“The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country.”
Chapter 1
Shimamura, a wealthy Tokyo dilettante, travels by train to a remote hot-spring town in Japan’s snow country. He observes the landscape through the train window, captivated by the fleeting beauty of the snow-covered world. A mysterious woman, Yoko, briefly catches his attention with her ethereal presence before disappearing.
Chapter 2
Shimamura arrives at the hot-spring inn and reunites with Komako, a geisha he had met on a previous visit. Their relationship is ambiguous—neither fully romantic nor purely transactional. Komako, though emotionally volatile, is deeply attached to Shimamura, who remains emotionally detached, treating her as an object of aesthetic fascination.
Chapter 3
Komako’s backstory unfolds: she was once a maid, then trained as a geisha to support a dying man she loved. Shimamura learns of her struggles, including her unrequited love for the man and her current dependence on alcohol. Despite her pain, she maintains a fragile dignity.
Chapter 4
Shimamura becomes increasingly absorbed in observing Komako and Yoko, whose lives seem intertwined. Yoko, now revealed as the former lover of the man Komako once cared for, sings mournfully in the inn. Shimamura is drawn to Yoko’s purity, contrasting her with Komako’s worldly complexity.
Chapter 5
As winter deepens, Shimamura’s detachment grows. He studies Komako like a specimen, fascinated by her emotional outbursts but unwilling to engage deeply. Komako, aware of his indifference, oscillates between affection and resentment. Meanwhile, Yoko’s presence becomes more haunting, her voice echoing through the snow-laden village.
Chapter 6
Tensions escalate when a fire breaks out in a nearby warehouse. Yoko, trapped inside, dies in the flames. Komako, cradling Yoko’s body, collapses in grief. Shimamura watches from a distance, unmoved, as the Milky Way glitters above—a symbol of beauty indifferent to human suffering.
Key Ideas
- The transience of beauty and human connection.
- The contrast between emotional engagement and aesthetic detachment.
- The isolation of individuals in a cold, indifferent world.
- The role of nature as a silent witness to human fragility.
- The tension between purity and corruption in relationships.
Who should read this book?
- Readers who appreciate introspective, lyrical prose.
- Those interested in Japanese literature and cultural aesthetics.
- Fans of character-driven narratives with psychological depth.
- Anyone drawn to themes of loneliness and fleeting beauty.