故事讲述了琵琶湖附近的养老院里，近百岁的老人离奇死亡。究竟是医疗事故，还是杀人事件，主人公的刑警和女辩护士展开了大规模搜查，发现事件背后的故事极其复杂...

The 1973 novel was written by Kobo Abe and follows a nameless man who gives up his identity to live with a large cardboard box over his head, encountering a range of characters as he wanders the streets of Tokyo。