Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 水族館 |
|---|---|
| Author | 堀 辰雄 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the bustling, intoxicating world of Asakusa Park, an unnamed observer finds his nightly routine of watching the dancers at Casino Folie shattered. His ordinary existence as a detached spectator takes a dark turn when a mysterious summons leads him to a clandestine meeting with his distraught young friend, Hata. Hata confesses a desperate, unrequited love for Komatsu Yōko, one of the casino’s enigmatic dancers, and reveals a shocking secret about her other admirer—a striking, cross-dressing figure who soon spirals into a terrifying obsession. As the narrator delves deeper into this triangle of desire and delusion, he witnesses a descent into madness, stalking through moonlit streets and shadowy inns, feeling an unsettling premonition of impending tragedy. The lines between admirer and stalker, passion and peril, blur dangerously, threatening to consume all involved in a chilling cascade of events. What dark secrets lie beneath the glittering facade of Asakusa's entertainment district? |
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