Pathway to Japanese Literature

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A Model of a Virtuous Woman (One Act)Author: Kishida Kunio

See Author Details Here：Wiki (Kishida Kunio)

Original Title	賢婦人の一例（一幕）
Author	岸田国士
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In a traditional Tokyo parlor warmed by crackling charcoal, a delicate social ritual unfolds beneath winter’s chill. Mrs. Hashimoto, a poised mediator, orchestrates an arranged meeting between Noboru Atsumi—a skeptical bachelor in his thirties—and Yumiko Shizuma, a demure young woman accompanied by her father. Polite exchanges about gardens and shogi games mask simmering tensions as Noboru resists societal expectations, questioning the value of marrying a "proper young lady" he deems unripe. His barbed wit and veiled complaints about age gaps hint at deeper discontent, while Mrs. Hashimoto counters with practiced grace, defending tradition even as their charged banter reveals an unspoken history. When the Shizumas depart, Noboru’s restrained facade crumbles, confessing forbidden feelings that threaten to upend decorum. Left alone with the consequences, Mrs. Hashimoto’s enigmatic smile lingers—a silent testament to sacrifices made and desires buried. This taut one-act drama weaves razor-sharp dialogue with unspoken longing, exposing the quiet rebellions beneath Japan’s Taishō-era propriety.