she, too, was running out of time. From the window, she could see the edge of a bank of thunderclouds rising vigorously in the narrow sky. The tin roof of the neighboring pachinko parlor cast its reflection on the ceiling of the second-floor room where she lay.
Story Vibe & Style Profile
Emotional Weight
3.7 / 5
Bittersweet
Narrative Pacing
1.6 / 5
Contemplative
Literary Style
3.7 / 5
Contemporary Literary
Speculative / Reality
2.2 / 5
Realistic / Mimetic
Appearances
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine August 2026 · Aug 1, 2026
About the Author
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