Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
Hokusai and the GhostAuthor: Kunieda Shiro
| Original Title | 北斎と幽霊 |
|---|---|
| Author | 国枝 史郎 |
| Genre | Detective & Mystery |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the twilight of Edo-era Japan, a revered painter’s unyielding pride collides with political power when his masterpiece—a screen painting for Korean envoys—is deemed imperfect by a high-ranking official. Refusing to compromise his vision, the artist’s defiance spirals into tragedy, leaving behind a legacy of resentment. Enter a destitute former disciple, once exiled for his insolence, now peddling trinkets in snow-cloaked streets. Haunted by memories of his master’s downfall, he stumbles upon a gruesome scene that reignites his artistic fire. Years later, an unexpected commission from the very official who caused his mentor’s demise offers a chance for retribution. Channeling grief and fury into brushstrokes, the outcast painter crafts a spectral masterpiece—a visage so haunting it blurs the line between art and curse. As ink meets silk, a tale of vengeance unfolds, where creativity becomes a weapon and ghosts of the past demand their due. Amid poverty and obscurity, one man’s genius threatens to unravel the powerful, proving that even in death, artistry holds dominion over mortal pride. |
← Return to List← Return to TOP