The Hunting Gun

“The hunting gun is a lonely thing. It is not like a sword, which can be drawn in a moment of passion. A gun must be loaded, aimed, and fired with cold deliberation.”

Chapter 1: The Discovery

The story begins with the narrator, a poet, stumbling upon a published letter in a small literary magazine. The letter, titled “The Hunting Gun,” is written by a man named Misugi Josuke, confessing his secret love affair and the emotional turmoil it caused. The poet becomes deeply intrigued by the raw honesty of the letter and decides to investigate further.

Chapter 2: Shoko’s Letter

The narrative shifts to the perspective of Shoko, Misugi’s niece, who writes a letter to him after her mother’s death. Shoko reveals that she found her mother’s diary, which detailed her long-standing affair with Misugi. The diary exposes the pain of hidden love and the burden of secrecy, leaving Shoko heartbroken and disillusioned.

Chapter 3: Midori’s Diary

Midori, Shoko’s mother and Misugi’s lover, recounts her years of silent suffering in her diary. She describes the agony of loving a married man, the fleeting moments of happiness, and the inevitable loneliness. Her entries reveal a woman torn between passion and guilt, ultimately leading to her quiet despair.

Chapter 4: Misugi’s Confession

Misugi’s own letter forms the final chapter, where he reflects on the consequences of his actions. He acknowledges the pain he caused both his wife and Midori, admitting that his love was selfish yet inescapable. The hunting gun, a recurring symbol, represents his isolation and the irreversible nature of his choices.

Key Ideas

• The destructive power of concealed love and societal expectations.
• Loneliness as an inescapable consequence of human relationships.
• The contrast between fleeting passion and enduring regret.
• The symbolism of the hunting gun as deliberate, irreversible action.
• The epistolary structure deepening emotional intimacy.