After resigning from the Ministry of Finance in September 1948, Mishima planned to begin work on a novel at the request of his publisher, Kawade Shobō, though it took him two months to decide exactly what form it should take.

In the early portion of the novel, Kochan does not yet openly admit that he is attracted to men, but indeed professes that he admires masculinity and strength while having no interest in women.

Even at that young age, Kochan approached a single picture of a heroic-looking European knight on horseback almost as pornography, gazing at it longingly and hiding it away, embarrassed, when others come to see what he is doing.

Early on, as he develops a fascination with his friend Omi's body during puberty, he believes that everybody around him is also hiding their true feelings from each other, everybody participating in a "reluctant masquerade".

[3] The initial reception of Confessions of a Mask in the English-speaking world was somewhat mixed, but ultimately positive; over time this autobiographical novel came to be seen as one of Mishima's most important works.

"[8] In the New York Times, Ben Ray Redman writes: "This book will increase American awareness of [Mishima's] skill; but it will also, I imagine, arouse in many readers as much distaste as respect .

"[9] Writing for the Japan Times, Iain Maloney notes that: "In many ways Confessions is the key text to understanding Mishima's later novels.