Boyd Tonkin

Luminous fables: Night Train to the Stars, by Kenji Miyazawa, reviewed

A downcast cellist discovers that his music cures sick mice and rabbits in one of many tales featuring talking animals in eerie, folkloric landscapes

A still from a Japanese film adaptation of one of Kenji Miyazawa’s tales featuring anthropomorphic cats. [Alamy]
  • Comments

  • Night Train to the Stars

    Kenji Miyazawa, translated by John Bester

    Vintage Classics, pp. 256, £14

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Also in Book Reviews

Also by Boyd Tonkin

Latest

Comments

A blooming good offer

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting the next 3 months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in