Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
Mercy BirdAuthor: Okamoto Kidō
| Original Title | 慈悲心鳥 |
|---|---|
| Author | 岡本 綺堂 |
| Genre | Detective & Mystery |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a secluded mountain town shrouded in summer storms and whispers of sacred birds, a traveler named Mori uncovers a haunting tale through a friend’s diary. Entangled in the mystery are Rokubei, a reclusive woodturner obsessed with rare birds; his daughter Otoh, whose ghostly pallor hints at unspeakable trauma; and Isogai, a wealthy heir whose cruelty ignites a chain of violence. When Isogai is found strangled near a thunderous abyss, suspicion falls on Rokubei—but dark secrets unravel. A caged hatchling, a torn wallet, and Otoh’s desperate flight through tempests weave a web of vengeance and guilt. As detectives hunt for answers, Mori grapples with Otoh’s fragile truth and Rokubei’s shadowy past. What binds the Mercy Bird—a mythical creature of local lore—to this tragedy? And will Otoh’s silent suffering drown in the echoes of the abyss? Atmospheric and layered with moral ambiguity, this tale blurs the line between justice and retribution, leaving readers to ponder what truths remain buried in Nikko’s mist-cloaked peaks. |
← Return to List← Return to TOP