“The skin of a young man is shiny and feels unsettling.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
- He became a representative figure of postwar Japanese literature, and was highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. He pursued his own unique aesthetic with themes of beauty and death, and ultimately committed seppuku at a Self-Defense Forces garrison. His life, which combined literature with action, continues to have a strong influence today.
Japanese
「若い男の肌はつやつやしていて気味がわるい。」
English
“The skin of a young man is shiny and feels unsettling.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima expresses a certain discomfort with the youthful vitality of a young man, particularly focusing on the shiny or radiant quality of his skin. The phrase “feels unsettling” suggests that the energy and freshness associated with youth can be jarring or even unnerving to those who are older or more experienced. The unsettling quality of youth, with its physical vitality and sexual energy, contrasts sharply with the aging process or the maturity that comes with time, creating a feeling of discomfort in the observer.
Mishima may be using this observation to explore the tension between youth and age, suggesting that the overflowing vitality of youth can feel alien or unnatural when viewed through the lens of experience. The quote might also reflect the cultural anxieties surrounding youth and beauty, which can be seen as transitory and often fleeting. The unsettling feeling described could also stem from the idea that youth is often associated with impermanence, whereas maturity or age is linked to a sense of stability or wisdom.
In a modern context, this quote might resonate with the unease some people feel about youthful exuberance and the physicality of youth. It could reflect the cultural emphasis on youthful beauty and the fear or discomfort that comes with aging. Mishima’s words highlight the complex relationship between youth and experience, inviting reflection on how the vitality of youth can be both admirable and disturbing, depending on one’s stage in life.
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