Close Friends

Name: Close Friends
ISBN: 9787540477479

Kawabata Yasunari / 杨伟Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaApr 2026

4.3

Word count: 65K words
Chapters: 50
ISBN: 9787540477479

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Summary

A timeless masterwork by Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata, published in simplified Chinese for the first time. Kawabata's last novel for young girls, depicting complex and intimate emotions with the master's delicate touch. *Soulmates* is a story that unfolds between two girls who look alike. Emi and Kasumi were born on the same day and share identical lovely faces; by such coincidence, they naturally became close friends. Though they share the same face and birthday, their family circumstances and personalities are utterly different. Emi, from a well-off family, is the eldest daughter and has a steady nature; Kasumi, whose father has passed away, grew up indulged by her mother and is sensitive and willful. One unexpected event after another occurs as they spend time together, and these trivial yet inevitable moments of life bring them closer while also creating divisions, ultimately leading to the moment of parting...

Editor's review

*Soulmates* is a little-known yet extremely precious work by Kawabata Yasunari, collecting several short stories and essays from his career themed around "friendship." Unlike the poignant and sorrowful mono no aware aesthetic of *Snow Country* and *The Old Capital*, this work reveals a warmer, brighter side of Kawabata's writing. Through the clear, water-like interactions between boys and girls and the subtle, profound bonds between adults, the book delicately explores the connections and ties between souls. Kawabata's prose here is stripped of embellishment, using an almost plain, sketch-like style to outline various forms of friendship: the innocence and companionship of adolescence, the understanding and redemption found in intersecting fates, and the unspoken rapport and mutual watchfulness that transcend time and space. These stories are like a clear spring, casting a steadfast and gentle light upon Kawabata's signature nihilistic undertone. For readers familiar with Kawabata's themes of "death and beauty," *Soulmates* offers a fresh perspective, revealing the literary master's deep yearning for "life" and "connection." It is not only an important piece in understanding the diversity of Kawabata's literature but also possesses a universal resonance regarding trust, loneliness, and empathy that transcends eras and touches the heart.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers hoping to explore the warm and bright side of Kawabata Yasunari's literature
Readers who prefer literary works that delicately portray human relationships and psychology
Young readers contemplating the nature and value of friendship
Enthusiasts of the subtle, concise, and profoundly evocative narrative style characteristic of Japanese literature

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking intense dramatic conflict and fast-paced plots
Readers who feel alienated by the uniquely subtle and restrained expression of Japanese literature

Reading tips

It is recommended to read in a quiet environment, immersing yourself in the subtle emotional currents and atmosphere creation in the text
It can be read in contrast with Kawabata's *The Izu Dancer* to appreciate the different stages of youth and friendship depicted by the author
There is no need to rush to finish it all at once; it is suitable as bedside reading or for savoring one or two pieces in leisure, allowing the aftertaste to slowly unfold

About the publisher

Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1985

Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House is a publisher known for its literary titles, with a catalogue spanning foreign literature, world classics, classical Chinese literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, and mystery and detective fiction. Judging from the more than 1,100 books in the database, the press publishes foreign classics such as Crime and Punishment, Snow Country, The Complete Sherlock Holmes and Letter from an Unknown Woman, as well as Chinese classical and modern literary works including Lu Xun's Wandering and A Madman's Diary and Wu Jingzi's The Scholars. In terms of translators and authors, translations by Cao Guowei and Tan Jinghua appear in its foreign literature titles, and the authors involved include Dostoevsky, Kawabata Yasunari, Conan Doyle and Zweig. Its publishing character lies in introducing Chinese and foreign literary classics side by side, balancing popular and serious works and attending to both readability and literary value. Public information is limited; the above is a brief overview based solely on the books in the database.

版权信息
两个少女
同一天生日
蓝色汽车
惠美的家
孑然的霞美
去海边的邀约
波奇
静谧的家
窗户的月亮
红色的凉鞋
墨镜
母亲的手
月见草
昏暗的道路
替身
冰冷的心
满潮
可怕的大海
归程的电车
被盗
秋色将近
在秋日的学校
天体望远镜
鞋子里
打结的书信
传说中的人物
波斯菊的篱笆
抱病的母亲
义卖日
保温瓶
目送
寂寞的兄妹
邂逅
事与愿违
少女弗兰西斯
重蹈覆辙
临时拐杖
目的地
善良的人们
课外小组
转学
分别之歌
五色丝线
三封信
礼物
特别收录枞树的故事
名家解说川端康成的少女情结与少女小说
文豪关系圈
文豪搞怪趣事

FAQ

Is the style of this book very different from Kawabata's well-known *Snow Country* and *The Old Capital*?

The difference is quite noticeable. This book focuses on the theme of "friendship," with a fresher, warmer, and more unadorned overall tone, reducing the intense sorrow and nihilism often found in his representative works, showcasing a relatively brighter side of Kawabata's literature.

Is the book a novel or a short story collection?

*Soulmates* is a collection that includes several short stories and essays by Kawabata themed around "friendship." Through these standalone pieces, it collectively constructs the rich meaning of "soulmates" from different angles.

Is it suitable for teenage readers?

Some chapters depict the pure friendship between boys and girls with clear writing and sincere emotion, making them very suitable for teenage readers. At the same time, the profound reflections on human relationships in the book offer enlightening value to readers of all ages.

Comments

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About the author

Kawabata Yasunari Author · Japan · 1899–1972

Kawabata Yasunari (1899–1972) was a Japanese novelist and a leading figure of the New Sensationist school, born in Osaka. A prolific writer, he is represented on this site by 147 works, spanning essays and miscellaneous prose as well as foreign literature. His representative works include The Izu Dancer, Snow Country, Thousand Cranes, and The Old Capital; Snow Country in particular exists in multiple editions and translations, a sign of its wide circulation. Kawabata is known for his delicate prose, which interweaves human emotion with natural scenery to express the spiritual character of the Japanese people, and often conveys a sense of the beauty of impermanence in life and death. In 1968 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature, an important landmark in the global recognition of Japanese literature; he died in 1972. Beyond his novels, his essays and miscellaneous writings also deserve attention.

杨伟 Author

Yang Wei is an author about whom limited public information is available. His work spans two areas: foreign literature and software learning. In foreign literature, he has participated in the translation and compilation of several Japanese and Western classics, with representative works including No Longer Human, Jane Eyre (Illustrated Edition), The Osamu Dazai Trilogy (3 Volumes), Close Friends, The House of the Mirror, and the Essential Collection of Japanese Classic Literature (10 Volumes), involving works by Osamu Dazai and other Japanese authors, and combining textual translation with illustrated adaptation. In software learning, he wrote SOLIDWORKS 2020 Product Design Basic Training (3rd Edition), a practical guide to product design. Seven of his works are held in the collection, commonly classified under foreign literature and software learning, reflecting his engagement with both literary translation and technical handbook writing.