“Old age was a soundless place. The sound of the mountain was the sound of his own heart.”
Chapter 1: The Sound of the Mountain
Shingo Ogata, an aging businessman in Tokyo, begins hearing an eerie sound at night—like distant thunder or a landslide—which he associates with the nearby mountain. Troubled by this, he reflects on his fading memory and strained family relationships, particularly with his wife, Yasuko, and his son, Shuichi.
Chapter 2: Family Tensions
Shingo observes the deteriorating marriage of Shuichi and his wife, Kikuko. Shuichi is having an affair, and Kikuko suffers silently. Shingo feels guilty for his son’s behavior, recalling his own past emotional detachment from Yasuko and his unspoken love for her late sister.
Chapter 3: Memories and Regrets
Shingo’s dreams and waking thoughts drift to his youth, particularly his unresolved feelings for Yasuko’s sister, who died young. He contrasts this with his passive acceptance of his current life, sensing that time is slipping away from him.
Chapter 4: Kikuko’s Suffering
Kikuko confides in Shingo about her unhappiness, though she remains loyal to Shuichi. Shingo sympathizes but feels powerless to intervene. Meanwhile, Yasuko remains distant, absorbed in her own routines, further isolating Shingo emotionally.
Chapter 5: The Mountain’s Omen
The mysterious sound from the mountain grows more frequent, unsettling Shingo. He interprets it as a harbinger of death or change. His anxiety deepens as he notices signs of aging in himself and those around him.
Chapter 6: Shuichi’s Indifference
Shuichi’s affair becomes more brazen, and Shingo confronts him, but the conversation goes nowhere. Shingo realizes his son is emotionally detached, much like he once was, and despairs at the cycle of neglect repeating itself.
Chapter 7: Yasuko’s Resignation
Yasuko, though aware of the family’s disintegration, chooses not to intervene. Shingo senses her quiet disappointment but cannot bridge the emotional gap between them. He reflects on how their marriage has become a hollow routine.
Chapter 8: Kikuko’s Departure
Kikuko, unable to endure the pain, leaves Shuichi temporarily. Shingo is devastated but understands her decision. He feels the weight of his own failures as a husband and father, realizing he never truly nurtured his relationships.
Chapter 9: The Sound Fades
As autumn arrives, the sound of the mountain diminishes. Shingo interprets this as a sign of his own fading vitality. He accepts that life is transient, finding a bittersweet peace in the inevitability of change and death.
Key Ideas
- The inevitability of aging and mortality
- The fragility of family bonds
- Regret and unfulfilled desires
- The cyclical nature of emotional detachment
- Nature as a metaphor for human impermanence
Who should read this book?
- Readers who appreciate introspective, character-driven narratives
- Those interested in Japanese literature and existential themes
- Anyone reflecting on aging, family, and regret