Hemeden (Cross-Eyed Den, 1895) was the first novel written by Hirotsu Ryuro. Hemeden, followed shortly by Hirotsu’s second novel, Kurotokage (Black Lizard, 1895), established a new Japanese literary genre, the serious novel. Hemeden captures the gloomy life of Den, a cross-eyed, grotesquely deformed dwarf. Taunted by peers and the world at large, hardworking and amiable Den falls in love with a young girl named Ohama. Ohama’s cousin deceives Den into paying him to help Den’s chances with Ohama, and Den is eventually driven to commit robbery and murder to pay his debts. Den is sent to the gallows, clinging to the illusion that Ohama loves him.
Historical dictionary of modern Japanese literature and theater. J. Scott Miller. 2009.