Pathway to Japanese Literature

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Original Title	曲亭馬琴
Author	邦枝 完二
Genre	Historical Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the bustling Edo, a gaunt, unkempt young man named Bakin scrapes by as a failed doctor and fortune-teller. But a chance encounter with a celebrated playwright's work ignites a spark, compelling him to abandon his old life and pursue the precarious path of a writer. With nothing but fierce resolve and a promise to subsist on a single bowl of rice a day, Bakin boldly approaches the renowned Santo Kyoden, seeking tutelage. While Kyoden challenges his commitment, offering only a reluctant, informal mentorship, a deeper, more venomous opposition emerges in Kyoden’s own brother, Kyōzan. This rival, brimming with contempt, hurls insults and literally filth at Bakin, determined to crush his ambition. Can Bakin’s unwavering spirit withstand the scorn, poverty, and direct sabotage from within the very literary circle he hopes to join?