How does Yukio Mishima use imagery in Spring Snow?

Since the novel is translated from Japanese to English, only the bilingual can know whether this Michael Gallagher translation accurately captures not only the major outlines of plot and characters but nuances of meaning and subtle shades of language intended by the author. As it stands in English, the novel is quite transparent and easy to read. There are descriptive passages that rise close to the level of poetic imagery in their evocative power. It may be the case that translation from Japanese to English is one reason why some of the characters seem like cardboard cutouts rather than fullyformed people. In any event, once the reader is engaged with the characters and story, these defects do not seriously impair either the flow of language or meaning from Japanese to English and to the reader's consciousness.