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Jirokichi's LatticeAuthor: Yoshikawa Eiji
| Original Title | 治郎吉格子 |
|---|---|
| Author | 吉川 英治 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the fading heat of autumn, a notorious thief emerges from self-imposed exile, his pulse attuned to danger even in Arima’s tranquil hot springs. Jirokichi—infamous as Edo’s Rat Boy—abandons his charade of convalescence, trailed by Osen, a devoted bathhouse attendant whose fragile hopes clash with his restless spirit. Drawn to Osaka’s labyrinthine streets, their uneasy alliance unravels as Jirokichi confronts Osen’s brother Nikichi, a barber with yakuza ties and a debt that binds her to exploitation. Amidst the clatter of shogi games and whispered deals in smoky shops, another figure emerges: Okino, a destitute hair-cord seller haunted by a stolen inheritance tied to Jirokichi’s past. As gold circulates like poison and shadows deepen, the thief’s whimsical recklessness collides with grim consequences—a sickbed murder, vanished fortunes, and the specter of magistrates closing in. Between fleeting tenderness and betrayals, Jirokichi navigates a world where loyalty is currency and every alley hides blades or salvation. Yet even a rat’s instincts may falter when love and vengeance wear the same face. |
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