Mist and Steam at Ikaho

In the weaving country around Ashikaga, a child loses his family through a disastrous entanglement of jealousy and deceit. As he grows, he resolves to find those responsible. His search leads into a world of hot-spring inns, wandering merchants, false identities, and dangerous promises, where an honest raftsman’s extraordinary strength can change the course of a life.

At Ikaho and Shima, generosity is easily mistaken for weakness, romance can become a trap, and apparently respectable travelers conceal disturbing histories. Yet chance meetings also bring rescue, friendship, and the possibility of a new household. Enchō lets comedy and suspense share the same room, moving between lively exchanges, sudden violence, and the storyteller’s direct address to his audience.

San’yūtei Enchō, a major master of Japanese storytelling, gives this intricate tale the intimacy of a voice heard aloud. This complete new English translation preserves all seventy-six sections, with concise notes on period customs, wordplay, and the Japanese text’s inconsistencies.