The Sunken Temple

Well-written and evocative, like the author's previous short-story collection ( The Phoenix Tree ), this novel closely examines a half-dozen lives in a small fishing village on Japan's western coast, particularly those associated with the Buddhist temple of Shoeiji. From Yuko, the temple's overweight and cold mistress, to Shoji, a young boy recently arrived in the community, they all long for something without knowing exactly what it is. Into the village--which has a long tradition of folk spirituality, faith healing and sorcery--comes Chinoki, a young woman from the nearby mountains who is rumored to have special powers. Her presence throws Shoeiji temple into an uproar, especially since she quickly proves distracting to Yuko's son Harumitsu, who is expected to assume leadership of Shoeiji but seems more interested in sketching, guitar-playing and, now, Chikoni. The crystal-pure translation does justice to Kizaki's lovely, leisurely prose, which patiently takes 150 pages to set up the narrative's dramatic climax. But the ending, which involves one person's death and another's attempted suicide, feels rushed, and the characters' final acts remain enigmatic. (Mar.)