Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
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| Original Title | 放浪者 |
|---|---|
| Author | 岸田 国士 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | A restless wanderer named F drifts through life with no fixed roots, his journey spanning continents from Japan to Europe. Once an aspiring painter chasing freedom, he now survives as a masseur, his hands a tool for both survival and storytelling. Reunited with an old friend after years abroad, F recounts his encounters with a mysterious polymath—a silver-tongued chameleon fluent in countless languages, who cons his way through Marseille brothels, Saigon villas, and Shanghai parlors. This enigmatic companion weaves elaborate lies with theatrical flair, impersonating aristocrats and scholars to charm mothers, daughters, and White Russian émigrés alike. Their escapades blur truth and deception across Port Said’s backstreets and colonial ballrooms, where every interaction becomes a high-stakes performance. But as their games grow riskier, shadows of violence and betrayal loom. F’s tales pulse with wit and danger, painting a world where identities are as fluid as borders—until one con spirals beyond control. A whirlwind of wanderlust, cunning, and unexpected consequences awaits those who dare to follow. |
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