Confessions of a Mask

Translated by Meredith Weatherby

Long regarded as one of the most important novels to appear in post-war Japan, Confessions of a Mask is an allegory of a lonely boy’s yearning quest for belonging and his gradual acceptance of his homosexuality.

With its overlay of intense sado-masochistic fantasy, the author draws deeply from the well of his own emotion and perhaps subconsciously hints at his own demise.

The boy’s quest for a place in the sun mirrors the monumental and sometimes futile efforts of Japan to find equal footing with the great nations of the world, while attempting to remain true to its unique spirit.

'A terrific and astringent beauty...a work of art.' — Times Literary Supplement

'Never has a "confession" been freer from self-pity or over-indulgence.' — Sunday Times

'Mishima is lucid in the midst of emotional confusion, funny in the midst of despair. His book has made me understand how it feels to be Japanese.' — Christopher Isherwood