In Beauty and Sadness, published in Japan in 1961, but not published in the US until 14 years later, Kawabata tells a story of love, ruined lives and revenge. Oki Toshio travels to Kyoto at the new year in the hope of seeing Otoko again. It has been twenty years since they have last seen each other. That was a very traumatic moment for Otoko, her mother, Oki, and his wife. Otoko's mother is now dead, but none of the other three have really recovered. Otoko's now in her mid-thirties and Oki is in his mid-fifties.
The book moves slowly with most of the characters quietly guarding their feelings. Keiko, Otoko's protege, and Oki's son Techiro are more open, or at least willing to express their feelings, though that doesn't really help them.
The setting, especially in the outdoors, in the hills around Kyoto, on the water, in the fog, is quietly wonderful. And none of the characters notice or comment on anything that gives you a sense of when the book is set. It's quite a powerful book.
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