The Tale of Genji: 33 – Fuji no uraba

Today’s chapter of The Tale of Genji is a pivotal one, bringing a part of the story to a close while teasing at what’s still to come, but in many ways it feels like a celebration, with everything coming together for Genji, his children and even some of his women. Come with me, then, as we pay one final visit to the Rokujō Estate for now, where we’ll be welcoming some special guests to round the section off – it’s going to be a *very* special day ***** In the previous chapter, ‘Umegae’, we saw how Tō-no-Chūjō was beginning to regret his opposition to the romance between Yūgiri and his daughter, Kumoinokari, and in Chapter 33, ‘Fuji no uraba’ (chapter title unchanged in Arthur Waley’s translation), our old friend has all but thrown in the towel. Impressed by both the young man’s persistence and the figure he now cuts, TnC would be happy to undo his error, if only he could work out how. All the while, his poor daughter, believing certain rumours of other potential marriages for Genji’s…