This publication represents the first Russian translation of one of the oldest monuments of Old Japanese literature. “The Diary of an Ephemeral Life” was created at the dawn of Japanese fiction. It describes the events of the personal life, feelings and thoughts of a noble Japanese woman of the 11th century, known as Mititsuna no haha (Mother of Mititsuna). Twenty-one years of her life—from 954 to 974—pass before the reader’s eyes. Love for a husband and jealousy of rivals, social entertainment and dreary loneliness, a growing son and concern for his future - these and similar topics do not lose their relevance at all times. Descriptions of Japanese nature and traditional poetry add special charm to the story. The design of the book uses elements of traditional Japanese engravings. Translation from Japanese, foreword and comments by V. N. Goreglyad