The Sun Shines

Hiroshi is a young clerk in a Tokyo shop, still bound to his employer by the cost of his education. He writes, dreams and sends what little money he can spare to a family struggling under illness and poverty. His friendship with Yōnosuke, a young man devoted to stern ideals, offers companionship but also exposes the distance between moral ambition and the pressures of daily survival.

At home, pride makes affection difficult to express. His sister Osaki’s suffering and her fierce love for her son bring the family toward a crisis that good intentions alone cannot prevent. Hiroshi must learn how to endure without abandoning either his tenderness or his resolve.

First published in 1917, The Sun Shines examines courage, dependence and the limits of parental love. This complete English translation retains all eighteen supplied sections, the remembered counting song and the unresolved lives beyond its final scene. Translator notes address adopted names, historical beliefs, rare characters and unusual source wording. AI-assisted translation.