暗い花Dark Flower

What you'll learn

Fusae goes to the public bath in the morning, where she meets other women who chat about a recent abduction case. After the bath, she returns to her apartment and is surprised by her mother's visit. Her mother wants to discuss moving the family to Tokyo, but Fusae resists, revealing her past and current life as a prostitute.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～やうに (archaic ように) N1Archaic form of ように, meaning 'like' or 'as if'.
  いつものやうに、ハンカチーフ一枚で朝湯に飛び込んだ。
• ～てゐる (archaic ている) N1Archaic form of ている, indicating ongoing state or action.
  小太りな、眞白い躯を石けんで流してゐた。
• ～つもりだ (intention) N4Expresses intention to do something.
  電報でも打つて來るつもりだつたが、急に話があつて來たンだで
• ～とする (try to) N3Indicates an attempt or decision to do something.
  思ひつきり脚を高くあげてみたりして遊んでゐる。
• ～てしまう (completion with regret) N4Expresses that an action is completed, often with regret or finality.
  すつかり人が變つてしまつた。

Cultural notes

• Post-war Bathhouse CulturePublic bathhouses (銭湯) were common places for socializing and cleaning, especially before private baths became widespread. The novel depicts women using the bathhouse in the early morning, highlighting its role in daily life.
• Prostitution in Post-war JapanAfter WWII, many women turned to prostitution to survive. The story depicts Fusae as a street prostitute, reflecting the social issues of the time.
• Family Obligations and Rural-Urban MigrationThe mother's visit represents the tension between traditional family expectations and the harsh realities of urban life. The discussion about moving to Tokyo illustrates the challenges of rural-urban migration.

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Topics

Short Storymysteryescapemurdermelancholyeerieaozora bunko