This 1962 novel counts among his later novels. However, unlike The Lake or The Sleeping Beauty, The Old Capital is not shot through with sexual obsession and perversity.
Instead, it examines the failure of Japanese people to preserve their traditional culture against its vulgarization by modern Japanese buying and selling, i.e., ephemeral beauty embattled by trashy changes.
It also looks at how delicate love between men and women, parents and children can be. People who don't know much about Kyoto mountains, districts, streets, and temples may be confused as to what is being described is a shrine or a festival or what. Also, emotional responses and reticence by the characters may be obscure by readers unfamiliar with the Japanese cultural value of hinting and beating around the bush.
I think that for Japan-savvy readers, this novel, which even has a couple of laughs (amazing for Kawabata), is more accessible and enjoyable than Thousand Cranes and Snow Country.
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