The Makioka Sisters

Book • 1948

The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki is a classic Japanese novel that follows the lives of four sisters from a once-wealthy Osaka family as they navigate the challenges of tradition, family obligations, and personal desires in the years leading up to World War II. The story focuses on the family's efforts to marry off the sisters, particularly Yukiko, while dealing with the societal changes and personal struggles of the time.

Mentioned by

Branko Milanovic

Michelle Kuo

Anne Sokolsky

Mentioned in 1 episodes

Recommended by

Michelle Kuo

for a book club, highlighting its exploration of a different social world and historical time.

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Mentioned by

Anne Sokolsky

as a great novel about Mubuko Yoshi.

Anne Sokolsky ed., "Bold Breaks: Japanese Women and Literary Narratives of Divorce" (U Hawaii Press, 2025)

Mentioned as a novel about the 'Moyoshi', the adoption of a son-in-law to preserve generational wealth.

Anne Sokolsky ed., "Bold Breaks: Japanese Women and Literary Narratives of Divorce" (U Hawaii Press, 2025)

Recommended by Michelle Kuo for its immersive portrayal of Japanese culture and customs in Osaka.

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Mentioned by

Branko Milanovic

as a book he is currently reading, offering insights into upper-class Japanese life in the late 1930s.

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