Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Theater Maniac's AdventureAuthor: Yumeno Kyūsaku
| Original Title | 芝居狂冒険 |
|---|---|
| Author | 夢野 久作 |
| Genre | Detective & Mystery |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the labyrinthine lumberyards near Iidamachi Station, an eccentric young laborer named Manpei loses himself in theatrical fantasies, rehearsing dramatic lines while stacking planks. Obsessed with kabuki and female impersonation, his peculiar passion alienates coworkers—until he stumbles upon a clandestine meeting between a slick stranger in an Inverness cape and Kuni-chan, a pawnshop owner’s daughter. Overhearing their whispered plans to elope with stolen funds that night, Manpei’s conscience overrides his timidity. Desperate to thwart their scheme, he seeks help from dismissive police and Kuni-chan’s hostile father, only to be ridiculed. Undeterred, he devises a reckless plan: donning a makeshift female disguise, he confronts the mysterious man in the moonlit lumberyard. What follows is a chaotic clash of flailing limbs and toppling timber, blending slapstick and suspense. As Manpei’s theatrical flair collides with real danger, his farcical heroism exposes hidden treachery—and questions whether his “flaw” might be the very trait that saves the day. Shadows deepen, alliances shift, and one man’s delusions of grandeur become an unexpected lifeline for justice. |
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