The Spirit Drum Read online

  Furthermore, the Takabayashi family had previously suffered the disappearance of the next successor, Seijiro, so details about Kyuya were kept secret, but at the time of the heinous crime the memorial tablets of Kyuya’s brother-in-law Seijiro and his parents were boldly laid out beside the victim’s bed along with incense, an action which proves the connection with Kyuya…

  ***

  When I read this, I realized that there was absolutely no way to escape these allegations against me. If I blamed the drum, who would believe me? As I wrote this I have been reflecting on how strange a world we live in. And now I’ve finally finished.

  I wish to immediately smash this drum to pieces and end my life. The resentment held by my ancestor Kuno Otomaru was recently put to rest thanks to the old master. This drum, now an empty shell of that resentment, and its bloodline will disappear from this world as of today. I have absolutely no regrets.

  Yet when I think that I was born just to leave behind this brief tale of fate, it feels as if everything were a dream.

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my wife for all her support on this project. I would also like to thank M. McCarn for assistance with proofreading, as well as all the native Japanese speakers who helped to confirm the meaning of the original Japanese text in a few places, especially Mizuhiro Kaimai who answered a number of questions.

  Finally, I would like to express thanks to Kyusaku Yumeno’s grandson, Matsumaru Sugiyama, for providing me with much valuable information, including details about Yumeno and his works.

  Other Works

  The below works were also translated and published by J. D. Wisgo:

  1) Science: Hopes & Fears [Juza Unno: The Father of Japanese Science Fiction]

  *Volume 1: Selected Stories

  *Volume 2: Eighteen O’Clock Music Bath (a dystopian novella)

  2) Tales of the Disturbed [by Yoshio Toyoshima] (dark and introspective stories from a contemporary and close friend of Osamu Dazai)

  3) Classic Japanese Fairy Tales: Mimei Ogawa: The Father of Modern Japanese Fairy Tales

  *Volume 1

  *Volume 2

  (Both volumes contain English versions as well as parallel English/Japanese versions of the stories)

  For tips on learning Japanese, reviews of Japanese books, and announcements about upcoming releases, please see: http://www.selftaughtjapanese.com/