四月馬鹿April Fool

What you'll learn

The narrator describes a dirty, eccentric man crossing Ebisu Bridge, who turns out to be the author Takeda. Takeda frequents a café named 'Castanien' due to his infatuation with a waitress named Ikuko. Ikuko eventually asks Takeda to convey her feelings to another man, causing Takeda to drink heavily and get into a fight with a taxi driver.

The narrator recounts visiting Takeda's home in 1940, where Takeda tells the story from Chapter 1. The room is filled with journalists. Takeda shows off a unique watch, then later fakes a rumor about going to Manchuria. The narrator later finds a similar watch at a night stall and buys it, but never sends it. Later, the narrator visits Takeda again at a printing office where Takeda is forced to write an essay, but he tries to escape and eventually tricks the editor with blank paper.

One year later, Takeda goes south (to war) and a rumor spreads that he was eaten by a crocodile. The narrator finds it hard to believe and thinks it's more likely Takeda ate the crocodile.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～ては～ては N2Repeated actions; 'kept doing'
  書きては消し、消しては書き、を繰り返した。
• ～かと思うと N3As soon as; no sooner than
  彼は机にうつ伏したかと思うと、鼾をかき出した。
• ～が最後 N1Once something happens, it's inevitable
  アルコールがはいったが最後、彼はへべれけになる。
• ～てやまない N1Cannot stop doing; sincere feeling
  私は武田さんの才能を賞賛してやまない。

Cultural notes

• 私小説 (I-Novel)A Japanese literary genre where the author writes directly about their own experiences, often blending fiction and autobiography. The text discusses how Takeda's stories appear to be I-novels but may be fictional.
• 泉鏡花 (Kyoka Izumi)A famous Japanese author known for his literary style and ghost stories. The text compares Takeda's artificial ghosts to Kyoka's real ghosts.
• 大阪の繁華街 (Osaka Downtown Area)The story mentions specific Osaka locations like Ebisu Bridge (戎橋), Shinsaibashi (心斎橋), and Dotonbori area, reflecting the local color of the city.

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Topics

Short Storywritingfriendshipphilosophicalnostalgicaozora bunko