Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 火つけ彦七 |
|---|---|
| Author | 伊藤 野枝 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | In a remote village in northern Kyushu, a disheveled beggar collapses near a sacred grove, his gaunt frame and piercing gaze unsettling the children who encounter him. His presence heralds a series of inexplicable fires that ravage homes, plunging the community into panic. As suspicion mounts, the villagers capture the stranger, only to uncover a shocking truth: he is Hikoshichi, a man born in their own outcast hamlet decades prior. Shunned and tormented for his origins, Hikoshichi’s life spiraled into isolation and rage after enduring relentless discrimination. Now, emaciated and consumed by vengeance, he returns to unleash a fiery curse upon those who once scorned him. Flashbacks reveal a tragic past of systemic cruelty, betrayal, and a desperate quest for retribution that twists his soul. Yet the full depth of his wrath—and whether the flames will consume more than just buildings—remains ominously unresolved. This haunting tale weaves folklore and social critique, drawing readers into a world where oppression ignites an inferno of rebellion, leaving ashes of guilt and fear in its wake. |
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