Summary

In Part I, titled “Tokyo” (1), Gilbert Silvester, a German academic specializing in the iconography of the beard in art and culture, awoke from a dream about his wife, Mathilda, cheating on him with another man. He was so certain this dream was true that he quarreled with Mathilda, then grabbed his passport and went to the airport. He decided to go to Japan on a whim, and on his long flight, he considered all of the various disappointments in his life, such as his career and relationship failings. He contemplated his bitterness towards his wife because of her supposed infidelity. Upon arrival in Japan, Gilbert purchased a few books in the airport bookshop, including one by 17th century poet Bashō. He then checked into a hotel and went to sleep.

Upon waking, Gilbert took stock of his recent decisions and tried to decide...