"As a child I often told remembering my birth. My parents would laugh at me, but soon their amusement would turn into displeasure and disgust at the thought that the unchildlike child might be serious."
He speaks like a Victorian aristocrat, every word spoken with efficiency and clarity (no, I don't mean the stereotypical English but his ability to expand on his ideas)
Well, he certainly believed that the Samurai were objectively better people. Samurai viewed themselves as a special class to whom everything was permitted, including chopping up peasants for some perceived insult. They were horrible people.
@@mingyuhuang8944 His politics are retrospectively despicable, sure. But you have to remember the era in which he was raised and the culture whereto he felt he profoundly belonged. I think his ideas were horrid, and I shan't sympathize. However, you cannot discredit his genius by acknowledging his ridiculous politics.
Mishima was clearly a genius, and here he shows himself to be a phenomenal linguist. His command of English (and his pronunciation) are extraordinarily good.
Gigi Malvassora He was a traditionalist and imperialist with samurai ancestry. Why are you surprised that he’d commit seppuku when it’s a part of their tradition, especially after his coup attempt failed? You can’t deny his talent as an author, poet, filmmaker, etc. regardless of his radical views. He was extremely talented.
Yukio Mishima certainly embraced the duality of life and death, brutality and elegance, masculine and feminine, strength and beauty. He was authentic, genuine, intelligent and the epitome of the Samurai spirit.
Trying to understand Mishima with the mindset of someone colonized by consumerist "virtues", with all its pettiness and superficiality and shit, will take you to the idea that he did all he did because he was "insecure" and/or "mentally ill". They reduce Mishima and his frustrations over the direction Japan was headed to a personality problem. I notice that these people do that with anyone that does anything or think anything outside of the norm.
I am Japanese. I am surprised that Mishima was such a fluent English speaker. He translated several books into Japanese so he probably studied very hard. My dad is 85 years old now and he is 10 years younger than Mishima. My dad can also speak English. He studied by himself and he also went to an English school called Logos. All his younger brothers followed his footstep and they can also speak English. My dad's family was poor but Mishima was born into a very good house so the upbringing was probably very different. He was also a genius.
May I ask you something? Is it true that Y.Mishima at a certain point was writing more in Kanji as he did not use the simplified version of the written language?
@@denisghirardello8279 Hello, I looked into your question. After WW2, America wanted to abolish written Japanese and change everything into alphabets but they decided not to. But we went through the somewhat simplified version of kanji(Chinese characters) and decrease the number of kana. Mishima did not like this movement, so he kept on using the older version of Japanese. When we buy Mishima's literature now, they are in the modern kana usage (現代仮名遣い）but Mishima wrote in the historic kana usage (歴史的仮名遣い）. We can all read them in the old form but many kanjis can be difficult to read because we did not learn them in school. He was just writing in the historic kana form. So, your question is correct but Mishima did not do it at one point. He always used the historic kana form because he was educated that way and he did not like the modern form which started in 1946. The simplified kanji is not overly simplified like the Chinese ones in China. I am glad they did not do so because we can still pretty much guess the complicated version of the kanji. We can all read the historic version of Mishima once we get used to it but it may be tricky in the beginning.
Native English speaker here. Mishima speaks excellent English. He uses vocabulary many native speakers wouldn't use while talking. He sounds professional, confident, and intelligent. Of course, I can tell right away he is not a native English speaker, but who cares? He's fluent if you ask me.
Eric Roberts There must be then a particular set of vocabulary words reserved for non-native speakers. I assume you wouldn’t dare using the words that Mishima employed lest be called a non-native speaker. Watch out! Don’t ruin your reputation as a native speaker.
I am also Japanese and I would like to talk like he. I mean I don't need to become fruent English speaker but I want to talk myown opinion like he. I feel his speaking is very beautiful expression of hisown opinion.
Lmao why the fuck are the people in the comments praising and even worshiping a crazy retarded psycho who tried to ruin Japan all over again by bringing it back to imperialism and empirical domination. Clearly the majority of the world understands that this man brain is about as smart as a pigeon since he thinks he understands alot about Japan and Japanese culture but then he used a katana to commit seppuku hahahaha wtf he doesn't even know that seppuku is a ritual that is only made to be done with a tanto(short sword/blade) so it's quick and does not hurt. What a worthless man, thank fuck he killed himself or else who knows how many people would've gotten murdered by him.zzzzzz
This man took his own personal philosphy to the end all life has - death. Most people either conform with the society they live in, or cast their ideals aside in order to have a normal life. Probably the most honest writer I have ever had the pleasure of reading. On a side note, turn the captions of this video on, they are hilarious.
Yukio Mishima was one of the most fascinating, controversial, and mysterious figures of the 20th century. His writing was extremely elegant. I love his books. Great interview.
For someone who was born in 1925 and grew up in a Japanese language environment only, he speaks English phenomenally well. Where did he get his hearing and pronunciation training?
Well, he was very well read, and like anyone with a tad bit of intellect read the first few chapters of the foreign language manual that he was using, in which the phonology of the foreign language is explained. How hard could it be? He probably met a diplomat in Japan and exchange a few words. I mean, when you want to learn something well, you go out of your ways to find means.
Great man, definitely one of the last truly good men who walked the earth. He held with him a conviction of honor and strength, something that is not seen in this materialistic ego-worshiping society, and died the most honorable we he could have RIP
When he wrote lovingly of the white gloves worn by macho ringleader Omi (hope I have the name right) in Confessions of a Mask, I could feel that he understood the heart of a woman who feels passion towards male brutality. Mishima was not writing only as a gay man who admires masculine strength, that would be too obvious. I feel that he captured the fear and the deep pull of annihilation by male beauty while staying at a safe observant distance. A very female take. May I say that few male writers can convey this subtle difference. Mishima did.
Interesting and tormented man, terrific writer. He speaks with great frankness here. I am aware of his reasons for suicide but it would have been fascinating to see him continue to comment on post war Japan as he grew older.
His bright existence is significantly noticeable, because he was born in wrong time. If he lived in era of warrior, we might not know him by now, as he would be assumingly less significant compared to other similar minded warriors.
This man understood all that was unique and powerful of the recently departed Japanese civilisation. Commenters like huang barely understand that they live in a bubble populated by weak men that congregate only to cheer on a product or to play with a product. There is no humanity in them. There is no man there, and no spirit beyond the animating feeling you get when you purchase something you are coerced into wanting. Imagine being so small minded that you belittle a giant like Mishima as ‘antiquated’ or ‘stuck in the past’. We are in a retarded age full of manly women and womenly men, and neither is happy or feels at home in his skin. Neither has ideals that look outside of himself or herself and up, forward, or backward, to something better. The self, pitiful, small, and comprised of myriad desires planted by consumer products and consumer education, and weakness, is all that matters. Mishima was a giant.
Not to insult modern Japan, but Yukio would be extremely disillusioned with the state of the country nowadays. I think his life was destined to have a sad ending :(
Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, if you fail to recognise and appreciate Mishima's talent as a novelist, you are a philistine. Plain and simple.
Such a pure soul ... one of my unseen mentors who has always inspired me through his wisdom. A true embodiment of Bushido, yet a very modern intellectual. Future Japanese generations will certainly appreciate him and his legacy so much more than their parents do today.
Wow. He speaks English better than 90% of native speakers. Really fascinating guy too. His writing is extraordinary dark and beautiful at the same time.
Sounds like a man that saw his country die after a war and not only die but lose some of the parts of its culture that made them Japanese. Very interesting man.
What he says in the very beginning about brutality, elegance, femininity and so forth is truly fascinating. I don't necessarily agree with it, but it's an original and thoughtful perspective, well-articulated. Whether or not one likes his political views or even his literature, this man possessed a dignified sensitivity all too rare in the contemporary world among those of any sociopolitical, sexual and vocational persuasions.
You have to love him. He could have been a war criminal; he was a man out of time - but who can ever know now? He had the courage of a true artist. He talks of boredom - that explains everything. "Even the wisest man grows tense/ with a sort of violence/ before he can accomplish fate/ know his work or choose his mate" -W.B. Yeats
I love Mishima and his sickly brilliant mind, but that last part just makes me sad. I wish he could have found happiness in life. "Sometimes... harikiri makes you win." :'(
i'm japanese and love and respect him too.but i don't feel sad his early death at all.you say" I wish he could have found happiness in life" and most people say that same thing like you.but you know what? what is the exactly HIS happiness,hope,and dream in entire life? is no doubt to be hero by heroic death and he actually did it.though most people cannot do,but he did dream come true.ordinaly people's happiness and his is completely different.so we shoudn't feel sad his death and just need to think what his real message is.he would rather prefer that way than we fell sad.sorry if i'm offensive and don't misunderstand me i really love mishima fan too.
I see what you are saying. It was his own vision for his own life. However, there was very little that was heroic about his death. He failed his objective, and then suffered a painful, humiliating death (due to his friend's failure to decapitate him). I think the fact that he even wanted these things was sign of his mental illness, or at least a lack of peace between him and the outer world. I just wish that he could have found peace in his life, so that he could have lived longer and continued to give us brilliant stories. Don't worry, I'm not at all offended by your comment! You have a different, optimistic interpretation of his life. There is nothing wrong with that!
In Japanese culture suicide is a much different thing, you must realize. Mishima found his happiness in his suicide. He knew he would not succeed, but he hated seeing himself get older and he believed in restoring the empire to it's pre-WWII position, something he was passionate about and would die for. In a world of meaninglessness he created his own meaning.
I bet that Kazuya Mishima and Heihachi Mishimas from the games "Tekken"are inspired by Yukio Mishima:They both valued strenghth over all else and Kazuya was very similar in apearance to yukio.
Cool! I've never heard him speak. I've read most? of his books in english translation. He really exemplified his ideas of how to live. The first novel of his I read was "Spring Snow". Beginning there I just had to read everything else that he wrote. The movie: "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" seems to contain some of his ideas in it. Thanks for posting this!
Snow is a hard read, but worth the effort. The end was a perfect crescendo, though I have to say Horses takes the crescendo and turns it into a slow and glorious implosion.
just read "confessions of a Mask", a friend of mine suggested it would b interesting. my thoughts: probably an autobiographic story, it is strongly heartbreaking to witness how the character -from a very early age-has to hide, suppress, suffer in silence pretend, put on a mask, punish himself and so much more by having to conform to the "must and have to" of his society. he would definitely be at his ease in this generation, and would have definitely led a totally different life with a different outcome: happiness, achievement, family ect. ( his last pictures/clilps depict a classy man, balanced, strong , fit and very handsome too. also, the end of the interview is really a shock when you think that in NOvember that same year he acutally performed seppuku... My god, it is chilling when you process this. He was really fully coherent with his beliefs, and a very strong person with a steel character.
Very interesting talk about Hara-kiri and Mishima's explanation of its essentially positive aspects in contrast to the negative connotations associated with the Western interpretation of suicide.
"Hara-Kiri sometimes makes you win." He won a permanent niche in Japanese history, in the Japanese psyche. Mishima was a Faustian expression of his people's post-war humiliation, frustration and emotional suppression, which were artificially and unsuccessfully substituted by alien, fundamentally contrary, Western-style capitalism and its soul-less materialism. That's why many or most of them hated him; they still hate him, because he embarrasses them for their hollow, insubstantial and consequently meaningless, unfulfilling lives. A few still recognize the significance of his work and self-sacrifice. Perhaps someday they will courageously take up the flag he unfurled and become what they truly are. That's what he strove for.
Samurai roamed the countryside slaughtering peasants and merchants indiscriminately and completely legally (practice of Tsushigama) or for any perceived slight of honor (the samurai could use his servants and family as "witnesses" to any perceived dishonor from those he murdered). There is a reason Japan suppressed and rejected its bloodthirsty thug-caste of killers multiple times throughout its history, well before the "evil white man" clapped samurai cheeks in the Pacific.
I know this now. My question was, why is this popping up on my recommended? Yukio Mishima is a Japanese hero I suppose, he is a very dynamic individual and admired in Japan as he should be. So why would it be important to some random old guy from Memphis TN like me?
Japanese people are not unified in their admiration of Mishima's character. He is seen, rightly, as a deeply reactionary political figure by many people. However, he is most definitely one of the best writers of the 20th century, and deserves recognition for that.
Great video!! I first came across 'Confession of a Mask' when I was studying at a law school in Tokyo and instantly got hooked ever since. There are quite a few books available in English.
A fascinating historical figure. So talented, such a genius, and a bit of a nutcase besides. Certainly, he was the embodiment of the ronin spirit. A samurai heart with no cause to which it may be affixed.
His verbal IQ had to be off the charts. I'm yet to hear another Japanese speaking as well as him, those who spent their childhood overseas notwithstanding. Most fascinating is that he never lived overseas for any long period. It was by reading that he learned to speak English so well. Same for many other great Japanese authors like Natsume or Murakami. They were all voracious readers and translators of English works.
This is a general statement on Japanese cultural and tradition as well as Mishima's very personal views on life and death, and the philosophy of life. A precious look into the psyche of a genius.
"As a child I often told remembering my birth. My parents would laugh at me, but soon their amusement would turn into displeasure and disgust at the thought that the unchildlike child might be serious."
Legendary book
currently in the 2nd chapter
@@alijack4998 which book is that from?
@@johnrosser9747 confessions of a mask
A great man once said, “your penis was once inside your mother.”
@@tenzingrigyal7969
Another great man once said "You can learn a lot by a persons UA-cam comment......."
;)
See you in 14 years, when youtube recommands this again
You and I must watch similar things to get recommended this haha
Did you recieve his ritual suicide video before this one?
Just popped up in my feed. First tge seppaku then this. Lol.
Third Positionists like this guy, thanks UA-cam for encouraging my anti-NeoLiberalism.
Then another generation will have the privilege to be introduced to Mishima.
We Japanese do not usually understand ourselves...but Mishima knew Japanese people so well.
It’s because you don’t understand or care for history.
"glimpses of the future"
And today we need to learn what Japanese culture is truly about again, after it was lost
You should be proud of your Nation. Nothing wrong with being Japanese.
He speaks like a Victorian aristocrat, every word spoken with efficiency and clarity (no, I don't mean the stereotypical English but his ability to expand on his ideas)
Well, he certainly believed that the Samurai were objectively better people. Samurai viewed themselves as a special class to whom everything was permitted, including chopping up peasants for some perceived insult. They were horrible people.
You just basically copied the above comment you twit.
He was truly a refined gentleman.
@@StopFear not all of them were bad people a samurai had the law to kill civilians if they pleased but that doesn’t mean they all did
I've just finished his work "patriotism" and wanted to learn a little more about him,. The fact that he spoke like this amazes me.
His English is so good. I was not expecting this.
He sounds almost British.
@@timepoet77 he really does. That posh British accent from the 50s.
@@mingyuhuang8944 u mad bro
@@mingyuhuang8944 His politics are retrospectively despicable, sure. But you have to remember the era in which he was raised and the culture whereto he felt he profoundly belonged. I think his ideas were horrid, and I shan't sympathize. However, you cannot discredit his genius by acknowledging his ridiculous politics.
@@mingyuhuang8944 I agree, of course. But then there's the romance of it, and it cannot be ignored.
Mishima was clearly a genius, and here he shows himself to be a phenomenal linguist. His command of English (and his pronunciation) are extraordinarily good.
Fluent in French too! The man had a fabulous intellect...
That leaded him to a suicide. Illness is not genius.
Gigi Malvassora He was a traditionalist and imperialist with samurai ancestry. Why are you surprised that he’d commit seppuku when it’s a part of their tradition, especially after his coup attempt failed? You can’t deny his talent as an author, poet, filmmaker, etc. regardless of his radical views. He was extremely talented.
+Operation Casual Gigistein to understand a samurai !?
Memorizing a language doesn't make you smart,
Smart is being able to process information not remember it
Yukio Mishima certainly embraced the duality of life and death, brutality and elegance, masculine and feminine, strength and beauty. He was authentic, genuine, intelligent and the epitome of the Samurai spirit.
Beautifully said.
Not really, he used the guise of 'samurai spirit' to make up for his own insecurities. What an idiot.
@@pedrogonzales4364 cringe
Jem Mor being a fan of Mishima is very cringe
Trying to understand Mishima with the mindset of someone colonized by consumerist "virtues", with all its pettiness and superficiality and shit, will take you to the idea that he did all he did because he was "insecure" and/or "mentally ill". They reduce Mishima and his frustrations over the direction Japan was headed to a personality problem. I notice that these people do that with anyone that does anything or think anything outside of the norm.
Genius. Best fiction writer of the last 100+ years,and a huge influence on many of us.
He sounds very much like I imagined - very aristocratic. I would love to hear his French
There's a French interview with him on UA-cam
His French is PERFECT!
He does speak French ^^
@@mickdunn8423 No, I wouldn't say his French is perfect, but it's good for a third language.
@@mingyuhuang8944 chinese mad
Yukio Mishima was that combination of brilliance and madness often found in trully exceptional people. Thank you for uploading this video.
I am Japanese. I am surprised that Mishima was such a fluent English speaker. He translated several books into Japanese so he probably studied very hard. My dad is 85 years old now and he is 10 years younger than Mishima. My dad can also speak English. He studied by himself and he also went to an English school called Logos. All his younger brothers followed his footstep and they can also speak English. My dad's family was poor but Mishima was born into a very good house so the upbringing was probably very different. He was also a genius.
He can speak english but not fluent
May I ask you something? Is it true that Y.Mishima at a certain point was writing more in Kanji as he did not use the simplified version of the written language?
@@denisghirardello8279 Hello, I looked into your question. After WW2, America wanted to abolish written Japanese and change everything into alphabets but they decided not to. But we went through the somewhat simplified version of kanji(Chinese characters) and decrease the number of kana. Mishima did not like this movement, so he kept on using the older version of Japanese. When we buy Mishima's literature now, they are in the modern kana usage (現代仮名遣い）but Mishima wrote in the historic kana usage (歴史的仮名遣い）. We can all read them in the old form but many kanjis can be difficult to read because we did not learn them in school. He was just writing in the historic kana form. So, your question is correct but Mishima did not do it at one point. He always used the historic kana form because he was educated that way and he did not like the modern form which started in 1946. The simplified kanji is not overly simplified like the Chinese ones in China. I am glad they did not do so because we can still pretty much guess the complicated version of the kanji. We can all read the historic version of Mishima once we get used to it but it may be tricky in the beginning.
Native English speaker here. Mishima speaks excellent English. He uses vocabulary many native speakers wouldn't use while talking. He sounds professional, confident, and intelligent. Of course, I can tell right away he is not a native English speaker, but who cares? He's fluent if you ask me.
Eric Roberts There must be then a particular set of vocabulary words reserved for non-native speakers. I assume you wouldn’t dare using the words that Mishima employed lest be called a non-native speaker. Watch out! Don’t ruin your reputation as a native speaker.
He sounds and looks very elegant and sophisticated.
I am also Japanese and I would like to talk like he. I mean I don't need to become fruent English speaker but I want to talk myown opinion like he. I feel his speaking is very beautiful expression of hisown opinion.
I’m trying the opposite. I gotta say your language is damn challenging. It’s going to take me a while to get even a little bit good at it.
Lmao why the fuck are the people in the comments praising and even worshiping a crazy retarded psycho who tried to ruin Japan all over again by bringing it back to imperialism and empirical domination. Clearly the majority of the world understands that this man brain is about as smart as a pigeon since he thinks he understands alot about Japan and Japanese culture but then he used a katana to commit seppuku hahahaha wtf he doesn't even know that seppuku is a ritual that is only made to be done with a tanto(short sword/blade) so it's quick and does not hurt. What a worthless man, thank fuck he killed himself or else who knows how many people would've gotten murdered by him.zzzzzz
@@mingyuhuang8944 damn dude, chill. youve been commenting the same thing on almost any comment
@@mingyuhuang8944 strong revulsion instilled in low people like you always surrounds great men
@bobagopaaa that slayed my sides
He was the last samurai who discipled himself, loved beauties, and concerned the future of Japanese spirit.
Antonio Inoki
hahaahah
I'm italian and collect Mishima's books in every language. I love the anti-modernism spirit of Mishima.
He was gay
@@salutaldegrandfan6171
Yes, but not a propagandist.
He is just an insane dude.
True Japanese patriot and samurai
Julius Evola is that you?
Simply, he is a pride of Japan.
So, I call him MISHIMA The Great !
No, Senda Mitsuo is Great.
I can't believe that his english was such well. He was graduated from Tokyo university. What a talented guy.
@Susan the fat Ugly SJW I'm Japanese/Irish. And you are....fat & ugly? Don't be so hard on yourself. More to love, the better,
@@brianflynn5355 you are chinese
What a genius he was! A genius, in Kawabata's words, that comes around once in about three hundred years.
"Our warrior sense of beauty was always connected with the border with life and death" *puts on massive helmet*
This man took his own personal philosphy to the end all life has - death. Most people either conform with the society they live in, or cast their ideals aside in order to have a normal life. Probably the most honest writer I have ever had the pleasure of reading. On a side note, turn the captions of this video on, they are hilarious.
Yukio Mishima was one of the most fascinating, controversial, and mysterious figures of the 20th century. His writing was extremely elegant. I love his books. Great interview.
For someone who was born in 1925 and grew up in a Japanese language environment only, he speaks English phenomenally well. Where did he get his hearing and pronunciation training?
Well, he was very well read, and like anyone with a tad bit of intellect read the first few chapters of the foreign language manual that he was using, in which the phonology of the foreign language is explained. How hard could it be? He probably met a diplomat in Japan and exchange a few words. I mean, when you want to learn something well, you go out of your ways to find means.
When you're born rich, it's not that hard to find education. -surprise Pikachu face-
@@lepauvrehomme Ok, now you do the same with Japanese. And please upload a vid with the amazing results.
@@roel.vinckens must I?
@@lepauvrehomme just say you cant and go.
A great writer, warrior, and philosopher.
Wake up, Japan, Wake up
What's funny is that he doesn't even sound like this when speaking in Japanese
so for that matter is Japanese. 3 nasal phones and nasalized vowels in some phonetic contexts
It's pretty obvious he's trying to adopt a kind of aristocratic English accent, like many people do when speaking another language
That's right, because he's not speaking Japanese. Do you know what code-switching is?
no shit Sherlock, people sound different when speaking different languages
Good linguists are good mimics. His accent also largely depends upon the environment in which he learnt English.
What a fascinating man. What a noble and heroic spirit!
Great man, definitely one of the last truly good men who walked the earth. He held with him a conviction of honor and strength, something that is not seen in this materialistic ego-worshiping society, and died the most honorable we he could have
RIP
When he wrote lovingly of the white gloves worn by macho ringleader Omi (hope I have the name right) in Confessions of a Mask, I could feel that he understood the heart of a woman who feels passion towards male brutality. Mishima was not writing only as a gay man who admires masculine strength, that would be too obvious. I feel that he captured the fear and the deep pull of annihilation by male beauty while staying at a safe observant distance. A very female take. May I say that few male writers can convey this subtle difference. Mishima did.
His english pronunciation and flow are excellent for a Japanese speaker. He was a brilliant man.
One of the few ultra-nationalists I respect... He was great, profound, charming, elegant. I'm sorry that he decided to leave this world too soon....
You should respect all of them
@@myomusic9626 Why?
@@Johnny-mp2ew Because there is nothing wrong with it
@@myomusic9626 Even if they're gay like Mishima?
@@Mutterschwein he was t a homosexual just a bit confused that’s all
Beautiful voice and handsome face
he was as complex a genius as any. author, poet, playwright, actor, film director, and political activist.
Obviously he was eloquent, but to be able to speak so eloquently in a language that isn't native to you is really next level.
Currently learning about his book sound of waves in English class, but it’s extremely fascinating to learn more about the writer.
Japanese can't speak english very well
Yukio Mishima: Hold my sakè
Scotsman: Sounds much like when I was reminded of home.
Oh my, I love how you use the line on "e"
People keep saying "saki and ramen"
PGTH English Dub: hold my rainbowtia cats
Not only Japanese anyway. Some can speak English fluently ,some not. This goes for everywhere .
nyahello
Interesting and tormented man, terrific writer. He speaks with great frankness here. I am aware of his reasons for suicide but it would have been fascinating to see him continue to comment on post war Japan as he grew older.
Every sentence this man said was deeply profound.
I admire Mishima. A hero, in my eyes, born in the wrong time.
"But like the author of 'Hagakure', I was born in the wrong era. I'll probably die in bed, after a life spent dreaming of a different end."
His bright existence is significantly noticeable, because he was born in wrong time. If he lived in era of warrior, we might not know him by now, as he would be assumingly less significant compared to other similar minded warriors.
His English is SO good. I didn’t see this coming. I just became hooked on his book, “Confessions of a Mask”. I trust it’ll be worth it.
This man understood all that was unique and powerful of the recently departed Japanese civilisation. Commenters like huang barely understand that they live in a bubble populated by weak men that congregate only to cheer on a product or to play with a product. There is no humanity in them. There is no man there, and no spirit beyond the animating feeling you get when you purchase something you are coerced into wanting.
Imagine being so small minded that you belittle a giant like Mishima as ‘antiquated’ or ‘stuck in the past’.
We are in a retarded age full of manly women and womenly men, and neither is happy or feels at home in his skin. Neither has ideals that look outside of himself or herself and up, forward, or backward, to something better.
The self, pitiful, small, and comprised of myriad desires planted by consumer products and consumer education, and weakness, is all that matters.
Mishima was a giant.
His expressions are unbelievably elegant..
That's his peculiar accent. so cool❣️
he could speak
Japanese English German French.
he speaks english better than most americans
Reed Jones haha amirite epic dum american im a lot better then all of them ahah :)
Haha, I’m American, and I agree, but it’s just California that’s retarded. (LA specifically)
If that ain't the truth
@@nitrous_god no don't disrespect my city and state
So does almost everyone!
"Sun and Steel" was such an amazing read.
@Illiterati Work for it.
時代的にイギリス英語を習ってたんだな。
Not to insult modern Japan, but Yukio would be extremely disillusioned with the state of the country nowadays. I think his life was destined to have a sad ending :(
yup, good thing he departed very early.
Why would he be decieved?
he saw where Japan was headed
he was a true conservative, in that he saw something he loved slipping away, and he tried to defend it
By all means, don't fret insulting modern japan.
I'm Japanese. I agree with you; he will do harakiri again if he is alive today.
Reading "Confessions of the Mask" right now and hearing Yukio speak is hypnotising. Such a talent!
I just love the way he says "...MONEY"
You can tell he's very intelligent.
I cant. Really.
@@tejassingh6800 ok
His intelligence was negated by the sheer stupidity of his death.
He’s educated, not intelligent.
@@fightme8859 he was also intelligent. His books proved that.
Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, if you fail to recognise and appreciate Mishima's talent as a novelist, you are a philistine. Plain and simple.
Judging and discarding literature based on your own personal politics is retarded.
This place is the home of Yukio Mishima. It is still in Ota Ward, Tokyo. Unfortunately it is not open to the public.
I had this recommended to me on my UA-cam page. Thank you for piquing my interest in Japan even more, Mishima-sensei.
Very handsome man.
One of the most interesting personalities of the 20-th century.
top 10 without a doubt
Such a pure soul ... one of my unseen mentors who has always inspired me through his wisdom. A true embodiment of Bushido, yet a very modern intellectual. Future Japanese generations will certainly appreciate him and his legacy so much more than their parents do today.
The world needs Yukio Mishima more than ever in 2022
Based
Nietzschean affirmation
ultranationalism? if only dude
Wow. He speaks English better than 90% of native speakers.
Really fascinating guy too. His writing is extraordinary dark and beautiful at the same time.
he speaks great english for a foreigner, he does not speak better english than 90% of native speakers
Sounds like a man that saw his country die after a war and not only die but lose some of the parts of its culture that made them Japanese. Very interesting man.
"Harakiri somethimes makes you win." - Yukio Mishima
It certainly works with creditors & the IRS.
@@brianflynn5355 Hhahahahahaha
A very fluent speaker with a Japanese/English aristocratic accent
His end was neccesary. Such a powerful image will live forever in the hearts of the Japanese.
He's suddenly come into my recommended, no idea who he is but what he says is very true of Japanese sense of beauty and life
Pick up one of his books, hes a good writer.
He was a far-right nationalist
What a legend. Love his films
What he says in the very beginning about brutality, elegance, femininity and so forth is truly fascinating. I don't necessarily agree with it, but it's an original and thoughtful perspective, well-articulated. Whether or not one likes his political views or even his literature, this man possessed a dignified sensitivity all too rare in the contemporary world among those of any sociopolitical, sexual and vocational persuasions.
He was a true artist.
What this man says still has much relevance to this day. Alteast with regards to prosperity, and lack of fufillment.
Seems like his mind was constantly looking for ways to justify seppuku.
More like people are looking for stupid excuses to go on living.
You have to love him. He could have been a war criminal; he was a man out of time - but who can ever know now? He had the courage of a true artist. He talks of boredom - that explains everything.
"Even the wisest man grows tense/ with a sort of violence/ before he can accomplish fate/ know his work or choose his mate" -W.B. Yeats
I think this is the oldest comment I've ever seen
@@salj.5459 the same
三島良いですね、二度と現れない本当の天才です。良かったです。
This is a very fluent english for a Japanese..damn respect!
This guy it's like a rare RPG character that will follow you and help you on your quest but eventually will confront you on your decisions.
He seems to be a very dynamic individual.
We will never have a Japanese like Yukio Mishima.
"Left-wing or rightwing, I am pro violence"
Wow this man is a Japanese legend
I love Mishima and his sickly brilliant mind, but that last part just makes me sad. I wish he could have found happiness in life.
"Sometimes... harikiri makes you win." :'(
i'm japanese and love and respect him too.but i don't feel sad his early death at all.you say" I wish he could have found happiness in life" and most people say that same thing like you.but you know what? what is the exactly HIS happiness,hope,and dream in entire life? is no doubt to be hero by heroic death and he actually did it.though most people cannot do,but he did dream come true.ordinaly people's happiness and his is completely different.so we shoudn't
feel sad his death and just need to think what his real message is.he would rather prefer that way than we fell sad.sorry if i'm offensive and don't misunderstand me i really love mishima fan too.
I see what you are saying. It was his own vision for his own life. However, there was very little that was heroic about his death. He failed his objective, and then suffered a painful, humiliating death (due to his friend's failure to decapitate him). I think the fact that he even wanted these things was sign of his mental illness, or at least a lack of peace between him and the outer world. I just wish that he could have found peace in his life, so that he could have lived longer and continued to give us brilliant stories.
Don't worry, I'm not at all offended by your comment! You have a different, optimistic interpretation of his life. There is nothing wrong with that!
+manana hasta Spot on ! Our european way of life...once
So wrong. The cult of happiness leads only to meaningless misery.
In Japanese culture suicide is a much different thing, you must realize. Mishima found his happiness in his suicide. He knew he would not succeed, but he hated seeing himself get older and he believed in restoring the empire to it's pre-WWII position, something he was passionate about and would die for. In a world of meaninglessness he created his own meaning.
I bet that Kazuya Mishima and Heihachi Mishimas from the games "Tekken"are inspired by Yukio Mishima:They both valued strenghth over all else and Kazuya was very similar in apearance to yukio.
Cool! I've never heard him speak. I've read most? of his books in english translation. He really exemplified his ideas of how to live. The first novel of his I read was "Spring Snow". Beginning there I just had to read everything else that he wrote. The movie: "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" seems to contain some of his ideas in it. Thanks for posting this!
Snow is a hard read, but worth the effort. The end was a perfect crescendo, though I have to say Horses takes the crescendo and turns it into a slow and glorious implosion.
I didn't know this interview, so, thank you very much for sharing it, my good sir!
just read "confessions of a Mask", a friend of mine suggested it would b interesting.
my thoughts: probably an autobiographic story, it is strongly heartbreaking to witness how the character -from a very early age-has to hide, suppress, suffer in silence pretend, put on a mask, punish himself and so much more by having to conform to the "must and have to" of his society. he would definitely be at his ease in this generation, and would have definitely led a totally different life with a different outcome: happiness, achievement, family ect. ( his last pictures/clilps depict a classy man, balanced, strong , fit and very handsome too.
also, the end of the interview is really a shock when you think that in NOvember that same year he acutally performed seppuku... My god, it is chilling when you process this. He was really fully coherent with his beliefs, and a very strong person with a steel character.
Mishima's voice and pronunciation remind me of Alan Watts.
He was well-read and a great writer.
Very interesting talk about Hara-kiri and Mishima's explanation of its essentially positive aspects in contrast to the negative connotations associated with the Western interpretation of suicide.
the man, the myth, the legend.
"Hara-Kiri sometimes makes you win." He won a permanent niche in Japanese history, in the Japanese psyche. Mishima was a Faustian expression of his people's post-war humiliation, frustration and emotional suppression, which were artificially and unsuccessfully substituted by alien, fundamentally contrary, Western-style capitalism and its soul-less materialism. That's why many or most of them hated him; they still hate him, because he embarrasses them for their hollow, insubstantial and consequently meaningless, unfulfilling lives. A few still recognize the significance of his work and self-sacrifice. Perhaps someday they will courageously take up the flag he unfurled and become what they truly are. That's what he strove for.
How is he hated? He's celebrated here in Japan
You should write a book
Samurai roamed the countryside slaughtering peasants and merchants indiscriminately and completely legally (practice of Tsushigama) or for any perceived slight of honor (the samurai could use his servants and family as "witnesses" to any perceived dishonor from those he murdered).
There is a reason Japan suppressed and rejected its bloodthirsty thug-caste of killers multiple times throughout its history, well before the "evil white man" clapped samurai cheeks in the Pacific.
an hero
Anybody else finding this guy popping up on your recommended vids? I have never heard of him before, WTF?
He was a proud Japanese nationalist who was honestly the best modern Japanese poet.
I know this now. My question was, why is this popping up on my recommended? Yukio Mishima is a Japanese hero I suppose, he is a very dynamic individual and admired in Japan as he should be. So why would it be important to some random old guy from Memphis TN like me?
Japanese people are not unified in their admiration of Mishima's character. He is seen, rightly, as a deeply reactionary political figure by many people. However, he is most definitely one of the best writers of the 20th century, and deserves recognition for that.
I got this sent to me on Discord lol
Great video!! I first came across 'Confession of a Mask' when I was studying at a law school in Tokyo and instantly got hooked ever since. There are quite a few books available in English.
there's almost a regal quality to his english speaking voice. amazing
A fascinating historical figure. So talented, such a genius, and a bit of a nutcase besides. Certainly, he was the embodiment of the ronin spirit. A samurai heart with no cause to which it may be affixed.
You can't be a genius if you're not a bit ''shaked''.
Nutcase? Or just far more correct than the average modern man?
One of the most based individuals of all time.
"Love like blood" by Killing Joke is about this man.
Really?
yes.
Wow thanks for the information
Wow now I love that song even more
One of my favourite songs. Never knew this. Will have to learn more about this ma. Thanks for the gen.
He spoke beautiful English. I could listen to him all day.
I didn't know he was such a nice English speaker...wow
There is something about this guy.
Everyone should know and honor the name Yukio Mishima!
He wonderfully projects stereotypes but is steadfastly undefinable..An authentic and turbulent genius who oozes heroic camp.
His verbal IQ had to be off the charts. I'm yet to hear another Japanese speaking as well as him, those who spent their childhood overseas notwithstanding.
Most fascinating is that he never lived overseas for any long period. It was by reading that he learned to speak English so well. Same for many other great Japanese authors like Natsume or Murakami. They were all voracious readers and translators of English works.
I always was intrigued by Mishima Yukio. Hid books were very insightful on the history of Japan vs modernism.
he was cute as hell
This is a general statement on Japanese cultural and tradition as well as Mishima's very personal views on life and death, and the philosophy of life. A precious look into the psyche of a genius.