A Wildflower's Grave

This short, sentimental tale of first love was first published in 1906, and has remained a popular favorite with Japanese readers ever since, especially the young. It’s the story of Masao and Tamiko, a boy and girl in their mid-teens, growing up in a rural farming village in Meiji-era Japan. He is home on vacation from Middle School, and she lives and works in his house, taking care of his sick mother. They cannot be open about their love for a very simple reason: she is two years older than him. In a time when girls were married off by their families very young, Tamiko knows that her chances of marrying Masao are very slim. He still has years of schooling ahead of him, while she has no choice but to obey her parents’ wishes in everything. Is their love doomed, or does there still remain some hope? Author Ito Sachio was born and grew up in a small village just like the one he describes in his book. A Wildflower’s Grave was made into movies and television dramas numerous times, and continues to move readers, young and old.