is a novel by Japanese writer

Jun'ichirō Tanizaki was a Japanese author who is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in modern Japanese literature. The tone and subject matter of his work ranges from shocking depictions of sexuality and destructive erotic obsessions to subtle por ...

first published in 1956.

Synopsis

The entire story is told in diary form, switching between the entries of a 55-year-old university professor and his 10 years younger wife Ikuko. Both claim that they want to keep their notes secret from another, and complain about the difficulties in their sex life: she about her husband's inability to satisfy her, he about her insatiability, mixed with her oldfashioned attitude and rejection of his erotic preferences. At the same time he is convinced that, would she allow him to act out his wishes, he would be able to fulfil her desires. The couple has chosen teacher Kimura as a possible marriage prospect for their daughter Toshiko, but Toshiko shows no interest in him. Instead, the husband believes to sense a mutual interest between Kimura and Ikuko, and realises that his jealousy stimulates him. He provokes situations in which Kimura can see Ikuko naked, starting with making her drunk which leads to her repeated collapsing and need to be looked after. Also, he has sex with his wife while she is unconscious, during which she utters the name of Kimura. At Kimura's offer, the professor borrows his polaroid camera, which he uses to make nude photographs of Ikuko. Later, he switches to negative film, making sure that Kimura sees the pictures. At the same time, he has his doctor inject him hormones to improve his potency, which result in dangerously high blood pressure and memory defects. Toshiko moves out of her parents' house, while Ikuko starts meeting Kimura on a regular basis. The professor suffers a stroke due to his blood pressure; although he first seems to recover, he dies after a second stroke. In her last entries, Ikuko reveals that both she and her husband wrote their diaries in full knowledge that the other side reads them, that her states of unconsciousness were at times faked, and that Toshiko possibly made arrangements so that her mother and Kimura could meet. Ikuko speculates that Toshiko will eventually marry Kimura as a pretence so her mother and he can continue their affair. The novel's title refers to the key to the compartment in which the professor keeps his diary.

Publication history

Tanizaki's novel first appeared in serialised form in 1956 in ''

Chūō kōron is a monthly Japanese literary magazine (), first established during the Meiji period and continuing to this day. It is published by its namesake-bearing Chūōkōron Shinsha (formerly Chūōkōron-sha). The headquarters is in Tokyo. ''Chūō ...

'', starting with the magazine's January issue which quickly sold out. It was translated into English by

Howard Hibbett Howard Hibbett (July 27, 1920 – March 13, 2019) was a translator and professor of Japanese literature at Harvard University. He held the Victor S. Thomas Professorship in Japanese Literature. Early life Hibbett was born in Akron, Ohio, on Jul ...

and published by

Alfred A. Knopf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. () is an American publishing house that was founded by Alfred A. Knopf Sr. and Blanche Knopf in 1915. Blanche and Alfred traveled abroad regularly and were known for publishing European, Asian, and Latin American writers i ...

in 1961.

Reception

In his book ''Five Modern Japanese Novelists'', author

Donald Keene Donald Lawrence Keene (June 18, 1922 – February 24, 2019) was an American-born Japanese scholar, historian, teacher, writer and translator of Japanese literature. Keene was University Professor emeritus and Shincho Professor Emeritus of Japane ...

states that ''The Key'' gained attraction and was widely discussed for its explicit eroticism. Yet, although formally "brilliantly handled", the novel is missing typical Tanizaki themes like the longing for a mother or worshipping of a cruel woman, concluding that it was, compared to others of the writer's works, "not very deeply rooted".

Film adaptations

''The Key'' has repeatedly been adapted into films, including: * 1959: ''

Odd Obsession is a 1959 Japanese drama film directed by Kon Ichikawa. It was entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It was based on the novel '' The Key'', by Japanese novelist Junichirō Tanizaki. Plot A man who suspects ...

'', directed by

Kon Ichikawa was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His work displays a vast range in genre and style, from the anti-war films '' The Burmese Harp'' (1956) and '' Fires on the Plain'' (1959), to the documentary '' Tokyo Olympiad'' (1965), which won ...

* 1983: '' The Key'', directed by

Tinto Brass Giovanni "Tinto" Brass (born 26 March 1933) is an Italian film director and screenwriter. In the 1960s and 1970s, he directed many critically acclaimed avant-garde films of various genres. Today, he is mainly known for his later work in the er ...

* 2014: '' The Key'', directed by Jefery Levy

References

Bibliography

* Hibbett, Howard, trans. "The Key". Tanizaki Junichiro. New York: Vintage, 2004 * * "Visions of Desire: Tanizaki's Fictional Worlds". Ito, Ken. Stanford University Press, 1991 *See More {{DEFAULTSORT:Key 1956 novels Works by Japanese writers 20th-century Japanese literature Works originally published in Japanese magazines Novels first published in serial form Japanese novels adapted into films Novels by Junichiro Tanizaki