Sotoba Komachi

Mishima reset the story in a 1950s urban park At the beginning of the story five couples are sitting on the benches and embracing A 99yearold lady appears in the park to gather cigarette butts A poet sees her and admonishes her for disturbing the lovers and for using a park bench that rightfully belongs to those in love They debate life and love The old lady confesses that when young she was a beautiful woman and was admired by Captain Fukakusa Upon describing a dance she attended she and the poet find themselves at the dance many years earlier in Rokumei Hall a ballroom where many handsome men and beautiful women are dancing Everyone in the ballroom recognizes the old woman as the beautiful Komachi and comment on her beauty