Pathway to Japanese Literature

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

Lonely Trance on the SlopeAuthor: Makino Shinichi

Original Title	坂道の孤独参昧
Author	牧野信一
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	Junzo is a young man paralyzed by inertia, trapped in a cycle of self-reproach and procrastination. Despite receiving funds for a trip to Atami—a journey he hopes will cleanse his warped emotions and reignite his creative spark—he delays departure repeatedly, wallowing in guilt and daydreams. His relationships are equally fraught: Nobuko, a woman he idealizes yet manipulates with petty mind games, becomes both a lifeline and a mirror reflecting his insecurities. Haunted by past entanglements with Teruko, an older lover who left him emotionally scarred, Junzo oscillates between yearning for redemption and sabotaging his chances at genuine connection. Evenings dissolve into restless walks and hollow banter, while nights spiral into drunken escapades with friends who amplify his recklessness. As departure looms, Junzo teeters between hope and self-destruction, clinging to fantasies of renewal yet doubting his capacity for change. Will Atami offer liberation, or will he remain ensnared by the same patterns that hollow out his days? A haunting portrait of longing and paralysis unfolds, where every step toward freedom feels like a battle against an invisible tide.