The village of Sotoba, hidden in the Japanese mountain wilderness, refuses to surrender to the encroaching civilization at the end of the twentieth century. Yes, the elders leave, and some young people—like tenth‑grade student Megumi Shimizu—dream of escaping to a metropolis right after school. But there are others—for example, 32‑year‑old Toshi Odaaki returned to his homeland and headed the rural clinic, while the Natsuno family moved from the city closer to nature. Life in the hinterland flows quietly and peacefully, yet the appearance of mysterious inhabitants in a recently built "lord"s" house on the hill rattled the area and gave fodder for gossip to everyone—from the glamour‑craving Shimizu to the village"s oldest matriarch. But behind the intriguing news came even worse reports… In the height of August heat, on days traditionally set aside for festivals and divinations, people in the village began to die. The first victim was overly curious Megumi; others followed. An investigation revealed that the causes of the mass deaths were not a mysterious epidemic at all; the matter was far more tangled… and terrifying. Dark gazes increasingly turned toward the hill house, fear penetrating deeper into souls. Doctor Odaaki and other local residents, not having lost their courage, swore to uncover the mystery and see it through. Their fate will be decided by the brilliant imagination of the author of "The Twelve Kingdoms"!
Doumu Japan