Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Excrement TaleAuthor: Hino Ashihei
| Original Title | 糞尿譚 |
|---|---|
| Author | 火野 葦平 |
| Genre | War & Social Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a rural Japanese town simmering with political intrigue, Hikotarō Komori clings to his crumbling sanitation business—collecting human waste to sell as fertilizer—as both lifeline and obsession. Once a prosperous farmer, Hikotarō now navigates a world of debt and derision, haunted by failures that cost him family and land. His mantra, *“Just wait and see,”* fuels his defiance against mocking neighbors, corrupt officials, and rivals scheming to usurp his municipal contracts. Allies like Uhei, a gruff farmer battling his own demons, offer fleeting solidarity, while shadowy figures like political fixer Akase Harukichi dangle promises of salvation laced with hidden agendas. As tensions escalate—hostile villagers blockade waste pits, former collaborators betray him, and bureaucratic machinations threaten his last shred of dignity—Hikotarō’s resolve hardens into desperation. A visceral climax erupts in a grotesque act of rebellion, where excrement becomes both weapon and symbol of his fraying humanity. This gritty tale weaves themes of perseverance and societal decay, painting a raw portrait of a man drowning in refuse yet refusing to sink. |
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