The Rain Has Stopped

山本周五郎Jan 2025

Rating 4.2
Word count
18K words
Chapters
9

Tags

Foreign Literature Ordinary PeopleMutual SupportHeroismPoverty and KindnessHuman NatureTearjerkerStreet Corner WarmthSlow ReadingLife WisdomScreen Adaptation

Summary

A landmark masterpiece of period fiction. It depicts people who are poor but kind-hearted and who trust one another, evoking the deepest emotions. Against the grand stage of a bygone era where ordinary people struggle to survive, the author gives full play to the literary charm he excels at—portraying "human essence." The renowned director Akira Kurosawa loved this work throughout his life; sadly, he passed away shortly after completing the screenplay, and only 28 years later, in 1999, did the then assistant director Takashi Koizumi take on the directing role and fulfill his unfinished wish, bringing the work to the screen to great acclaim.

Editor's review

Yamamoto Shūgorō's period fiction rarely wins through legendary plots; instead, it sinks its power into the everyday folds of lower-class life. This work depicts the mutual trust and support of poor families—kindness is not an idealized moral label but a bit of warmth passed between people in hard times. The author excels at rendering "human essence" amid petty livelihood struggles and silent endurance, never sentimental, yet able to move readers through calm narration. Kurosawa loved this work in his lifetime and completed the screenplay; later Takashi Koizumi directed it for the screen, and this history shows the story's power to transcend its era. Best read slowly on a quiet night, to feel how ordinary people preserve dignity and goodwill in hardship; if you prefer strong conflict and fast pacing, it may feel slow, but with patience you will find a plain and solid strength of human feeling.

Who it's for

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Reading tips

  1. Set aside expectations of plot twists and focus on dialogue and everyday detail.
  2. Read alongside the background of Kurosawa's unfinished screenplay and Koizumi's film, then compare after finishing.
  3. Read one or two chapters a day, leaving room for reflection; there is no need to finish in one sitting.
  4. When you reach passages of mutual trust, jot down the lines that move you.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 一
  3. 二
  4. 三
  5. 四
  6. 五
  7. 六
  8. 七
  9. 八

FAQ

Is this book a good entry point for readers who have never read Yamamoto Shūgorō? Yes. The work centers on the everyday interactions of lower-class characters and does not require complex historical knowledge; the narration is plain, offering a direct sense of the author's portrayal of "human essence." If you like this restrained, warm approach, his other period fiction will be easier to enter.
What is the relationship between Akira Kurosawa and the film? The materials show that Kurosawa loved this work in his lifetime and completed the screenplay before his untimely death. Twenty-eight years later, in 1999, the then assistant director Takashi Koizumi took on the directing role and brought the work to the screen, fulfilling his unfinished wish; the film met with great acclaim.
Do I need to know the background of Japanese period fiction to read this book? No preparation is needed. The story's focus is on ordinary people's livelihood, trust, and emotions, and the setting serves the characters. When you encounter unfamiliar details of old life, you can follow the context; if you want to go deeper, briefly learn the basic features of period fiction after finishing.

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About the author

山本周五郎 Author

Yamamoto Shūgorō was a Japanese novelist. Public information about him is limited, and details such as his dates of birth and death and his education are not recorded in our database. The site holds twelve of his works, including The Red Beard Clinic, The Rain Has Stopped, New Tide Chronicle, The Tale of Merry Peace, Wind Chime, Saburō, The Tale of Yanagibashi, and Record of Fallen Plum Blossoms, commonly classified under foreign literature. Judging from these works, he was skilled at depicting townspeople and everyday urban life in a plain, delicate style, often portraying ordinary people's emotions, moral sense, and struggles for survival through small daily events, with steady narration and a strong human touch. His works have been repeatedly adapted for film and television in Japan, which speaks to their readability and the vitality of their characters. This introduction is based on in-house facts and limited public knowledge, without specific biographical details.