慈悲心鳥The Bird of Compassion

What you'll learn

The host of a detective story gathering receives an express mail from his friend T, who cannot attend but sends a manuscript to be read aloud. T’s manuscript begins with a conversation between T (the narrator) and his friend Mori, who is about to leave on a trip. Mori mentions avoiding Nikko due to past unpleasantness and leaves a diary for T to read. T reads the diary, which describes Mori’s stay in Nikko in August years earlier, focusing on a young woman named Ofuyu and her father Rokubei, a wood-turning shop owner. The diary notes a suspicious young gentleman, Isogai, flirting with Ofuyu.

The diary continues: Mori learns from a newspaper reporter friend of a murder in Nikko—Isogai has been strangled near Ganman-ga-fuchi. The detective Orii suspects a woodworker possibly linked to a shop with many birdcages. Mori is questioned about the local wood-turning shop run by Rokubei. That night, Orii arrests Rokubei based on evidence (a cigarette box with wood shavings and a dead nestling). Mori becomes uneasy and goes to check on Ofuyu, but finds she has left; he rushes toward the gorge.

Mori follows Ofuyu to Ganman-ga-fuchi and prevents her from jumping. She confesses the whole story: Isogai had tricked her into going to his inn, where he assaulted her. Rokubei, in rage, cursed Isogai and stopped working. The diary ends abruptly as Mori remains in anguish.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～たれど（～たけれども） N1Old literary equivalent of ～たけれども (but/although). Used in written narratives.
  別に子細はなし、若いお冬さんの秘密を他に洩らすのがなんだか痛々しいような気がしたるためなり。他のことはみな正直に言いたれど、この事だけは暫く秘密を守れり。
• ～ず N3Classical negative form of ～ない (not). Often used in formal or literary writing.
  別に抵抗を試みたる形跡もなきは、その薄羽織の少しも破れざるを見ても察せられる。
• ～にて（で） N1Old literary form of ～で (at/in/with). Used in formal writing.
  予は正直に答えると、折井君はまた思案して「そのお冬というのはどんな女です。」と重ねて訊く。予は知っているだけのことを答えたり。

Cultural notes

• 慈悲心鳥 (Jihishinchō)A legendary bird from Nikko, considered a sacred 'compassion bird.' In the story, its egg is a rare and valuable object, leading to conflict.
• 含満ヶ渕 (Ganman-ga-fuchi)A famous deep pool in Nikko, known for its scenic and eerie atmosphere. In the story, it is the murder scene.
• 挽地物屋 (Hikijimono-ya)A shop that sells turned woodwork (wooden crafts made on a lathe). This is a traditional craft in Nikko, and the old man Rokubei runs such a shop.

Try a comprehension question

Read a sample in Japanese

Topics

Short Storymysteryghost storystorytellingsuspensefulphilosophicalaozora bunko