Work
12《The Transparent Labyrinth》
Publication date: 2014/06/30
A title story inspired by Edvard Munch’s etchings and other stories define Hirano’s direction in his fourth period.
Captive in a foreign land, a man and woman are forced to “make love” to each other as a spectacle. When they return home, they try to overwrite the tragic memory with “true love,” the conclusion presents a real twist. The titular story The Transparent Labyrinth takes form in a symbol of Hirano’s fourth period. The six stories in this collection delicately tell the tale of those who don’t fit into society with pathos and humor. In Re: Yoda’s Request, the sense of time after a disaster becomes a fanciful notion, while The Missing Honeybees reveals the surprising secret of a lonely postal worker. This polished work boasts rich narratives and profoundly subtle characters, breaking new ground in Hirano’s storytelling.
You can also read “The Missing Honeybees” on the web version of Granta.
https://granta.com/the-bees-that-disappeared
First Appearance
The Missing Honeybees（『Waseda Bungaku』2014年/Autumn）
A man who came to look for in hawaii（2013/11、Distribution at Isetan Shinjuku Event）
The Transparent Labyrinth（『Shincho』2014/2）
family affair（『Shincho』2013/10）
Fire Amber（『Bungakukai』2014/3「man love fire」Changed Tiltle）
Re: Yoda’s Request（『Shincho』2013/7）
