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

| Original Title | 重吉漂流紀聞 |
|---|---|
| Author | 久生 十蘭 |
| Genre | War & Social Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In 1813, Shigekichi, a young helmsman from rural Japan, is thrust into command of a storm-battered ship carrying vital cargo. Tasked with navigating treacherous seas, he faces not only nature’s fury but a crew unraveling under despair. Superstition and mutiny simmer as men clash over dwindling hope, their fraying unity threatening survival. Drifting for years across uncharted waters, they endure starvation, madness, and haunting isolation, their bonds tested by relentless adversity. A fleeting rescue by foreign sailors offers fleeting relief, only to strand them farther from home in alien lands. Through cultural divides and icy northern frontiers, Shigekichi’s resolve anchors the group, even as ghosts of guilt and sacrifice loom. This epic odyssey—a tapestry of human resilience and the cost of leadership—unfolds against vast, indifferent oceans, where every wave whispers the fragile line between salvation and oblivion. Will determination outlast the abyss? |