Pathway to Japanese Literature
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The Moderate ManAuthor: Toyoshima Yoshio
| Original Title | 程よい人 |
|---|---|
| Author | 豊島 与志雄 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In post-war Japan, a man prides himself on living by the "Middle Path"—a life of calculated moderation. Employed at a large corporation, he discreetly borrows money from colleagues, meticulously repaying each loan on time to cultivate trust. His strategy involves vague requests for "around ten thousand yen," citing familial obligations to an ailing mother, while secretly funneling funds into a lucrative moneylending scheme orchestrated by Kurokawa, a shadowy figure from his military past. Yet his carefully balanced world begins to unravel when Kyoko, a coworker with whom he shares a detached romance, accuses him of hiding behind a metaphorical "mask" of emotional detachment. As office rumors swirl about his mounting debts and questionable intentions, even seemingly benevolent colleagues reveal ulterior motives. The protagonist clings to his self-image as a prudent, honorable man, but mounting tensions—between societal expectations, personal relationships, and the ethics of his financial manipulations—threaten to expose the fragility of his moderate facade. Can one truly navigate life’s complexities without ever tipping the scales? |
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