The legendary Japanese master's Winter Sleep take you into the hardboiled world of art—where ex-cons are philosophers, young lovers are combustible, and aesthetics is life. An artist's quest for growth from one of the world's greatest stylists.

Nakagi, an ex-con painter who has sequestered himself in a mountain cabin, is trying to elevate his art. The only thing breaking his solitude are the visits of two women: an art dealer who wants him to produce the sort of paintings that she would like to buy from him, and a young aspiring, and soulful apprentice. When Nakagi welcomes an escaped felon into the emotionally fraught fold, and begins to teach him to pain well. Winter Sleep awakens to a literally incendiary climax. “The spirit of James M. Cain's novels hovers over Winter Sleep, a bleak but compelling slice of deadpan noir.” — The Seattle Times“(Winter Sleep) gives new meaning to the term ‘splatter’.” — Agony Column“Kitakata manages his nihilistic climax with consummate control...it's absolutely compelling to read.” — The Japan Times“Kitakata…[is] part Spillane, part Dostoevsky, but always hard-boiled.” — Hackwriters.com