“A woman’s diary is a mirror of her heart.”
Chapter 1
The novel opens with the husband, a middle-aged professor, secretly reading his wife Ikuko’s diary. He becomes obsessed with her private thoughts, particularly her descriptions of their deteriorating marriage and her growing attraction to Kimura, their daughter’s fiancé. The husband records his own reactions in his diary, revealing his jealousy and desire to rekindle their passion.
Chapter 2
The husband deliberately provokes Ikuko by feigning indifference, hoping to incite her jealousy. Meanwhile, Ikuko’s diary entries suggest she is aware of his snooping but plays along, manipulating his emotions. Their psychological battle intensifies as both use their diaries as weapons in a silent power struggle.
Chapter 3
The husband escalates his tactics, encouraging Ikuko’s flirtation with Kimura while secretly resenting it. He records his voyeuristic pleasure in watching her interactions with the younger man. Ikuko’s diary hints at her conflicted feelings—both repulsed and intrigued by her husband’s twisted games.
Chapter 4
The couple’s erotic tension reaches a peak when the husband orchestrates a scenario where Ikuko gets drunk, hoping to break her inhibitions. She complies but remains emotionally distant, further frustrating him. Their daughter, Toshiko, grows suspicious of the unhealthy dynamics in the household.
Chapter 5
Ikuko’s diary reveals her growing awareness of her husband’s schemes. She begins to assert control, deliberately writing provocative entries to manipulate him. The husband, meanwhile, becomes increasingly desperate, mixing stimulants to maintain his stamina, which worsens his heart condition.
Chapter 6
The psychological warfare culminates in a climactic confrontation. The husband collapses from a heart attack, and Ikuko’s final diary entry suggests her ambiguous feelings—whether she mourns him or feels liberated remains unresolved. The novel ends with Kimura inheriting the diaries, left to interpret the couple’s twisted intimacy.
Key Ideas
- Psychological manipulation through private diaries
- Eroticism as a tool for power in marriage
- The destructive nature of voyeurism and jealousy
- Cultural taboos surrounding aging and desire
- The ambiguity of truth in personal narratives
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in psychological dramas and marital power struggles
- Fans of Japanese literature exploring taboo themes
- Those intrigued by unreliable narrators and layered storytelling