This charming and engrossing work, awarded the prestigious Naoki Prize in early 2024, comprises two novellas set against the rich history and geography of Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, a pair of coming-of-age tales that expertly interweave the universality of youth with enigmatic mysteries rooted in the city’s unique history.
In December Marathon on the Capital Circuit, Sakato, a first-year substitute in her school’s relay club, unexpectedly finds herself competing in the All-Japan High School Ekiden Championship after a teammate withdraws due to a medical condition. Initially overwhelmed, she ultimately completes her leg of the race after glimpsing a group that appears to be the Shinsengumi, an elite group of swordsmen active in 1860s Japan toward the end of the Shogunate. Later, during a post-race exploration of Kyoto, she encounters Niina Aragaki, another competitor who claims to have also witnessed the mysterious figures and with whom Sakato forges a new friendship.
In August Echoes at the Imperial Palace Pitch, Kuchiki, reeling from a breakup and feeling directionless, reluctantly joins his friend Tamon’s baseball team after a manipulative invitation. As they progress through the tournament, they encounter mysterious teammates whom they begin to suspect may be spirits of individuals who died during World War II, including the legendary pitcher Sawamura Eiji. With Tamon and Xiao, a Chinese exchange student, Kuchiki is drawn into unraveling the mystery despite his misgivings, all the while with reflecting on his own sense of purpose and wrestling with his ex-girlfriend’s claim that: “You have no fire.” With their vibrant and engaging dialogue and first-person narration, both stories offer a delightful blend of humor, astonishment, and poignant reflection that will leave readers thoroughly entertained.