Pathway to Japanese Literature

← Back

• View English Version
• View Japanese Version

Original Title	煤煙の匂ひ
Author	宮地 嘉六
Genre	War & Social Literature
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	Maruta, a man adrift in a desolate harbor town, clings to a grueling factory job while battling his own restless spirit and the oppressive realities of labor. His monotonous existence is irrevocably changed when a chance encounter at the wharf with a captivating young mother leads to her unexpected arrival at his lodging. Her presence ignites a forbidden hope, binding him to a settled future he desperately desires but fears he can never achieve. As his illicit feelings deepen, the harsh realities of his exploitative labor and society's rigid grip tighten. A chilling summons from the Kempeitai unearths not only his neglect of duty but also accusations of "indecent notions" towards a married woman, escalating the stakes dramatically. Maruta must confront the suffocating weight of his circumstances and his own heart, or risk crumbling under the oppressive soot of his world.