Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Princess Yonaga and MimioAuthor: Sakaguchi Ango
| Original Title | 夜長姫と耳男 |
|---|---|
| Author | 坂口 安吾 |
| Genre | Fantasy & Sci-Fi |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In feudal Japan, a young carpenter named Mimio is thrust into a high-stakes rivalry when his dying master names him successor to craft a sacred Buddha statue for the enigmatic Princess Yonaga. Mocked for his horse-like ears and dismissed as unskilled by peers, Mimio’s resolve hardens: he vows to carve not a serene deity but a monstrous figure pulsating with raw, primal force. The princess, whose innocent smile masks unsettling depths, becomes both muse and tormentor, her presence haunting his every chisel stroke. As plagues ravage the land and tensions escalate with rival artisans, Mimio descends into obsession—drinking snake blood, hanging carcasses in his workshop—to imbue his creation with enough power to rival her chilling allure. Yet the line between artistry and madness blurs, and the true terror may lie not in his monstrous statue, but in the princess’s unfathomable whims. A tale of ambition, cursed craftsmanship, and the shadows behind divine beauty unfolds. |
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