Swaddling Clothes - by Yukio Mishima

          Today I read a short story by Yukio Mishima called “Swaddling Clothes.” Basically, the story is about a woman named Toshiko who, along with her husband, has seen their nurse give birth to a child while she was supposed to watch after their son. This newborn child is then wrapped in newspaper by a doctor instead of swaddling clothes, presumably under contempt. Toshiko then worries deeply about this child’s future, wonder how the poor delivery of the baby will affect the rest of his life.

          This story not only reflects a typical mother’s fears of how a child’s future will turn out (will he have a successful life or not?), but it also explains how “corrupt” modern Japan has become after American occupation. Traditional Japanese childbirth is portrayed as something scorned upon by modern society, and how such a change in culture is inevitable, despite the full knowledge of the change occurring.