Pathway to Japanese Literature

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

DuelAuthor: Sakaguchi Ango

Original Title	決闘
Author	坂口安吾
Genre	War & Social Literature
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	Amidst the frenzied chaos of a World War II Special Attack base, young soldiers confront mortality through reckless abandon—drunken brawls, brothel visits, and desperate revelry. Among them, three men form fragile bonds: Myoushin, a temple-born misfit drawn to festivals; Yasukawa, an artist-turned-pilot entangled in a forbidden romance; and Kyoujiro, an enigmatic loner suppressing primal desires. Their lives intertwine with the Hoshino family—a widow and her daughters offering solace to doomed soldiers. As vows of sacrifice unravel into jealous rivalries and clandestine affairs, a volatile pact emerges: Tokiko, the youngest daughter, becomes an unwitting symbol of hope and obsession. When Japan surrenders, survival fractures their wartime camaraderie. Former comrades now clash over love and purpose, culminating in a violent reckoning. Yet Tokiko’s defiance forces them to confront their hollow bravado. Set against a backdrop of existential despair and raw humanity, this tale explores the blurred lines between sacrifice and selfishness, where liberation emerges not from death, but from shattered illusions.