Pathway to Japanese Literature
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A Record of Longing for MotherAuthor: Tanizaki Junichirō
| Original Title | 母を恋うる記 |
|---|---|
| Author | 谷崎 潤一郎 |
| Genre | Children's Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | Under a ghostly moonlit sky, a young boy traverses a desolate coastal path, his once-privileged life shattered by sudden poverty. The night hums with eerie whispers—wind through pines, distant waves, and crackling lotus leaves in an ancient marsh. Once accustomed to silk and festivals, he now navigates darkness in tattered clothes, haunted by memories of lost friends and a vanished world. Strange encounters unfold: a harsh old woman denies him food, while a spectral figure with a shamisen weaves melodies of longing. Shadows stretch like living entities, and arc lamps cast stark revelations on his disheveled form. As he nears a flickering farmhouse, hope of reunion with his mother clashes with unsettling visions. Blurring dream and reality, the boy’s journey becomes a poignant odyssey through sorrow and fleeting comfort, where moonlight reveals both beauty and desolation, echoing the eternal ache of a child’s heart. |
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