Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
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| Original Title | 熊の足跡 |
|---|---|
| Author | 徳冨 蘆花 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the autumn of 1910, a thoughtful traveler, joined by his wife and young daughter, embarks on an extensive journey through Japan's historical Tohoku and the untamed frontiers of Hokkaido. What begins as a picturesque tour swiftly transforms into a poignant exploration of a land in flux, where ancient barriers crumble before railway lines, and sprawling wilderness yields to burgeoning towns. As they navigate perilous rivers and vast peatlands, encountering a mosaic of pioneers and lingering traditions, the narrator grapples with the profound beauty and harsh realities of this evolving world. The journey's true weight is starkly revealed in a Sapporo museum: the chilling exhibit of a father’s and child’s hands, recovered from a bear’s stomach. This visceral encounter forces a confrontation with the brutal essence of the wild, and the indelible "footprints" left by both man and nature. This is a powerful story of development's cost, and whose legacy truly shapes a land. |
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