Tōkōin Temple and Other Stories

A man and a woman revisit a childhood bond beneath the trees of a country temple. Familiar places stir old memories, while their conversations reveal the lives they have led apart and the uneasy possibilities of their reunion.

In “The Death Penalty,” an Osaka magistrate who once questioned executions discovers their usefulness after acquiring power. His favorite physician tells stories of official arrogance, worldly corruption, and his own small victories, until a late-night conversation takes a darker turn.

“Conger Eel Skin” follows Ofumi through a busy evening at her restaurant. A letter from her absent husband unsettles her family, and an outing with her uncle brings private longing into conflict with the discipline she demands at work.