A Test of Love
A Classical Japanese Story Reimagined by Joshua Linvers, 2024
Long ago in Kirishima, Japan, there lived a samurai so poor that all he possessed was a sword. With no parents or family of any kind, Jirokichi barely survived on rice gruel afforded by doing odd jobs as a farm hand. Most of the time he slept in the ruins of an abandoned hut.
Sick of his pathetic existence and hoping for change, he travelled to Kagoshima city looking for work. It was here that Jirokichi saw the message that changed his life. A sign, posted outside of a grand estate.
To all potential suitors: Miss Shimazu will consider marriage with any man who can pass her test.
He entered the courtyard of the home and announced his arrival. A servant of the house met with Jirokichi and explained the situation.
“Mr. and Mrs. Shimazu have given up trying to arrange the marriage for their beloved daughter. She has been permitted to find a husband on her own. She is… Well… An unusual girl. Many have already attempted her test, but so far none have passed. If you like… won’t you stay for a cup of tea? I will inform Ms. Shimazu of your arrival.”
“Well then… Please do inform her”
Jirokichi felt a little out of place as he knelt on the cushion in the lavish guest room. Dwelling on his appearance he wiped the sweat from his neck with a kerchief, and hid the fraying fabric of his yukata under his sleeves.
“Hello Mr. Jirokichi” said Miss Shimazu in a soft, forlorn voice as she entered the room.
“Good afternoon, Miss Shimazu. I saw the sign… I wonder if… Perhaps I may attempt your test?”
Miss Shimazu feigned a smile.
“All are welcome, but there is a condition. If you fail this test, you must not mention your attempt, nor reveal the nature of it, in any way, not to anyone, ever. If you can accept this term, perhaps we can start tonight. Your timing is most fortunate.”
“Tonight then.”
Jirokichi raised his cup in respect and drank it in one gulp before departing.
He returned to the estate in the evening and was welcomed back with a thoroughly appreciated vegetarian meal and flask of sake. It was when the sun fully retreated and the world was enveloped in moonlight, that Miss Shimazu entered the room.
“Shall we begin?”
Jirokichi nodded, “yes please.”
As the two walked quietly through the city streets, the bustle of civilization gradually subsided. Homes were starting to spread further apart, and once they reached the outskirts of Kagoshima city. The rustling of clothes, footsteps and frog song became the only sounds to hear. The two lit their lanterns and made their way up a small mountain road. A thick fog rolled through the forest but Miss Shimazu led the way as if she had been there thousands of times.
Headstones began to appear little by little, and soon they reached a cemetery.
“Wait here. Extinguish your lamp.” Miss Shimazu said curtly as she disappeared into the fog.
Jirokichi began nervously chewing his bottom lip as he stood around listening to the whispers of the wind. Miss Shimazu returned to Jirokichi wearing a pure white gown reserved for funeral service.
“Follow me”
The two walked through the cemetery shrouded in darknesss. Jirokichi, hand-on-sword, confused as to what would happen next.
They arrived at a grave site with freshly packed earth. There were 2 shovels against the tombstone.
“Dig” commanded Miss Shimazu
And so together, Jirokichi and Miss Shimazu excavated a coffin.
Miss Shimazu opened the lid to reveal a baby, dead perhaps only a few days. She fervently sunk her teeth into its neck and chewed the meat.
“If you’ll be my husband, eat what I eat!”
Miss Shimazu torn an arm off the corpse and tossed it to Jirokichi
Without hesitation, poor and terrified Jirokichi replied “Hai!” and bit into the soft fleshy arm.
Miss Shimazu watched as he swallowed.
“Delicious! May I have more!?” Jirokichi exclaimed
Miss Shimazu eagerly climbed out of the hole and approached Jirokichi with the dismembered corpse. In joyous celebration she announced:
“At last, I have found the man worthy of my life!”
As they shared the remains of the glutinous rice cake with red bean filling, they watched the misty moon together and lived happily ever after.
—
The moral of the story “A Test of Love” can be interpreted as both a commentary on the lengths to which people will go to for love and acceptance, and what one may do in desperation when faced with poverty. It explores themes of loyalty, commitment, and the willingness to face bizarre or extreme challenges in the pursuit of happiness. In this case, Jirokichi’s immediate and unquestioning acceptance of Miss Shimazu’s unusual test suggests that bettering oneself can sometimes require stepping outside of conventional norms and expectations.
On a deeper level, the story may also reflect the idea that love is not just about compatibility but about mutual acceptance of each other’s true nature, no matter how strange or unorthodox it may be. The fact that Miss Shimazu was searching for someone who could embrace her eccentricities, and that Jirokichi was willing to do so without hesitation, underscores the importance of finding a partner who can fully accept and participate in one’s unique life path.
The dark twist at the end, where the corpse turns out to be a confection, adds a layer of surrealism, suggesting that what seems horrifying at first glance may sometimes be an illusion or a test of character. The story challenges the reader to think about the nature of love, trust, and the unexpected forms they can take.
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