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

| Original Title | 蜘蛛となめくじと狸 |
|---|---|
| Author | 宮沢 賢治 |
| Genre | Children's Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a shadow-dappled forest, three peculiar athletes—a cunning spider, a silver-clad slug, and a grime-faced raccoon dog—engage in a mysterious rivalry ordained by the enigmatic Mountain Cat. Though their sport remains undefined, their ambitions blaze with lethal intensity. The spider spins silken traps under moonlight, his hunger driving him to devour even those who plead for mercy. The slug masks cruelty beneath hollow laughter, luring victims with false kindness before consuming them. The raccoon dog cloaks greed in sacred chants, manipulating devotees into becoming his meals. Each thrives through deception, yet their triumphs curdle into decay: webs rot, reputations sour, and bodies swell grotesquely. As their fates intertwine—marked by gnawing hunger, poisoned generosity, and twisted piety—the forest whispers of a darker contest: a marathon toward damnation. What began as athletic prowess unravels into a macabre dance of vice, where every victory seeds its own undoing. Will their legacies be cautionary tales or cursed blueprints for future contenders? |