Voices of the Fallen Heroes

A newly translated collection of short stories by Yukio Mishima, drawn from the final decade of his life in the 1960s. This selection offers a rare and intimate look into the mind of one of Japan’s most provocative and enduring literary figures.

In the title story, a séance summons the spirits of Imperial Army officers and kamikaze pilots, who return to chastise the Emperor and mourn the spiritual decay of modern Japan. Another tale recounts the true and unsettling episode of a fan who broke into Mishima’s home at dawn, demanding that the author “tell the truth.” Elsewhere, a beautiful youth achieves eternal life through a brutal act of violence, and a doomed couple find themselves ensnared by fate, desire, and a mysterious deck of cards.

Published in English for the first time and carefully curated by a team of expert translators, this haunting and powerful collection marks the centenary of Mishima’s birth—a perfect introduction to his vision, obsessions, and legacy.