Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 空の赤きを見て |
|---|---|
| Author | 岸田 国士 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a cramped Tokyo household, an ailing patriarch’s final wish fractures his family’s fragile stability. Bedridden Shūzō longs to return to his rural hometown to die, burdening his devoted son Shūichi with securing funds for the journey. Tensions simmer as Shūichi disappears overnight, leaving his wife Kaneko and sister Miyo to navigate rising anxieties. Miyo resents her brother’s sacrifices for their father’s “selfish” demands, while Kaneko mediates with weary compassion. Their strained routines unravel further when a company superior arrives—money has vanished from Shūichi’s workplace, implicating him and an absent colleague. As twilight stains the sky crimson, Shūichi returns exhausted, evading questions about the missing funds. Meanwhile, Shūzō’s condition deteriorates, his coughs punctuating whispered arguments about obligation and guilt. A doctor’s grim prognosis forces the family to confront looming loss, their unresolved conflicts clashing with grief. Unspoken truths about loyalty, desperation, and the cost of love linger in the shadows of the dimming sickroom, where every breath could be a farewell. |
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