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Cedar FenceAuthor: Miyamoto Yuriko
| Original Title | 杉垣 |
|---|---|
| Author | 宮本 百合子 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | Under a moonlit Tokyo sky, Shinichi and Mineko navigate the quiet streets after missing their bus, their sleeping infant Teruko cradled between them. The young couple’s walk home becomes a tender yet introspective journey, their conversation drifting between familial obligations and the weight of societal expectations. Mineko’s elder brother, a figure of authority, presses Shinichi to abandon his modest role as a researcher for a lucrative corporate position—a proposal that stirs unease in Mineko, who cherishes their simple, principled life. \nAmidst conversations with friends chasing fortunes in scallop exports and wartime ventures, Shinichi grapples with the era’s restless ambition, while Mineko translates novels late into the night, seeking purpose beyond domesticity. Their home, marked by a cedar fence and dew-damp mosquito nets, becomes a sanctuary against encroaching uncertainties—muffled gunfire from distant drills, whispered anxieties over parenthood, and the fragility of peace. \nThrough fleeting moments—a shared laugh at boisterous students, Teruko’s warmth against Shinichi’s chest—the couple’s quiet resilience emerges. Yet shadows linger: the pressure to conform, the specter of war, and choices that could unravel their delicate balance. In a world shifting beneath their feet, their bond faces silent tests, leaving readers to wonder how far integrity can shield them from the tides of change. |
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