Afraid to make your first foray into the magical and majestical world of Japanese literature? Then here is a perfect introduction for you. Within this slim volume numerous wonderful recommendations abound, although there is one small oversight -- "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa isn't mentioned. Ah well. Also look into, "The Pleasures of Japanese Literature," by Donald Keene. And for lovers of poetry, I cannot say enough wonderful things about, "The Ink Dark Moon," translated by Jane Hirshfield, and "Modern Japanese Tanka" by Makoto Ueda.