chapters 1-5 Summary

Chapter 1:

The story begins with an unnamed protagonist thinking about his stay at the Dolphin Hotel in Sapporo. The hotel was a dive but the man cannot seem to get it out of his mind. Part of the reason for that was an extended stay with a call girl named whose name he did not know. In fact, he knew almost nothing about her. But now he cannot get the girl out of his mind. It seems as if the girl is calling him from somewhere beyond. It makes no sense but the man has to do something about it.

The author details the Dolphin Hotel in all its shabby glory. First of all, it was built in the wrong place. It lacked a sense of normalness in general. The furniture was rickety and old. There were few if any customers...