The Rhythm of Breath in Natsume Sōseki’s Recollecting and Such

This article examines Japanese novelist Natsume Sōseki’s (1867–1916) memoir Recollecting and Such (Omoidasu koto nado; 1910). I argue that Sōseki invites the reader to imagine breath through his literary representation of both physiological metaphysical experience rhythm narrative’s experimental poetic form. In concert with theme this special issue, show how self-reflexively restores evokes corporeal sensation beyond just visual perception: narrative reveals itself as a form measurement its first-person narrator “rhythmanalyst”, someone who listens internal rhythms own body then external world (Henri Lefebvre). The narrator’s awareness duration, frequency, intensity well regular compositions metered verse—haiku kanshi (traditional Chinese poetry practiced in Japan; Sinitic verse)—are ways measures limits life, memory, sensory experience. oscillation between prose generates an organic rhythm, simulating long short breaths convalescing body, which breathe together—“to conspire” literal sense—with text sympathy.