Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

Ancient TreeAuthor: Toyoshima Yoshio

Original Title	古木
Author	豊島与志雄
Genre	Popular Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the aftermath of war, a retired bureaucrat named Shibata Minosuke retreats into isolation, his health fading as he grapples with the weight of history and an uncertain future. From his sickbed, he fixates on an ancient chinquapin tree in his garden—a centuries-old giant that once symbolized resilience, surviving air raids and earthquakes only to be left charred and lifeless after a fiery disaster. The tree’s skeletal form becomes a mirror for Minosuke’s own decline, stirring memories of youthful romance with his wife Hisae and moments of familial connection beneath its branches. As debates about cutting it down unfold—fueled by practicality, nostalgia, and unspoken grief—the tree’s fate intertwines with Minosuke’s contemplation of legacy and mortality. Vivid flashbacks reveal a life marked by duty and stifled emotions, while the decaying chinquapin stands as a silent witness to time’s inexorable passage. Atmospheric and introspective, this haunting tale weaves personal and historical upheaval into a meditation on impermanence, leaving readers to ponder what lingers when symbols of endurance finally fall.