Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

Delinquent ChildAuthor: Kasai Zenzō

Original Title	不良児
Author	葛西善蔵
Genre	War & Social Literature
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	A troubled father grapples with his son’s sudden rebellion in this haunting tale of fractured bonds and buried guilt. When fourteen-year-old F vanishes after skipping school, his absence unravels a web of lies: forged apprenticeships, stolen watches, and shadowy delinquents. The father, already burdened by illness and estrangement from his family, retraces F’s steps through mistrustful towns, police interrogations, and his own tormented memories of childhood shame. As rumors swirl and tensions mount, every revelation—a hidden night in a temple storeroom, a desperate plea to a Zushi pharmacist—deepens the mystery. Is F a victim of manipulation, or a cunning architect of his own downfall? The father’s search becomes a mirror, reflecting his failures and the corrosive weight of expectation. With graduation looming and time slipping away, their fragile world teeters between redemption and ruin. Can truth mend what lies broken, or will the ghosts of the past consume them both? A poignant exploration of guilt, love, and the shadows we inherit.