A young radical’s commitment to a violent nationalist plot forces a judge to confront the possibility that his deceased friend has been reincarnated in a dangerous new form. Shigekuni Honda, now a middle-aged judge, observes Isao Iinuma, a charismatic martial artist who embodies the fanatical spirit of the samurai. Honda attempts to intervene in Isao’s trajectory toward self-destruction, driven by the belief that the boy is the second incarnation of his late friend, Kiyoaki Matsugae. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of 1930s Japan, where economic modernization clashes with traditionalist fervor, creating a volatile environment that dictates the characters' fatalistic choices.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the prose as both precise and evocative, capturing the tension between aesthetic beauty and political brutality. Discussion often centers on the contrast between Honda’s detached, observational role and Isao’s intense, singular focus on his mission. Many note that the novel effectively illustrates the psychological roots of fanaticism without resorting to simple moral judgment. The pacing is often described as deliberate, allowing the philosophical arguments regarding the Emperor and the nation to permeate the narrative. Readers appreciate how the text functions as both a character study and a broader examination of a nation moving toward war.