Under the Eye of the Big Bird

This wonderfully strange novella blends myth, melancholy, and everyday life in a way only Kawakami can. A giant bird watches over a small town, its presence both protective and unsettling. Characters move through their days carrying quiet anxieties and small hopes, all filtered through a gently surreal lens. The tone is warm but wistful, with moments of magic threaded into the ordinary. It’s a compact story that leaves a surprisingly deep emotional imprint.