Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
Nezumi Kozō JirokichiAuthor: Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
| Original Title | 鼠小僧次郎吉 |
|---|---|
| Author | 芥川 竜之介 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the fading light of an Edo autumn, two men share drinks at a riverside inn, their camaraderie laced with unspoken history. The elder, a weathered figure exuding authority, listens as his tattooed companion laments the decline of legendary thieves like Nezumi Kozō—a folk hero rumored to rob corrupt lords and aid the desperate. As dusk deepens, the conversation turns to a farcical encounter from years past: a bumbling impostor who claimed the thief’s name during a snowbound journey, only to crumble under scrutiny. Through laughter and sake, tales blur the line between myth and reality, hinting at darker truths beneath Edo’s glittering surface. Whispers of loyalty, deception, and hidden identities linger like the chill creeping into the air. What secrets bind these men to the shadowy legacy of Nezumi Kozō? And in a city where reputation is currency, who truly holds power—the legend or those who weave it? |
← Return to List← Return to TOP