Translated by Meredith Weatherby | Drawings by Yoshinori Kinoshita
Published by Charles E. Tuttle Company, Tokyo
ISBN: 4-8053-0192-9
A quiet, lyrical classic of postwar Japanese literature, The Sound of Waves tells the story of first love between a young fisherman named Shinji and a pearl diver named Hatsue, set against the rhythms of daily life in a remote Japanese island village. This edition includes the original woodblock-style illustrations and a poetic translation that preserves Mishima’s delicate balance of restraint and emotional depth.
This copy features the iconic Tuttle paperback design with wraparound cover illustration, kanji title text, and a beautiful mustard spine. Minor wear to the top front edge and ghosting from a removed bookplate inside the front cover (see photos), but overall clean and tightly bound with bright, unmarked pages.
An excellent reading copy or gift for lovers of translated literature, Japanese culture, or literary first-love stories that still resonate. A beautiful edition with vintage bookstore character.
💬 Originally published in Japan in 1954, The Sound of Waves remains one of Mishima’s most accessible and beloved works.
📚 Shelf appeal: 5/5
📝 Language: English
🇯🇵 Culturally rich, timeless, and tender