Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
| Original Title | 伊良湖の旅 |
|---|---|
| Author | 吉江 喬松 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | A bitter wind whips across Lake Hamana as two travelers brace against the elements, determined to reach the remote village of Iragō. Battling relentless gusts that scatter sand like shrapnel, they navigate treacherous shores where waves claw at crumbling cliffs and fishermen mend nets beneath dunes threatening to bury them alive. Boatmen offer cryptic guidance; villagers speak of distant inns and vanishing paths. Each step through desolate landscapes—bleached beaches, wind-scarred hills, forests choked with camphor and pine—deepens their isolation. Harsh beauty surrounds them: snow-capped peaks loom on horizons, wild radish flowers bloom defiantly, and the sea’s endless rhythm pulses with both menace and allure. As dusk falls, exhaustion weighs heavy, yet Iragō remains elusive—a mirage at land’s edge. Whispers of local legends and the haunting cry of waves linger, urging them onward into a journey where nature’s indifference becomes their fiercest companion. |
← Return to List← Return to TOP