Frank
Hello, this is Frank.
I’d like to share my thoughts on the short story collection by referencing a rather insightful review included at the end of the book.
Back in 1916, Hanamonogatari (Flower Tales), serialized in Shōjo Gahō magazine, became the bible for schoolgirls and turned Nobuko Yoshiya into a literary star. Though she rose to fame through her girl’s novels, Yoshiya felt deep frustration at being ignored by mainstream literary critics.
Could Onibi (literally “Will-o’-the-Wisp”) have been written under the weight of that silence?
“Before becoming a gas bill collector, Chūshichi had spent some time helping his uncle with a street stall selling sandal thongs. The gas collection job, which he got thanks to one of his uncle’s friends, suited him much better.”
Chūshichi took pride in his work, believing there was nothing shameful about earning a living honestly—even if it was through something as mundane as gas collections.
The story begins with him visiting a house where the gas bill hasn’t been paid for months. By the back door, a single tall stalk of shion (aster) sways in bloom—its pale purple flowers looking almost pitiful in the fading season. When Chūshichi enters the kitchen area, a woman in a simple string-tied outfit greets him.
“…I’m so sorry. My husband’s been sick for quite a while now…”
Chūshichi begins to see not just a customer but a *woman*. He threatens her with vulgar words, hinting, “If you let me have you, I’ll cover the gas bill for you.”
She resists: “…Not here, please. My husband is resting in the back…”
He waits for her at his own home, but she never shows up.
Days pass, and when he returns to the house for collection, what he finds is horrifying—
In today’s world of automated banking and faceless transactions, it’s rare to witness someone’s raw reality so closely. I can’t help but feel a certain sympathy for young people growing up without these glimpses into the harshness—and complexity—of everyday lives.
Pride turns to arrogance. Sorrow hardens into resentment. Work, women, and morality—this story gives you a lot to think about.
The writing meticulously evokes the atmosphere of its time. A truly immersive read.
*Shion* (Aster): A perennial from the Asteraceae family, blooming with pale purple flowers in autumn.
*Onibi*: Also known as will-o’-the-wisp, a bluish ghostly flame said to appear in graveyards and marshes at night. Sometimes associated with fox fire or phosphorescence.
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Thank you for reading today.
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