Pathway to Japanese Literature

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Taira no MasakadoAuthor: Yoshikawa Eiji

Original Title	平の将門
Author	吉川英治
Genre	Historical Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the untamed wilderness of Bandō Plain, fourteen-year-old Sōma no Kojirō grapples with grief and betrayal after his father’s sudden death. Once a spirited heir to vast lands and herds, he now navigates a world turned cold under the greed of his uncles, who plunder his inheritance and scorn his bond with Emishi Hagi, an enslaved Ainu girl whose forbidden affection becomes his sole solace. Branded a disgrace, Kojirō retreats to windswept pastures, finding kinship among horses as political machinations tighten around him. When his uncles exile him to the distant capital under the guise of education, Kojirō embarks on a perilous journey—unaware of the lethal schemes trailing him. Amidst volcanic plumes and ash-strewn roads, he glimpses a fractured society where opulence masks rot, and survival demands shedding innocence. As he approaches Kyoto’s glittering gates, whispers of rebellion and destiny stir within him, hinting at a future where this wild-hearted boy may defy empires. But for now, he walks—a pawn in a game of power, clutching secrets that could unravel a dynasty.