42 pages • 1 hour read
Yasunari KawabataThousand Cranes
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1952A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata follows Kikuji, an orphaned young businessman, as he navigates the legacy of his father's infidelity against the backdrop of traditional Japanese tea culture, becoming entangled with his father's former lovers and their families while struggling with societal expectations and personal grief. Includes discussion of suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata is often praised for its delicate prose and evocative exploration of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, highlighting themes of beauty and transience. However, some readers find its narrative pacing slow and characters emotionally distant. The novel's subtlety and cultural depth make it a unique, though sometimes challenging, read.
Who Should Read Thousand Cranes?
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata appeals to readers who appreciate lyrical prose and nuanced explorations of human emotion and tradition. Fans of Yukio Mishima's The Sound of Waves and Kazuo Ishiguro's An Artist of the Floating World will enjoy its introspective narrative and evocation of Japanese aesthetics and culture.