Tales of Old Japanese — Hugh Ashton

Tales of Old Japanese is a collection of five short stories of the older generation living in contemporary Japan. The author has spent over 20 years living in the country, working as a writer and journalist. Some of his impressions of Japan and of the people who live there have been recorded in: Keiko's House: An old house, its history, and the history of those who have lived there in the past. Haircuts: When 92-year-old Mr Kato changes his barber, his life takes on a surprising new meaning. Click: One photograph every day. The memories of twenty years, all neatly arranged in albums. Mrs Terada's camera sees everything. Mrs Sakamoto's Grouse: When Mrs Sakamoto sees a new brand of whisky on the shelves of her local neighbourhood shop, the result is unexpected. The Old House: Two boys play in the garden of a deserted house once owned by a notorious miser; which turns out not to be deserted after all.