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Kokin Wakashū Volume FiveAuthor: Yamamoto Shūgorō
| Original Title | 古今集巻之五 |
|---|---|
| Author | 山本 周五郎 |
| Genre | War & Social Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In 18th-century feudal Japan, respected samurai Nagai Kazue prepares for a prestigious promotion amid whispers of his abandoned swordsmanship career. At a farewell banquet with lifelong comrades—a mix of high-ranking officials and childhood friends—tensions surface over his choices, particularly from his former mentor who laments their domain’s declining martial prowess. Yet Nagai’s calm demeanor masks deeper shadows: his family’s fall from grace years prior and a marriage shrouded in secrecy. \nThe night unravels further when Nagai’s young wife, Sugie, is found dead by suicide, her motives inexplicable. A single poetry anthology lies hidden beneath her pillow—*Kokin Wakashū*, Volume Five—its pages hinting at unspoken longings. As Nagai departs for Edo, grief and suspicion corrode his once-stoic resolve. Letters from allies reveal his spiraling turmoil: reckless behavior, fractured friendships, and a growing obsession with Sugie’s cryptic final act. \nReturning home, Nagai confronts veiled truths about loyalty and betrayal in a society where honor eclipses emotion. Whispers of forbidden connections and a haunting encounter with a mysterious scholar force him to choose between vengeance and the burdens of duty. Secrets bleed through ink-stained pages, challenging every bond he thought unbreakable. |
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