人を呪わばThe Curse

What you'll learn

Ichijo Hiroshi, a journalist, meets a woman named Okimi late at night, helps her evade police, and ends up staying with her, only to discover the next day that his rival newspaper scooped a big story he missed.

Ichijo goes drinking with friends, meets his rival Ota who mocks him, then visits the same woman's place only to find a different woman, and again stays out all night, getting scooped a second time and eventually fired.

The story reveals that Ota had set up the women to distract Ichijo, and after Ichijo returns Okimi's money, she feels offended. Three months later, Ota's writing declines without competition, and he too is fired, having dug both his and Ichijo's grave.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• 〜て了う N4Emphasizes completion or regret (てしまう colloquial variant)
  寄って了う。
• 〜と云う N3Direct quotation or hearsay (to say)
  「妹だと云ってね」
• 〜に過ぎる N2Excessive; too much (used after 〜に/〜と)
  詩人にしては記者に過ぎる
• 〜ずくめ N1Everything is ...; full of ... (often used with colors or negative things)
  どうした――、え、昨日は？

Cultural notes

• Pre-war Newspaper RivalryIn early 20th century Japan, newspaper companies fiercely competed for scoops. Reporters like Ichijo and Ota used various tactics, including informants and deception, to get exclusive stories. The '素破抜き' (scooping) was a common term for this.
• 私娼 and 私娼俱楽部Prostitution was illegal in prewar Japan except in licensed quarters. '私娼' were unlicensed prostitutes operating secretly. '私娼俱楽部' were clandestine brothels disguised as clubs, often frequented by journalists and other night owls.
• News Reporters and Police RelationsJournalists and police often had a cooperative, if informal, relationship. Reporters relied on police contacts for tips, while police could use journalists for their own purposes. The story shows this with the plainclothes officers letting the couple pass.

Try a comprehension question

Read a sample in Japanese

Topics

Short Storymysterycurseflightsuspensefuldarkaozora bunko