One of the most remarkable developments of Genji imagery in contemporary times is the emergence of numerous manga versions of the tale. Dreams at Dawn (Asaki yumemishi), a multivolume interpretation by the female artist Yamato Waki, has surpassed the others in artistry and attention to the historical details and literary features of the original.
Yamato’s manga translation made the ancient tale accessible to a new generation of readers. The artist uses the visual idiom of girls’ comics (shōjo manga)—such as figures characterized by slender physiques, sharp features, and large eyes—as well as the full range of storytelling strategies of the comic form. In terms of narrative content, shōjo manga emphasize romantic relationships and heightened emotions in stories told from a woman’s perspective.
This video shows Yamato’s artistic process. Consisting of individual character studies, the paintings prompted Yamato to explore the narrative arc, psychology, and motivations of each figure in new ways
Featured Artwork:
源氏物語 あさきゆめみし』 大和和紀作
The Tale of Genji: Dreams at Dawn (Genji monogatari: Asaki yumemishi)
Written and illustrated by Yamato Waki
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Learn more about this exhibition: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2019/tale-of-genji
Artwork © Yamato Waki
Footage courtesy of Kodansha Ltd.
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