*Atolls* is a collection of short prose by the Japanese writer Nakajima Atsushi (1909–1942), whose work blends profound philosophical meditation with delicate lyricism. The volume comprises two cycles—*Stories of the Southern Islands* and *Atolls*—in which the author, drawing on his personal experience in Micronesia in 1941, builds fragile bridges between different eras and worldviews. Nakajima, renowned for his reinterpretations of Chinese legends, here turns to colonial themes, exploring the clash of cultures and the nature of power. The first cycle, *Stories of the Southern Islands*, includes parables and tales inspired by local myths and folklore, interwoven with the daily lives of the islanders. The second, *Atolls*, serves as a lyrical travelogue in which observations from the journey evolve into philosophical essays. Nakajima’s prose is both concise and richly detailed, while his perspective—at once detached and deeply insightful—renders these texts unique testaments to the era.