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The Tale of HōjōzuAuthor: Tanaka Kōtarō
| Original Title | 放生津物語 |
|---|---|
| Author | 田中 貢太郎 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a secluded town nestled among ancient pines and shadowed by a mist-cloaked lake, children gather at a crumbling shrine to share eerie tales of drowned lovers and shape-shifting creatures. Among them is Genkichi, a curious boy who forms an inexplicable bond with the shrine’s deity—a spectral white snake said to heed the pure of heart. When Genkichi’s innocent invocations summon swarms of crabs and unseen forces, his protective grandfather, Tamesaku, fears divine wrath, while others dismiss it as childish fancy. But darkness stirs: a disgraced samurai’s violent obsession with Genkichi’s mother ignites a clash between mortal greed and otherworldly power. As curses manifest and long-buried legends awaken, the line between reverence and sacrilege blurs. Whispers of vengeful spirits and drowned souls haunt the townsfolk, yet only Genkichi sees the truth coiled in the shrine’s shadows—a truth that demands faith or invites ruin. What unfolds is a dance of innocence and ancient magic, where every whispered prayer risks awakening forces no mortal can control. |
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