Pathway to Japanese Literature

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Original Title	和紙
Author	東野辺 薫
Genre	Modern Short Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the secluded Kami-Kawasaki Village, where life revolves around the arduous, ancient art of washi papermaking, Tomota—a returned soldier—finds his quiet existence upended. A letter arrives from Toshie, his deployed brother Soukichi's pregnant lover, thrusting upon Tomota a secret burden. He must navigate family scandal, the demanding rhythm of their craft, and the crushing pressures of wartime scarcity, all while shielding Toshie and her unborn child from judgment and the echoes of his own family's past. But as tragedy strikes and a second draft notice calls him back to the front, Tomota faces an impossible choice. Can he ensure his family's survival, protect those he loves, and preserve the legacy of washi against a backdrop of war and personal sacrifice, or will everything he holds dear crumble?