SOURCE: "The Knife Thrower's Bad Aim," in The New York Times Book Review, April 5, 1987, p. 16.

In the following review, Sato offers a favorable assessment of Shiga's collection The Paper Door and Other Stories.

Naoya Shiga (1883-1971) was once described as "a god of fiction." Such an accolade might be a little excessive, even if the characterization were confined to his country, Japan. But he did write a number of short stories that are nearly perfect in their simplicity, directness and mastery of subject matter.

Take "The Razor." It begins: "Yoshisaburo, of the Tatsudoko in Azabu-Roppongi, a man almost never ill, took to his bed with a very bad cold. The Festival of the Autumn Equinox being close at hand, it was a very busy time for his barbershop." Yoshisaburo has a well-earned reputation for honing razors and shaving. He takes pride in these skills. So, when a regular...