Page "Scandal (1986 novel)" Paragraph 1

Set in Tokyo during the 1980s, it tells the story of an old Catholic writer ( as Endō was ) struggling with old age and the feeling that he yet has to write his magnum opus.

One day, a young woman shows up at a party attended by the main character, Suguro, mentioning loudly that he has not been visiting the ill-reputed street where she works as an artist lately.

Because of his reputation as a Christian writer with high moral standards, such behaviour is seen by his publishers as very undesirable and by himself as very embarrassing.