Komayō

The Fox's Breath

Preamble

In feudal Japan, where social conventions reign supreme, solitude can become a prison more oppressive than the thickest walls. For Yuki, a young noblewoman, the days run by with the regularity of an hourglass in her luxurious residence in Kyōto, each grain marking one more moment of isolation.

The arrival of a mysterious strategy game, a gift from her absent husband, is about to overturn her existence. What begins as a simple pastime quickly becomes a consuming obsession, turning her nights into a shadow theatre where reality and imagination merge.

When her husband finally returns, he finds an unrecognisable woman, caught in a spiral whose rules she alone seems to know. His quest to save her will lead him to the heart of an enigma in which ancestral traditions and unavowed desires mingle, revealing that some games, once begun, can no longer be stopped.

A captivating story about the fine line between passion and obsession, and about the dangers that lie in wait when we try to escape our solitude at any cost.

Selected Passages

Yuki's Decline

The residence, once a symbol of order and elegance, was unrecognisable. The signs of neglect were everywhere: empty teacups and scattered fans littered the tables, while delicate garments lay abandoned. The house, once full of life and laughter, now bore the marks of a profound disorder.

Determined to find a solution, he set about seeking help. He thought of an exorcist monk renowned for his wisdom and his knowledge of the ailments of the soul. Perhaps, he hoped, this wise man could free Yuki from the grip of the strange curse that seemed bound to the ōgi set.

The Purification Ritual at the Temple

Yuki's husband walked quickly towards the temple, holding the ōgiban firmly under his arm. He felt a growing dread come over him, as if something were pursuing him in the darkness. He looked back several times, but saw nothing other than the trees and the river glittering under the moon. His mind was tormented by thoughts of his wife, sunk in a dark obsession because of this ancient game.

We shall purify this with the sacred fire, the priest declared in a gentle but firm voice, guiding the husband towards a great pyre where offerings and prayers were already burning. The flames danced towards the night sky, as if binding the earthly world to that of the spirits.

Contents

Details

Original Title
Publication Date
Author
Format
Online edition
Collection
The Dark Chronicles of Komayō, episode 4
Genre
  • Fantasy fiction
  • Japanese folklore
  • Supernatural tale
Cover of the book 'The Fox's Breath' - A lonely noblewoman receives a mysterious game from her absent husband