Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
| Original Title | 十三夜 |
|---|---|
| Author | 尾崎 士郎 |
| Genre | War & Social Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In December 1941, Manila’s tranquil veneer fractures as whispers of war ripple through the Japanese expatriate community. Amid swaying coconut palms and American warships anchored offshore, office workers like the unnamed protagonist brace for an unthinkable reality. Colleagues exchange grim glances during emergency meetings, evacuation plans are hastily unveiled, and the specter of internment looms. Tensions crescendo when radio broadcasts confirm Japan’s attack—Manila erupts in chaos as arrests begin, shops are looted, and families are torn apart. \nForced into a crowded internment camp, hundreds endure hunger, air raids, and the crushing weight of uncertainty. Mothers ration rice balls for children, a newborn’s cry pierces bomb-scarred nights, and makeshift leaders cling to fading dignity under armed guard. Yet flickers of resilience emerge: shared memories of home, clandestine radio updates, and fleeting solidarity beneath enemy planes streaking across Philippine skies. \nAs days blur into survival rituals, the prisoners’ resolve is tested by dwindling supplies, invasive searches, and rumors of distant battles. Between moments of despair and defiant hope, ordinary lives unravel—revealing raw humanity in the shadow of war’s inexorable march. |
← Return to List← Return to TOP