South of the Border, West of the Sun: A Novel

Focus on the protagonist Hajime's life, beginning with his childhood as an only child and his intense bond with his friend Shimamoto, characterized by shared music and unique emotional connection. It chronicles his teenage years, physical transformation, and first relationship with Izumi, which ends with him acknowledging his capacity for cruelty, and then proceeds into his adulthood, marriage to Yukiko, and successful jazz bar business. Finally, the excerpts feature Hajime's complex reunion with Shimamoto, highlighting unresolved feelings, secrets, and reflections on life's changes, culminating in an uncertain path forward for his marriage and his personal change.

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