The Horiki Friendship

Examines the toxic friendship between Yozo and Masao Horiki, a relationship of mutual contempt and dependency that accelerates Yozo's downfall.

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The First Meeting

The Borrowing of Five Yen The Beggar's Request Horiki, a stranger, asked Yozo for five yen. Yozo gave it, and Horiki took him to a café. This marked the beginning of a friendship based on convenience. The City Good-for-Nothing Yozo saw Horiki as a genuine city good-for-nothing, a fellow disoriented being. But he also despised Horiki for his lack of awareness of his own farcicality. The Guide to Tokyo Horiki became Yozo's guide to the city, teaching him how to navigate bars, prostitutes, and pawnshops. Yozo depended on him, but never respected him.

The Shared Degradation

The Consumptive Aspects The Pleasure-Seeking Horiki and Yozo spent their money on drink and women. Horiki was a skilled bargainer, and Yozo paid for most of their outings. Yozo felt a strange lightness when drunk. The Left-Wing Diversion Horiki took Yozo to a Communist meeting as a sightseeing tour. Yozo was drawn to the irrationality of the movement, but Horiki only attended once. Theirs was a bond of empty amusement. The Mutual Exploitation Each used the other: Horiki for money and entertainment, Yozo for a guide and a buffer against the world. The friendship was a sham, but they clung to it.

The Betrayal by the Ginza

The Kiss That Did Not Happen The Drunken Plan Horiki insisted on going to a café. Yozo, broke, took him to Tsuneko's café. Horiki boasted that he would kiss the hostess. The Rejection of Tsuneko Horiki refused to kiss Tsuneko, calling her poverty-stricken. Yozo was shocked and felt pity for her. This night deepened Yozo's love for Tsuneko and his hatred for Horiki's cruelty. The Cracks Appear Yozo began to see Horiki's true nature: an egoist who used people and discarded them. But he was already too entangled to break free.

The Visit to Horiki's Home

The Cold Reception The City-Dweller's Parsimony Yozo, desperate, visited Horiki's house. Horiki was annoyed and tried to get rid of him. He jealously guarded his cushion thread and ate his mother's jelly with exaggerated gratitude. The Lesson in Poverty Yozo was dismayed by the parsimoniousness of the city dweller. He realized that Horiki would never truly help him; he was a friend only when it was convenient. The Introduction to Shizuko A woman came to collect an illustration from Horiki, and she took an interest in Yozo. Horiki used this opportunity to pass Yozo off to her. Thus, Yozo became a kept man.

The Return of the Bird of Ill-Omen

The Reawakening of the Past The Visit Horiki came to Yozo's apartment, acting as a messenger from Shizuko. He appeared just as Yozo was beginning to feel hope. He brought back the shame of the past. The Guessing Game They played their tragic/comic noun game on the roof. Horiki's presence led them to drink, and the evening ended with the discovery of Yoshiko's violation. The Final Betrayal Horiki cleared his throat to alert Yozo, then left, saying, "This place is a perfect hell." Yozo realized that Horiki had always treated him as a living corpse, a person dead to shame.

The Last Act of Kindness

The Gentle Smile The Unexpected Visit Horiki came with Flatfish to take Yozo to the hospital. He smiled gently, a smile Yozo had never seen before. Yozo wept with gratitude, feeling that he was being saved. The Deception Yozo later realized that he had been tricked. Horiki's kindness was a lie. But at that moment, Yozo was so broken that he clung to any shred of warmth. The End of the Friendship After Yozo was committed, Horiki disappeared from his life. The friendship had run its course, leaving only bitterness and scars.

college, at an art class

college years

late November, college

after the suicide attempt, when Yozo ran away from Flatfish

after Yozo's marriage to Yoshiko

the day of Yozo's commitment to the mental hospital