House on Fire

Kazuo grows up amid his parents' separation, an event that shapes his view of family and love. The absence of a stable home life shadows his later relationships as an adult. This early fracture foreshadows the emotional turbulence that unfolds in the story.

As he matures, Kazuo establishes himself as a writer and earns the Naoki Prize for his literature. The accolade confirms his literary status and public visibility. Yet personal relationships begin to strain under the weight of success.

Jiro's meningitis leaves him paralyzed and mentally disabled, placing a heavy burden on the family. The illness exposes the fragility of family bonds and becomes a catalyst for later decisions. Kazuo's mood and priorities shift under the strain of caregiving.

Yoriko turns to spiritual religion, a shift that creates distance between her and Kazuo. Their marriage begins to unravel as their paths diverge. The growing disconnect foreshadows the eventual separation.

Kazuo is invited to participate in the construction of a memorial to his old friend Dazai in Aomori, on August 9—the day his son becomes ill. Yoriko warns that a darker omen may unfold that day at the hands of a woman. The day marks a turning point in the emotional landscape of the characters.

During the trip to the memorial, Kazuo brings his young assistant Keiko to Aomori and they consummate their affair. The liaison marks a decisive blow to his marriage and personal ethics. The trip cements the complex web of relationships that follow.

Upon returning, Kazuo admits he was with Keiko in Aomori. Yoriko responds that she already knows everything he does, revealing a deep awareness of his infidelities. The scene cements the disintegration of trust between them.

Yoriko abandons Kazuo and threatens a costly divorce, while his children reject Keiko as an intruder in the family. The household fractures as loyalties become divided. The couple's attempts at rebuilding are overwhelmed by resentment.

In a stormy evening, Yoriko returns and comforts the children, telling Kazuo that she will stay with them while he may leave. The family stabilizes around Yoriko's decision, effectively ending the marriage. Kazuo is pushed toward a solitary path for a time.

Kazuo moves Keiko into an apartment in Asakusa, starting a new phase of their relationship. A year passes as they navigate fame, intimacy, and consequence separate from his family. The separation creates new routines and tensions.

Ichiro, Kazuo's eldest son from his first wife, burgles the Asakusa apartment and admits reading Kazuo's book about his adultery. Keiko becomes pregnant from the relationship and contemplates her options for the future. The revelation deepens the strain between everyone involved.

Publishing rumors link Keiko to the power broker Mr. Shimamura, threatening Kazuo's safety and reputation. He drinks to drown his worries and gets into a series of fistfights. He ends up in the apartment of a young woman named Yoko, beginning a new, troubling chapter.

With Keiko absent, Kazuo asks Yoriko to type what he dictates so he can finish the manuscript before the deadline. The strain of family life leads them to place Jiro in a care facility to simplify their lives. The two cooperate professionally despite the personal distance between them.

Kazuo leaves Tokyo with cracked ribs and sails across Japan, writing about his journey. On the sea, he encounters Yoko and accompanies her to her home on Nozaki Island. He learns her real name is Tokuko and that she was once involved with a troubled past.