Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
Three Villains' TaleAuthor: Yamamoto Shūgorō
| Original Title | 三悪人物語 |
|---|---|
| Author | 山本 周五郎 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In medieval Japan’s once-thriving port of Sakai—a city likened to Venice for its independence—oppression now reigns under Tokugawa rule. Ravaged by war and choked by draconian laws, its citizens endure starvation and despair as corrupt officials and merchants hoard wealth behind walls of greed. Amid this decay, three ragged outcasts—Chūjō, Gondō, and Moku—scrape by as thieves, their swords turned to petty crime. Yet their latest scheme unravels into a web of supernatural intrigue when they target a mysterious silversmith’s home, only to find themselves ensnared by enchanted gold and a cunning plot far beyond their grasp. Meanwhile, a shadowy figure, Tamatsukuri Yaosuke, moves through Sakai’s underworld, orchestrating a silent rebellion against the city’s tyrants. As forbidden goods vanish from guarded warehouses and hope flickers in the slums, the trio becomes pawns in a dangerous game where gold burns, blades refuse to draw, and liberation dances just out of reach. Will survival harden them into villains—or unwitting heroes? |
← Return to List← Return to TOP