雨降る森の犬

by Seishū Hase, 馳 星周

父親を病でうしない、母親との確執を抱えた女子中学生の雨音（あまね）は不登校になり、山岳写真家の伯父・道夫のもとに身を寄せた。道夫はバーニーズ・マウンテン・ドッグのワルテルとともに自前のログハウスに住んでいた。ログハウスの近くには大きな別荘があり、雨音はそこの持ち主の長男で高校生の正樹と知り合う。正樹は再婚した父親と若い母親に対して、複雑な感情を抱えていた。
雨音と正樹は道夫の影響で登山の魅力を知るようになり、道夫の愛犬ワルテルと自然との触れ合いが、二人の心を少しずつ癒していく。
家族の問題を抱えた中学生と高校生が、道夫とワルテルと過ごすなかで自らの生きる方向性を見出していく、心に響く長編小説。

424 pages, Tankobon Hardcover

Published June 26, 2018

About the author

Hase Seishu ((馳 星周) is the pseudonym of the Japanese yakuza-crime novelist Toshihito Bando (坂東 齢人). His pen name is based on the Chinese name of the director Stephen Chow (Director of Kung Fu Hustle) Chow Sing-chi(周星馳) written backward then rendered in Japanese.

Bando graduated with a BA from Yokohama City University in 1987.

A few of his novels were adapted into Asian films, such as The City of Lost Souls and Sleepless Town, in 2000 and 1998, respectively.

Some of his novels were adapted into films, such as Fuyajo or 'Sleepless Town' (1998) directed by Chi-Ngai Lee, and 'The City of Lost Souls (2000) Directed by legendary Yakuza crime filmmaker Takashi Miike.

Bando also oversaw the stories for the blockbuster sega video games Yakuza and Yakuza 2, but had no evolvement in later installments in the series.