Pathway to Japanese Literature

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

BlindnessAuthor: Shimaki Kensaku

Original Title	盲目
Author	島木健作
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In a dim prison cell, Koga navigates a world of perpetual darkness after losing his sight to a tragic accident. Confined to a cramped space, he fills endless days with repetitive rituals—twisting coarse toilet paper into fragile strands, pacing measured steps, and straining to interpret sounds echoing through cold corridors. His isolation is punctuated by fleeting human connections: a guarded visit from Attorney Sato, who brings news of an impending appeal trial; memories of his estranged wife, Misako; and fragments of a past life as an activist now reduced to whispers. Through heightened senses, Koga clings to fragments of the outside world—the warmth of autumn sunlight, sparrows’ chirps forecasting weather, and the rustle of withered flowers. Yet beneath his fragile composure simmers unresolved turmoil—shame, longing, and the specter of madness. As legal proceedings loom, Koga’s resilience is tested by forces both external and within, weaving a haunting portrait of dignity eroded by despair and the tenuous hope that flickers even in blindness.