Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Phantom TalesAuthor: Koda Rohan
| Original Title | 幻談 |
|---|---|
| Author | 幸田 露伴 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In sweltering summers, the young seek alpine peaks or ocean depths, while elders find solace in quiet gardens—until twilight’s mysteries beckon. A harrowing 19th-century ascent of the Matterhorn ends in tragedy: four climbers plummet to their deaths, leaving survivors haunted by spectral crosses shimmering above icy slopes. Decades later, an aging samurai in Edo’s Honjo district retreats from societal strife into solitary fishing. Accompanied by his shrewd boatman Gichi, days of empty nets yield an uncanny discovery: a drowned man’s exquisite rod, clutched even in death. Though the relic brings sudden bounty, twilight tides reveal flickering apparitions—a ghostly presence demanding restitution. Between eerie visions and the drowned angler’s unshakable grip, the rod becomes a conduit between realms, blurring the line between obsession and the supernatural. As dusk deepens, the samurai confronts a choice: cling to fleeting triumph or sever ties with forces beyond mortal waters. Whispers of alpine phantoms and drowned men linger, weaving past and present into a tapestry of lingering unrest. |
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