Yukio Mishima (1925– 1970) was a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, and model. He was a prominent figure in Japanese literature and even nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968. As noted by writer Andrew Rankin, Mishima’s literary works delve into profound themes such as beauty, art, death and the erotic.
While Mishima is renowned for his exceptional writing, he is also infamous for his right-wing Japanese nationalistic ideologies, stemming from his samurai lineage. Mishima vehemently opposed the encroachment of Western culture in Japan and sought to strengthen the country’s more traditional values.
In 1970, Mishima, accompanied by three members of his Shield Society militia (established to restore the Emperor of Japan’s power), seized control of a military base and attempted a failed military coup. Mishima addressed the Japanese soldiers at the base, urging them to join his mission to empower the Emperor. However, the soldiers ridiculed his speech, leading Mishima to commit ritual suicide, seppuku, just moments later.
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), is a film directed by Paul Schrader and tells the story of this celebrated Japanese author, Yukio Mishima. The film is divided into four distinct thematic chapters: Beauty, Art, Action, and Harmony of Pen and Sword. Each chapter explores a different aspect of Mishima’s life and literary works. These chapters are skillfully interwoven with dramatisations from three of his novels: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoko’s House, and Runaway Horses, providing a profound insight into this complex character.
The remarkable stylised production design is by Eiko Ishioka, who was honoured at Cannes for her work on this film, and won an Oscar for Coppola’s Dracula. The film presents formative scenes from his earlier years in black and white, brilliant colours for events from three of his most famous novels, and realistic colours for the final day of his life.
In many ways, Paul Schrader’s Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters was the film that popularised Philip Glass’ music in cinema. The composer showcased his remarkable control over his craft by scoring the epic 1985 film.
‘Mishima String Quartet (String Quartet No.3) originally appeared as parts of the film score for Mishima by filmmaker Paul Schrader. The film follows a complex narrative structure which divides the life of this famous contemporary Japanese novelist into 3 parts - his childhood, his mature years, and the last day of his life. These subjects were intercut to produce a shifting kaleidoscopic vision of Mishima's life. The scenes of his childhood were filmed in black and white and scored for String Quartet. At the time of writing the film music, I anticipated the String Quartet section would be extracted from the film score and made into a concert piece in its own right.’ Philip Glass
Philip Glass’ String Quartet no. 3, Mishima, will be performed by the Bingham String Quartet as part of their (Saturday, 1 February) York Late Music recital. Link for programme and ticket details here.
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