Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
← Back
The Wife’s SeatAuthor: Tsuboi Sakae
| Original Title | 妻の座 |
|---|---|
| Author | 壺井 栄 |
| Genre | War & Social Literature |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | In post-war Tokyo, amidst the stark divide between Occupation forces’ pristine buildings and the lingering scars of bombed ruins, Mine navigates a world of literary aspirations and domestic burdens. Her husband Yūkichi, a poet, and Nomura, a novelist grieving his late wife, are bound by their pursuit of new artistic movements. When Nomura seeks a practical partner to manage his chaotic household, Mine proposes her sister Hiroko—a plain, dutiful woman in her forties who has long resigned herself to spinsterhood. Though Hiroko embraces her role as stepmother and homemaker with quiet resolve, Nomura’s heart remains tethered to memories of his elegant first wife. Mine watches helplessly as Hiroko’s tireless efforts to sew stability into their lives clash with Nomura’s unspoken yearning for a connection that transcends utility. Amidst literary debates and fragile alliances, unspoken tensions simmer: Can duty mend a rift woven from longing and loss? As autumn leaves fall, Mine confronts the cost of well-intentioned meddling in a world where love and obligation wear opposing faces. |
← Return to List← Return to TOP