Edward Lipsett

Vampiric: Tales of Blood and Roses from Japan
Various

Anthologies are always tricky, especially themed ones rather than author or genre centric ones. This collection of Japanese vampire stories is interesting as a cultural artifact reflecting perceptions and interpretations of the myth try might not be familiar to Western audiences.

As stories that are fun, scary, good or whatever, it's hit and miss.

There are some spectacular stories in here.

A Piece of Butterfly’s Wing, written by Kamon Nanami, and translated by Angus Turvill, won the 2011 Kurodahan translation prize and is beautiful. The story is haunting and subtle, while the translation perfectly balances elegance with the grotesque.

ASAMATSU Ken's The Crimson Cloak, translated by Aragorn Quinn, interprets the vampire myth wholely into the Japanese milieu, complete with a basis in Buddhist ontology and morality.

The other stories bounce between interesting and ridiculous, but do reward the reader curious about the Japanese take on bloodsuckers.

Oh, and for scholars, the introduction and initial essay are must reads!… (mais)