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The Old VeterinarianAuthor: Itō Sachio
| Original Title | 老獣医 |
|---|---|
| Author | 伊藤 左千夫 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a quiet town marked by modest dwellings and whispered struggles, an aging veterinarian named Kasuya grapples with a life unraveling at the seams. Once a respected figure at the forefront of livestock innovation, time has eroded his relevance, leaving him adrift in a world now dominated by younger, academically trained successors. His clinic—a cramped space cluttered with animal crates—reflects both his dwindling fortunes and the weight of unspoken regrets. \nKasuya’s home life mirrors this desolation. His wife, once buoyed by dreams of status, now moves like a shadow, her silent resentment etched into gaunt features. Their children, caught in the crossfire of unmet expectations, drift into rebellion and disappointment. A son’s defiance sparks explosive confrontations, laying bare years of fractured bonds and simmering despair. \nYet glimmers of connection persist. Nishida, a compassionate livestock farmer, becomes an unexpected anchor, offering practical aid and fragile hope. Through fragmented memories, Kasuya’s past emerges—a tapestry of ambition, marital detachment, and the cruel irony of being outpaced by progress. \nAs winter looms, tensions crescendo: a family teeters on collapse, a prized cow falls ill, and long-buried sorrows surface. Can resilience mend what time has broken, or will resignation claim them all? The answer lingers in the cold air, as delicate as the click-clack of Go stones echoing through sleepless nights. |
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