Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
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| Original Title | 木曾川 |
|---|---|
| Author | 北原 白秋 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | A father and his young son embark on a journey along the Kisogawa River, where sweltering August heat hums with cicadas and history whispers from ancient stones. Five-year-old Taketarou, straw hat askew and eyes wide, clutches his father’s hand as they cross an iron bridge toward Inuyama Castle—a white-plastered relic perched like a heron amid emerald hills. The river sprawls beneath them, swollen with rain, its currents mirroring storm clouds that bruise the horizon. \nThrough mulberry fields and lotus-scented paddies, they explore a land where past and present blur: boatmen pole through rapids, hawks cling to primordial cliffs, and fireworks ignite the night sky in chrysanthemum bursts. Taketarou’s wonder is palpable—a child’s first taste of independence, his small hands fumbling with buttons and chopsticks, his laughter echoing under castle keeps. Yet shadows linger—the father’s quiet reflections on fleeting time, a mother’s absence, and the river’s relentless flow, carving stories into stone. \nBeneath crescent moons and cicada choruses, their journey unfolds—a tapestry of fleeting beauty, whispered legends, and the unspoken bond between parent and child. What mysteries await beyond the next bend? |
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