Job Discussion Forums

[Longing for Nippon]

BlueJay:

Yes, those titles are very heavy going and depressing. There must be a positive happy japanese author out there, any suggestions?
A nice book I recommend that is not Japanese is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I think you will like it.
And if you like disturbing books that are entertaining try Under the Skin by Michel Faber.

[blue jay]

[kakapo]

blue jay

As a bird otaku I'd just like to say how much I admired the beautiful hue of your plumage. Actually, I'm an avian creature myself, albeit a plump parrot with lamentable aerial ability.

My favourite Japanese author? Natsume Soseki. (Is he still on the 1000 yen note?) I've read five of his novels: Botchan, Sanshiro, And then (Sorekara), Mon and Kokoro. The first is quite different from the others, it's much lighter; the middle three form a loose trilogy; the last is probably his most-read work.

Here they are in brief: Botchan - teacher goes mad in Matsuyama; Sanshiro - callow freshman scores well in class, not at all outside; And then - protagonist suffers from chronic ennui, mopes around home all day; Mon - thirty-something couple lead dreary existence in suburban Tokyo; Kokoro - student meets mysterious older man, loses friend in love triangle.

Most of the 'action' takes place inside the characters' heads. But the lack of external drama makes his novels, for me at least, more believable and therefore more appealing.

At Tokyo University you can see Sanshiro Ike, the pond named after the book's eponymous hero. You can find Soseki's grave at Zoshigaya Cemetery near Ikebukuro; take the dinky Toden (Toei tram/streetcar) to/from Zoshigaya for an evocative trip back in time. And for Soseki paraphernalia, visit the Kanagawa Museum of Modern Literature in Yokohama (labels in Japanese only).

If Soseki sounds like a little too much upper-middle class male angst, how about Hayashi Fumiko? She knew about life on struggle street. I've only read her short story 'Downtown' (Shitamachi) but found it quite affecting.

Finally, for anyone interested in Japanese literature, The Japan Foundation Library (open Monday to Friday) in Akasaka is an excellent place.