Pathway to Japanese Literature
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Women Are All Alike: A StoryAuthor: Yamamoto Shūgorō
| Original Title | 女は同じ物語 |
|---|---|
| Author | 山本 周五郎 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a rigid samurai household bound by tradition, Kōichirō, the dutiful son of a high-ranking official, resists an arranged marriage, claiming disdain for women. His cunning mother, Sawa, devises a plan: assigning Yono—a graceful, seventeen-year-old maid—to attend him, hoping to awaken his interest. Yet as Kōichirō’s frosty demeanor thaws, he discovers Yono’s quiet beauty, her gentle voice, and an unexpected kinship that blossoms into forbidden affection. Secret glances and hushed conversations ignite a tender bond, defying societal hierarchies. But shadows loom—Sawa’s disapproval, a drunken rival’s threats, and the specter of duty. When Yono vanishes abruptly, leaving only a cryptic vow to return, Kōichirō is torn between filial obedience and yearning. Set against autumn’s fading leaves and whispered hot-spring trysts, this tale weaves tension between desire and decorum, where love challenges centuries of custom, and every stolen moment risks unraveling carefully woven lives. Will loyalty to lineage extinguish their fragile flame, or can devotion rewrite fate? |
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