Chiruhi

"If nothing changes whether one laughs or cries, then in this lifetime, I refuse to cry."
This collection consists of six historical short stories which tragicomically depict people trying to do their best in the city of Edo throughout the seasons:

Chiruhi (Day of Scattering)
Orin is a prostitute who works on a boat near the seashore. She falls in love with a young hairdresser, who is one of her customers, even though she knows it is an impossible love.

Lotus Roots
Upon crossing a lotus pond, two men discover a beautifully dressed figure hanging from the bridge. They pull her up and that night, she teaches them the meaning behind the lotus roots.

One Night Princess
"They 'haunt' this place. The ghosts of prostitutes."

Tenkiku
A little girl meets a kid with weird features, and only she can see him.

Breaking Under the Weight of Snow
A husband wonders, when was the last time he saw her wife's smile?

Sakuhi (Day of Blooming)
"The truth is I... came here to murder someone."