Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

LiesAuthor: Niimi Nankichi

Original Title	嘘
Author	新美南吉
Genre	Children's Literature
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	After recovering from mumps, Kyusuke returns to school only to find himself adrift—his classmates have moved on without him, and a mysterious new student, Tarozaemon, disrupts the familiar rhythms of their rural classroom. With his polished manners and urban airs, Tarozaemon captivates Kyusuke’s curiosity, yet unsettling contradictions emerge: he spins fantastical lies about echoing valleys, phantom whales, and enchanted trinkets, weaving a web of intrigue that both fascinates and alienates his peers. As Kyusuke navigates the boy’s unpredictable charm—marked by moments of vulnerability and eerie encounters with Tarozaemon’s unsettling family—he grapples with the blurred line between imagination and deceit. When a reckless adventure fueled by one of Tarozaemon’s fabrications leaves the group stranded at dusk, exhaustion and desperation force them to confront uncomfortable truths about trust and human frailty. Through shifting alliances and quiet revelations, the story unravels the fragile bonds of childhood, where even liars harbor unexpected depths.