Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Old WellAuthor: Toyoshima Yoshio
| Original Title | 古井戸 |
|---|---|
| Author | 豊島 与志雄 |
| Genre | Fantasy & Sci-Fi |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a weathered rental house with an overgrown garden, a tenant becomes fixated on a mysterious hole that emerges beside an ancient stone during the rainy season. The landlord, Matsuki, reacts with unsettling intensity, excavating the site under the guise of building a goldfish pond—only to uncover the remnants of a long-buried well. Whispers of local legends surface: tales of a vengeful spirit tied to a tragic death centuries past. As Matsuki’s daughter, Mitsuko, is plagued by nightmares of shadowy figures emerging from the well’s depths, tensions rise between the tenant’s growing protectiveness and Matsuki’s secretive, calculating demeanor. Strange dreams blur reality and folklore, while cracks in the family’s fragile dynamics threaten to unravel entirely. Amid decaying foliage and sinking earth, unanswered questions linger—what lies beneath the stone? And why does Matsuki guard the well’s secrets so fiercely? A haunting atmosphere of unease binds curiosity and dread, leaving readers to wonder what darkness the old well still conceals. |
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