Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 果樹 |
|---|---|
| Author | 水上 滝太郎 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In late September, Shinkichi and Otoki—a reserved, newlywed couple—escape the stifling formality of their rented room above a tobacco shop for a tranquil temple cottage in Tokyo. Shinkichi, a diligent bank clerk with rural roots, finds solace in the temple’s lush gardens, teaching his wife the names of trees and insects with tender enthusiasm. Otoki, though initially overwhelmed by the meddlesome Priest’s Wife, discovers joy in her husband’s quiet wisdom and their shared intimacy. Their peace is tested when local children raid the temple’s persimmon tree, which the Priest’s Wife fiercely guards, insisting its fruit is inedible. Yet when gifted the harvested persimmons, the couple finds them sweet—exposing her petty deceit. As autumn deepens, Otoki reveals her pregnancy, intertwining their hopes with quiet anxieties. Amidst rustling leaves and stolen moments, their bond flourishes, yet shadows linger: the Priest’s Wife’s scrutiny, financial fragility, and the bittersweet knowledge that even Eden has its serpents. |
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