Introduction: A Prophet of the Isolated Age

Sakaguchi Ango’s Islands in the City, written in post-war Japan, eerily predicts the modern spiritual dilemma: in densely connected cities, people become isolated islands

Through characters like bar hostesses, wandering artists, and factory workers, the book explores the dialectics of loneliness, decadence, and redemption, offering a profound mirror to contemporary society

I. Loneliness: The Default State of Modern Existence

Ango’s characters live like islands amidst urban crowds: “They take trains to work, but it’s merely a trip outside”

This alienation echoes today—virtual connections on social media often mask real emotional voids. Modern people must recognize loneliness not as a flaw, but as an opportunity for introspection and self-deepening.

II. Decadence: The Paradox of Redemption

“To live, one must decay”

is Ango’s core philosophy. Here, “decadence” is not moral corruption but shedding societal masks to return to authentic humanity. In a modern context, it reminds us: embracing desires, failures, and shadows is key to avoiding the crush of perfectionism.

III. Trauma and Beauty: Coexistence and Transformation

Characters in the book seek beauty amid war and poverty (e.g., Ryōsaku’s devotion to his book collection in Waterbird Pavilion), embodying the idea that “sorrow and pain are flowers of life”

. Modern individuals can similarly distill meaning from suffering, transforming trauma into a source of creativity.

Conclusion: Rebuilding Connection in a Fragmented Era

Ango does not offer easy answers but guides us to break through isolation via self-awareness and critical thinking. As emphasized in The Decadence Theory: only by confronting human truth can we find redemption in the modern wasteland

.