THE CATERPILLAR

with a Modern Translation and Annotations

This short story by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1929, is about the life of a former heroic soldier who has lost his limbs, hearing, and speech ability due to war and his former faithful wife who has come to take pleasure in tormenting him.

This work was censored by the government in 1939, and

The Caterpillar depicts the perverted sexual life of a man who has lost his limbs and becomes mute due to war with his wife. Although this work does not go as far as to be anti-war or to express a dislike of war, it does portray the tragic physical condition of a disabled soldier grotesquely. This is considered to be disturbing, given the times. In addition, it is thought that unhealthy sexual desires are too grotesquely and explicitly depicted.

For this reason, some parts of the book were censored.

However, Edogawa Rampo claimed that he wrote this novel not out of anti-war sentiment but because he wanted to depict human nature.

Some modern readers may find clumsy, pure love in this book's grotesque, bizarre taste.

Annotations

[1] Grilled Eggplant with Sweet Miso Sauce
[2] Hachiman Shrine
[3] Six Tatami Mats
[4] Tokonoma alcove
[5] Yuzen
[6] Oshima Meisen
[7] Furoshiki
[8] The Golden Kite Medal