{"product_id":"this-scheming-world-classic-tales-of-desire-deception-and-greed-in-old-japan-9780804859325","title":"This Scheming World: Classic Tales of Desire, Deception and Greed in Old Japan","description":"\u003cb\u003eA Great Classic of Japanese literature and the masterpiece of novelist Ihara Saikaku--now in a completely new and revised edition with introduction by noted scholar David J. Gundry\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe culmination of Saikaku's perceptive genius, the 20 short stories within \u003ci\u003eThis Scheming World\u003c\/i\u003e recount raucous events and incidents on New Year's Eve as everyone tries to settle their debts for the year, as is the New Year's custom. Crafty money lenders attempt to collect their money from equally crafty debtors, and Saikaku portrays his characters with so lifelike a touch that, even though three centuries have passed since his time, it seems as if they were our contemporaries. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe new Introduction by Saikaku expert David J. Gundry explains how and why this entertaining work still resonates with modern readers today. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe finely-crafted tales include stories of: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhilanderers who slip off to hide in the homes of their mistresses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHustlers who leave town suddenly on \"very important\" business trips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnivers who become actors for a day to hide-in-plain-sight on stage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"The New Year's Eve is more precious than a thousand pieces of gold. It is the Great Divide between winter and spring, which none can pass over without copper and silver.\" --Ihara Saikaku\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Tuttle Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/21\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780804859325\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 192\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 6.00h x 9.00w x 0.50d","brand":"Ihara Saikaku","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51924694597813,"sku":"9780804859325","price":6.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_5afe8ebb-42d3-46b6-b248-e810da3e3e47.jpg?v=1761660472","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/this-scheming-world-classic-tales-of-desire-deception-and-greed-in-old-japan-9780804859325","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}