Master storyteller and Japanese writer Junichiro Tanizaki thrills the reader in the meaty short story collection "Seven Japanese Tales." Simultaneaously very "Japanese" and yet universally appealing, these tales affected me deeply.The first brilliant story, "A Portrait of Shunkin" tells the story of a beautiful, sadistic blind woman and her "student" Sasuke. Their relationship is complex and lovely; part Master/Slave, part lovers, and part friendship. The subtle eroticism of this relationship is striking; we can almost feel the desire Sasuke has for the petite, blind, yet strict Shunkin. Tanizaki explores what to Western readers seems like abusive behavior, and makes the Eastern way of thinking crystal clear with these words by a master musician when discussing his strict, sadistic teacher:"Except for that beating," he would say with tears in his eyes, "I might have spent my whole life as a run-of-the-mill performer."This first story, "A Portrait of Shunkin" alone is worth the price of the book. The ending is stunning and I would never spoil it here.There is more greatness here. The third story "The Bridge of Dreams" may be the most strangely erotic piece of writing I have ever read. Full of beautiful Japanese poetry in which has intensely erotic undercurrents, it will change the way you think about relationships. Again, it has a uniquely Japanese perversion to it which is tasteful yet arousing at the same time.Everything is literal and metaphorical at the same time in this tale. And a poem like this one means more than it appears:"The stony Shallow Stream-So pure that even the moonSeeks it out to dwell in it."This is magnificent writing.One of the shortest tales, "The Tattooer" is one of the most vivid. Again, the pages crackle with intense, yet subtle eroticism.The final long story, "A Blind Man's Tale" is a epic within 50 pages of fighting Samurai and fiefdoms in feudal Japan. Tanizaki brings this potentially dry history to life, revealing the unique vision of the Eastern thoughts on battle and honor.This may be the most interesting, best set of short stories I have read in the last 20 years. I am eager to read more of the great Tanizaki.