#JapanLit : Joy of Routine, A Strange Love Story & A Dystopian Tale

2018 has been exceptionally kind because almost all books that were buzzing in literary news have lived up to the hype. Convenience store woman is one of them. It is short and brisk and fills you with empathy towards those who try so hard to fit in the guidelines imposed by our society. Other highly hyped novels that I absolutely loved this year include Normal People, The Poppy war, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, Circe and A place for us. I was elated to receive a package from Granta to kickstart their #Japanlit campaign to promote Japanese literature. The Last Children of Tokyo was my first dystopian novel from Japan and it stood out because of the excellent use of language (kudos to both the author and the translator). Strange Weather in Tokyo was on my TBR list for a long time because of what an amazing writer Kawakami is; and true to the hype, it was a glorious read.
3 books written by women set in Japan and they are all fabulous @grantabooks #translated #JapanLit Click To Tweet

Convenience Store Woman

society. individuality. routine
Keiko is odd. Keiko is eccentric. Keiko has never really fitted in anywhere. Perhaps Keiko is an undiagnosed patient in the autistic spectrum, we never know. But what we do know is routine soothes her, she finds joy in the mundane and tries hard to lead a normal life that is acceptable to the people around her. Keiko reminded me of Honeyman’s Eleanor (in Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine), a brutal version of Eleanor actually. Both of them adore their work, but Eleanor is more of a loner while Keiko has no insight on acceptable social behaviour (She thinks cooking a dead bird found in the park is more logical than mourning for it and making a grave for it; She hits a fighting boy on the head with a spade because that would ‘shut him up’).

The mind and its working

Keiko’s mind is fascinating. She does not understand why ‘normal’ human beings are shallow and fake. She tries to mimic the facial expressions of her colleagues to express her emotions in order to be accepted in their circles. She does not feel the need for companionship or a higher paying job to be happy. She crosses paths with another misfit named Shiraha, a lazy sexist and decides to live together to project the ‘couple’ image in her friend and family circles. She does not understand the concept of love, but rather describes this as ‘keeping a pet’.  This was a sharp contrast to the friendship developed in Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. While Eleanor had an enabling friendship that eventually helps her to understand herself better, Keiko has a friendship that is more of parasitic in nature than symbiotic. Keiko realizes soon enough that the society is never happy – more questions of financial security, status, kids hound her and she contemplates if such an arrangement is worth it after all. The more she questions, she gains more insight into her own mind and happiness.

Final verdict

Sayaka Murata is sure to keep you awake at night mulling over the dichotomy of societal acceptance and individuality. If you are looking for a book club read, The Convenience store woman is guaranteed to have your discussions going on all night long.

Author : Sayaka Murata; Translator : Ginny Tapley Takemori
Publisher : Portobello
Publication: 2018 (originally in 2016)
Language : English (translated from the Japanese)
Pages : 163
Rating : 4.5/5

Strange Weather in Tokyo

love. surreal. loneliness
I was introduced to Kawakami through her novel, The Nakano Thrift Shop. Ever since, I have wanted to read her ore acclaimed book, Strange Weather in Tokyo. True to the hype, this book is a treasure trove of beautiful prose, calm storytelling and simplicity.
 

Love and weather is strange

The novel explores the relationship between thirty eight year old Tsukiko and her English tutor from school whom she happens to meet in a bar one day. Unable to recall his name, she calls him ‘Sensei’ (teacher) and continues to call him so till the end of the novel. Their meetings are often abrupt and terse, yet they have a charm of their own. At times Tsukiko and Sensei, who is nearly thirty years older than her, behave like the oldest and closest friends; at other times they would not even glance a look at the other. Having two main characters at two different age groups was intriguing and the conversations between the ageing school master and the fiercely independent woman are perfect to eavesdrop on. The book is written in the form of short chapters that explore discrete events that happen in the life of main characters. Through the snippets of their lives, Tsukiko, the loner and Sensei, the widower give us an almost surreal love story very much rooted in the real world.
 

Final verdict:

An absolute charmer! Strange weather in Tokyo is perfect for a slow day. It will warm your heart as you read it and linger in your mind long after you’ve read the book.

Author : Hiromi Kawakami; Translator : Allison Markin Powell
Publisher : Portobello
Publication: 2012 (Originally 2001)
Language : English (translated from the Japanese)
Pages : 176
Rating : 4.5/5
 

The Last Children of Tokyo

bleak. sad. touching & terrifying
 

A new world

The Last children of Tokyo is a dystopian novel set in Japan where the elderly are blessed with long life and  the death rate among children is very high. We do not know for sure how the world has come to this terrifying state but there are references to unsustainable development leading to disastrous consequences on the environment.
 

A reversal in routine

Yoshiro is a writer who cares for his great grand son, Mumei. Through this large gap in the age spectrum, we see how the young and old cope with the new world. It was heart warming to see that inspite of the reversal of health, the young maintain the lucidity and innocence of childhood and the old carry the burden of worries.

The new world is a shock to the reader but the older generation in the book seem to have accepted the terrible reality that they have to care for the young and not vice versa. For Mumei, eating an orange is an ordeal of many hours, he can only drink the squeezed juice; lemon can turn him blue. He needs constant care and attention which Yoshiro provides. The children keep alive their humour in spite of many hardships which force out sad laughs (in a good but a sad way) from the reader. The Last Children of Tokyo is a delight for the keen reader. The book is not divided into chapters which makes it seem like a bleak continuum interspersed with dry humour. There is an atmosphere of bleakness that looms over the narrative.
 

Final verdict

This book isn’t for everyone. At the end of it, I did wonder what Tawada was trying to convey as she has created an intriguing world but left many open ends. Nevertheless, it makes you worried as this world is very much a probable reality.

Author : Yoko Tawada; Translator : Margaret Mitsutani
Publisher : Portobello
Publication: 2017 (Originally 2014)
Language : English (translated from the Japanese)
Pages : 138
Rating : 3.5/5
 

Disclaimer : Much thanks to Granta and Portobello for the books. All opinions are my own.