Naoya Shiga's conflict with his father was the mother of all his literary works. Wakai, which describes the conflict, has been recognized by many as a masterpiece. I, too, think that it is an important work. It is important because it marks the culmination and termination of Shiga's literary activity. In my opinion, everything that Shiga wrote can be explained in terms of Ōtsu Junkichi and Wakai. His very first novel Aruasa, the celebrated Anya-kōro, and everything else follow the same pattern. I have reached this conclusion after a careful study of Shiga's works which preceded Wakai, his diaries, and Wakai itself. The present paper gives an account of the process by which I have reached the conclusion.