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It's Mishima's book about old people! And he's much kinder than I would have thought. All the men are fairly craggy (there's not a hint of the blueness of shaved collar lines), but they and their world are treated with sensitivity and interest. He pokes fun at their self-importance, rituals and politics but doesn't stoop to being too rude about the way they masticate ("Thirst for Love") or their bodies (poor old Honda and his shrivelled white bean in "Decay of the Angel").

In fact, Kazu feels repugnance for young men. She's a spicy, young fiftysomething with an interesting sexual history, a good body and a fabulous restaurant. Noguchi is the only one of his "retired ambassador" set who is not resigned to living in the past, and this arouses Kazu's interest. They fall into something, which is then consummated on their holiday in Nara. An unhappy electoral campaign exhausts their short marriage, and Kazu works hard and even more indignity to get back to where she was at the start.


"True finesse requires a silken touch, but Saeki's at best was rayon."

"The corrupt jewels that had studded the pamphlet seemed to glitter now in the crowd's gossip."