Pathway to Japanese Literature
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The Pond Beneath the CliffAuthor: Toyoshima Yoshio
| Original Title | 崖下の池 |
|---|---|
| Author | 豊島 与志雄 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a quiet corner of post-war Tokyo lies a pond steeped in history—once a playground for children, a wartime resource, and now a tranquil garden centerpiece. Shimizu Tsunekichi, a pragmatic man rebuilding his life amid scorched ruins, cherishes its serene beauty. Yet whispers haunt its waters: neighbors murmur of a child’s ghost lingering beneath the surface, a rumor rooted in tragedy. When Ōi Tokiko, a grieving mother consumed by delusion, insists her deceased daughter resides in the pond, tensions rise. Determined to dispel superstition, Tsunekichi orders the pond dredged, revealing only mud and fish—no secrets. But clarity brings no peace. As dawn mist clings to the water days later, an unsettling discovery fractures the fragile calm, unraveling Tsunekichi’s resolve. Blending quiet melancholy with eerie folklore, this tale explores how trauma etches itself into landscapes and souls, where even clear waters may conceal shadows of the past. |
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