The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro by Kanji Hanawa published 1 January 2020 in the critically acclaimed series of short Japanese books Red Circle Minis.The Chronicle of Lord Asunaro, which is according to the Asian Review of Books “redolent of Sir Walter Scott” and a “strange, gentle, layered work,” is being published as part of Red Circle Minis, a series of short captivating books by Japan’s finest contemporary writers.
Display of the first five books published in the series Red Circle Minis. Photograph: Red Circle Authors LimitedAs Japan emerges from the conflict-ridden era dominated by infamous warlords into a golden age of plenty, a young lord – heir to a vast domain and incumbent ruler of all he surveys – lives deep within a spiralling castle.
From the pen of Hanawa, this cleverly spun tale features our young Lord Asunaro, a ‘warlord’ who doesn’t fit the brave samurai stereotype, as he faces a modernising world where learning now outvalues military prowess.
Carrying the legacy of his bloodline, he is compelled to find his place among the great figures of his ancestors.
Hanawa’s charming story, The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro is translated by Meredith McKinney, and takes the reader back to life and leadership in feudal Japan – while also exploring universal themes of legacy, inheritance, expectations, the weight of history and of the future, as well as the psychology of change.
The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro, a short read that stays with you long after you put the book down, is both thought-provoking and humorous, and is the perfect novelette to start the New Year with or the new decade, if you prefer to think in multi-year periods, as we all contemplate our own futures.
The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro by Kanji Hanawa published 1 January 2020 in the critically acclaimed series of short Japanese books Red Circle Minis.
About Red Circle:Red Circle Authors Limited is a specialist publishing and communications company that conducts bespoke projects on behalf of a carefully selected and curated group of leading Japanese authors. Red Circle showcases Japan’s best creative writing. For more information on Red Circle, Japanese literature, and Red Circle authors please visit: www.redcircleauthors.com.-
About Kanji Hanawa:Kanji Hanawa, a former professor of French literature is a master of the shorty story. He wrote hundreds and dedicated his life to writing short stories and novella about life in ancient, modern and contemporary Japan. Two of his short stories have been shortlisted for the prestigious Akutagawa Literary Prize. Hanawa’s tales reflect a deep interest in human psychology and complex relationships – whose narratives expose the pressures and challenges of life in Japan.
