A luminous story of desire, regret, and the almost sensual nostalgia that binds the living to the dead—from the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner and author of Snow Country.

"A stunning economy, delicacy of feeling, and a painter’s sensitivity to the visible world.”
—The Atlantic

While attending a traditional tea ceremony in the aftermath of his parents’ deaths, Kikuji encounters his father’s former mistress, Mrs. Ota. At first Kikuji is appalled by her indelicate nature, but it is not long before he succumbs to passion—a passion with tragic and unforeseen consequences, not just for the two lovers, but also for Mrs. Ota’s daughter, to whom Kikuji’s attachments soon extend. Death, jealousy, and attraction convene around the delicate art of the tea ceremony, where every gesture is imbued with profound meaning.

All Editions

Paperback, 5th Edition

ISBN13: 9780141192604

Penguin Group, 2011

Paperback, 16th Edition

ISBN13: 9780679762652

Vintage, 1996