Pathway to Japanese Literature

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

The Legend of Sarugakyō's One-Eared ManAuthor: Kunieda Shiro

Original Title	猿ヶ京片耳伝説
Author	国枝史郎
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the mist-shrouded mountains of 1819 Gunma, a samurai’s wife writhes in agony from an inexplicable earache, forcing her party to seek refuge at Kikyōya, a secluded hot spring inn nestled in Sarugakyō’s rugged basin. As cherry blossoms drift onto palanquins, whispers unfold among guests: tales of a disgraced one-eared samurai turned ruthless bandit, Mikuni Pass’ Gon, whose hatred for women and society festers from betrayal and injustice. Meanwhile, Oran—the innkeeper’s spirited daughter, days from her wedding—encounters a masked stranger in the bathhouse. His imposing frame and concealed face hint at danger, yet his awkward shyness and cryptic gratitude challenge her assumptions. When hunters storm Kikyōya to capture the infamous fugitive, Oran’s unwavering compassion sparks an unexpected reckoning. Amid echoing flute signals and moonlit chases, past sins and fragile humanity collide, leaving trails of redemption in the steam-filled air. Will mercy unravel a lifetime of vengeance? The mountains hold their breath.