Pathway to Japanese Literature

← Back

• View English Version
• View Japanese Version

Original Title	生い立ちの記
Author	小山 清
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the vibrant, tumultuous dawn of Taisho Japan, young Kiyoshi Koyama’s world is a vivid tapestry. He navigates a unique childhood, from his blind father’s captivating Bunraku performances to the bustling, complex family life nestled on the edge of Tokyo’s Yoshiwara district. His days are filled with the fierce love of his mother, the antics of his brother, and the rich, sometimes unsettling, textures of an extended family bound by tradition and secrets. Then, the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake strikes, tearing apart the very fabric of his existence. Homes are reduced to ash, and Kiyoshi’s beloved younger brother vanishes, leaving a void of unfathomable grief. Displaced and grappling with loss, Kiyoshi begins to uncover the unspoken truths of his mother’s own difficult past, casting a new light on his understanding of love, family, and survival. How does a child forge an identity when the world around him, and the family within it, are constantly shifting and scarred by tragedy?