Sumidagawa Shinjuu

Two men, each struggling in their own way, form an unexpected bond. Kumada, a former rakugo performer turned gang member, and Ogawa, an uneducated man limited to simple speech, find common ground in their shared sense of failure. Their journey explores their search for identity, connection, and love. Additional stories in the volume include a tale of grief and verse from the early Shōwa period, a story about brothers who remain emotionally apart despite their closeness, and a narrative that questions the true intentions of a seemingly ideal woman.