The Old Mirror and Other Writings

An aging woman leaves an old mirror behind, and a younger narrator struggles to understand the claims of compassion. In a licensed pleasure quarter, money, debt, and fear shape the lives of women whose bodies are treated as property. A gravely ill activist finds tenderness among comrades while institutions demand documents and fees. A dead worker’s feet awaken memories of a poor foster family and the search for happiness in the city.

These seven complete writings move from reported incidents to intimate stories, remembered childhood, and a journalist’s account of earning her living. Oxen straining up a hill, a mother offering to give away her baby, and a grandmother’s carefully counted savings become images of effort and unequal care. The voices remain searching, sometimes harsh, and unwilling to offer easy resolutions.

Wakasugi Toriko (1892–1937) wrote about women’s lives, labor, and poverty in modern Japan. This new English collection preserves the works’ different forms, original headings, and difficult judgments, with concise explanatory notes. AI-assisted translation, prepared and edited by Valentin Sarić.