"The Twilight Years" is a poignant story revolving around the life of a middle-aged woman who is burdened with the responsibility of taking care of her ageing and ailing father-in-law while trying to balance her work and personal life. The novel explores the themes of old age, family responsibilities, societal expectations, and the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. It offers a critical examination of the social, cultural, and personal issues related to aging and care-giving in post-war Japan.

The novel centers around an elderly woman who, after a life of hard work and raising children, finds herself reluctantly placed in a nursing home by her daughter. The narrative explores the protagonist's struggle with the loss of independence and the cold, impersonal treatment she receives in the institution. Her longing for freedom and connection with her family and cultural roots leads her to escape the nursing home, embarking on a journey that reflects on themes of aging, autonomy, and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. Through her experiences, the book delves into the broader social issues surrounding the care of the elderly in contemporary society.

The book follows the harrowing journey of two boys abandoned at birth in a Tokyo train station locker, who grow up in an orphanage together and form a deep bond. As they navigate a dystopian underworld filled with violence and decay, the boys, now teenagers, embark on a quest for revenge against the mothers who left them and the society that neglected them. Their search for identity and belonging takes them through a surreal landscape of urban chaos, where their shared trauma and desperation for meaning lead them down a destructive path, challenging the reader with themes of abandonment, survival, and the human capacity for both love and brutality.