Pathway to Japanese Literature

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

IllusionAuthor: Makino Shinichi

Original Title	まぼろし
Author	牧野信一
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	Beneath the languid glow of a seaside summer, a band of restless youths find themselves ensnared by the enigmatic allure of Yuriko—a radiant beauty who commands their adoration with effortless charm. Their days dissolve into debates over love and longing, punctuated by boisterous swims and feverish declarations to protect her virtue as self-appointed guardians. Yet Yuriko remains an elusive muse, weaving cryptic hints of affection that ignite rivalry and despair among her devotees. When whispers of her impending marriage surface, their fragile camaraderie fractures into jealousy and farcical schemes, culminating in a moonlit night of mistaken passion and humiliating revelation. As illusions shatter, the group’s fervor shifts to new obsessions, leaving behind the ghost of a romance that existed more in their collective imagination than reality. A haunting portrait of youth’s fleeting intensity, where desire and delusion blur against the timeless crash of waves.