Umi no yuwaku（Temptation of the sea）
【Masterpieces of Modern Japanese Literature②】
By Kunio Kishida
Narrated by Nana Nagao
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Essay by Kunio Kishida
“I liked walking alone on a deserted sandy beach at dusk. However, it seems that this had nothing to do with my sentimental nature. Apart from the thrill I felt toward the mysterious light embracing both the water and the sky, I was never particularly lost in nostalgic memories.
Moreover, I did not possess such a sweet and lyrical romanticism as to wait for the moon to rise over the waves and hum a verse of some romance.
And yet, I believe this habit was closely related to my tendency for imagination.“
Author : Kunio Kishida
Narrator : Nana Nagao
Produced by：Koé no Shoten
Special Thanks：Shigoto, Inc.
Listening Length：00:12:06
Release Date：2021/3/2
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1890 – 1954
Born in Tokyo, Kunio Kishida attended the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant before retiring from the military. He then enrolled in the French Literature Department at Tokyo Imperial University, where he developed a deep interest in modern French drama.
In 1919, he traveled to France to study theater under figures such as Jacques Copeau and Georges Pitoëff. After returning to Japan, he published plays such as *Old Toys* and *Autumn in Tyrol* in *Shincho Theater*.
He went on to write numerous works, including *Paper Balloons*, *Ushiyama Hotel*, and *Warm Current*. Kishida also founded the “Kumo no Kai” (Cloud Society), advocating for the “three-dimensionalization of literature” movement. As a leader in the *shingeki* (new theater) movement, he played an active role as both a director and a mentor.