A man living in Tokyo dangerously close to a red-light district covertly collects various items in an attempt to satisfy his unusual cravings. Each night he wanders the dirty, crowded streets of this sprawling metropolis, coming across many people like himself who seem to have fallen through the cracks of society, those whose dreams have been crushed by Tokyo. Hidden laughter seeming to come from a myriad of buildings; mysterious figures partaking in strange activities in the dead of night; a young, alluring voice calling for his help––we follow this man’s travels through a truly bizarre Tokyo in search of a girl of dubious existence, as all things are watched over by a tower of dizzying height that seems somehow connected to her. A surreal period piece that provides a surprisingly honest look at Tokyo during the early 1900s, “Tokyo: City of Illusions” is highly recommended for fans of Japanese culture and literature. The author, Muro Saisei, is an award-winning Japanese author who has been rarely translated into English. The story is published in both English and parallel Japanese/English for students of Japanese, and an essay is included in which the translator gives enlightening historical and cultural notes, as well as interpretations about the significance of the story.