Incredible translation work by John Nathan. Imagery aligns men with the sea and women with the land (a la Paglia)--in contrast with the usual feminine energy assigned to the ocean, and, more broadly, water (Daoist yin, Greek water nymphs, Aphrodite's birth, etc). Ryuji embodies masculinity as the rugged seafarer while Fusako maintains a stolid femininity in waiting for his return. Paced perfectly. Enjoyed the details of Noboru's friends and their inane blood rituals. The vivid scenes of Yokohama's harbor and the minutiae of seafaring life were my absolute favorite parts of the novel, along with Mishima's close observation of human tendencies.
I agree that it reads very well in English. I remember reading somewhere that Mishima and Nathan collaborated together on the translation.
That's so cool, each choice of word or phrase really does feel perfectly calculated in English. Up there with Cosmicomics in phenomenal works in translation I've read recently that maintain its native flow and poetry