Pathway to Japanese Literature
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O-Mitsu’s HairpinAuthor: Yamamoto Shūgorō
| Original Title | お美津簪 |
|---|---|
| Author | 山本 周五郎 |
| Genre | War & Social Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the shadowed corners of Edo’s underworld, Shōkichi—a once-promising merchant—clings to life as a consumptive criminal, haunted by memories of O-Mitsu, the gentle younger daughter of his former master. Bound to O-Mon, a ruthless woman who ensnared him in a life of deceit, he dreams of escape and redemption. A desperate plan to return home to Nagasaki drives him into a night of chaos: police raids, violent confrontations, and a fateful break-in that reunites him with the family he betrayed. Amid winter’s biting cold and swirling moral decay, Shōkichi’s resolve to reclaim his humanity collides with O-Mitsu’s undying loyalty, culminating in a tragic act of sacrifice. Yamamoto Shūgorō weaves a tale of forbidden love and divine retribution, where fleeting moments of tenderness pierce through layers of guilt, and every choice echoes with the weight of irreversible consequences. A haunting portrait of a man racing against time, seeking grace in a world that offers none. |
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