Ebook: The Japanese Family Storehouse, or, The Millionaire’s Gospel Modernised (Nippon Eitai-gura)

"Ihara Saikaku (1642-93) was a poet, who turned to short story writing late in life. _The Nippon Eitai-gura_ (‘Japanese Family Storehouse’) was written in 1685; it is a collection of thirty short stories, illustrating the methods tradesmen should adopt in their pursuit of wealth, the conduct they should follow, and the pitfalls to avoid. The basis of the stories is usually real life; what has made them endure is the combination of Saikaku’s unsentimental eye and the remarkable city-society he recorded.
Mr Sargent’s introduction is a study of the poet and of this book in particular. The translation follows, and the book ends with a commentary on those points which western readers need help with."