Thousand Cranes - Opening

EVEN WHEN he reached Kamakura and the Engkuji Temple, Kikuji did not know whether or not he would go to the tea ceremony. He was already late.

THOUSAND CRANES was originally published in Japan as SEMBAZURU

and was published in English by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.,

on February 23, 1959. Part of THOUSAND CRANES

originally appeared in slightly different form

in MADEMOISELLE, December 1958

This is a Borzoi Book published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

First Combined Edition

Copyright 1956, 1958 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

All rights reserved under International

and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

Published in the United States

by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York.

Manufactured in the United States of America.

The Noble Prize Edition of two novels by

YASUNARI KAWABATA

Translated from the Japanese by

EDWARD G.SEIDENSTICKER

1969 New York Alfred A. Knopf