ALS, three pages, lightly-lined, 6.75 x 8.75, July 20, 1959. Letter to John Goodwin, in full: “Just a brief note for your inquiry. I could find the exact word of Imifuda neither in the encyclopedia Japanese nor in any book of old religion of Japan. Only mysterious words I know are nine—important characters of a school of Buddhism which is—[Mishima adds nine Japanese characters and their pronunciations along the right side]. These nine characters were considered as a powerful spell which could chase the devils off. These are called Kuji–No–Shingon. Imifuda you want to get could belong to some folkways religions. When you will come back to Tokyo, if you have a plenty of time, I could introduce you to a mysterious master who lives on the incantation of old Shinto style. By the way, Kyoto–city is the centre of all kinds of researches on Japanese religions. If you would have opportunity to touch a scholar of religion in Kyoto, he would tell you easily all of what you want to know. I’m very sorry. I have enough knowledge about it. It is a obvious joke of Tex that know everything old in Japanese history. Have a nice trip with Anthony!” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed by Mishima, who signs his name again on the reverse. Born in 1912, John Goodwin was a wealthy novelist, poet, painter, and world traveler who shared several literary friends in the gay community with Mishima—most notably the novelist Christopher Isherwood. One of Japan’s preeminent writers, the eccentric Mishima was widely praised for his fusion of modern and traditional aesthetic; he was a key figure in popularizing Asian literature in the West, and—as seen in this letter—was seen as both an accessible and knowledgeable source of information on Japanese culture. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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