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Fujisan
From acclaimed Japanese author Randy Taguchi come four unforgettable stories of redemption, discovery, loss, and remembrance anchored by one of the world’s holiest peaks. Mount Fuji has been a source of spiritual inspiration since it was first ascended by a monk over a millennium ago. “Blue Summit” introduces a former cult member struggling to maintain his escape from a mountain monastery, seeking solace in the fluorescent lights of the convenience store he manages. In “Sea of Trees,” three teenage boys who share a fascination with the metaphysical confront the startling realities of death and despair on their final adventure together before parting ways for different schools. “Jamila” chronicles a privileged young man’s descent into disillusionment as he works with a compulsive hoarder to clear her mess. And in “Child of Light,” a nurse struggles as she comes to terms with her role in the oft-brutal cycle of birth, life, and death. Throughout the stories, Mount Fuji stands sentinel even as it fades in and out of view―watching and remembering as it always has.
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First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 1, 2021
Four intriguing short stories centred around the mystical Mount Fuji and what it means to the characters in each of the stories as they each struggle to come to terms with their lives. Enjoyed the poetic prose but I found that the story plots were unusual and, at times, a bit confusing, hence only rated it 3 stars - 6/10.
February 10, 2019
While this short story collection's theme is described as Mount Fuji, the real theme is a look into the human psyche, when it is near a breaking point, and struggles with dark thoughts. It's a similar theme I have come across in other Japanese novels and if it is something you enjoy, you'll likely enjoy this collection. I really enjoyed the first story, "Blue Summit," about a part-time convenience store worker. The story had similarities with Convenience Store Woman and readers who enjoyed that, would likely enjoy this story. "Sea of Trees" was very philosophical and an interesting read. I initially really enjoyed "Jamila" as the protagonist started down a path of exploration, but evenutally, his perverted mind got in the way of the story. The last story, "Child of Light," was the weakest of the stories with a weaker plot and less of a philosophical bent. Overall, these were enjoyable stories and I expect many readers will enjoy this collection. However, I do recommend checking out the trigger and content warnings below if there's any concern as this collections touches on many topics which some readers might find challenging.
Trigger and Content Warnings: SPOILER ALERT
Suicide, cutting, sexual assualt, domestic violence, miscarriage, abortion, cancer, explicit sexual content, demenia, cult
Trigger and Content Warnings: SPOILER ALERT
Suicide, cutting, sexual assualt, domestic violence, miscarriage, abortion, cancer, explicit sexual content, demenia, cult
January 22, 2013
It's always better to read a book in the language in which it was written. However, since my Japanese reading pace is slooooooooooooow and this translation was $1.99 on Kindle, I decided to give it a whirl. I received my just reward, as the stories were beautiful and haunting, but the translation left much to be desired. The translator often used weird cliches where they didn't belong, such as the time one narrator said (about a hoarder), "I began to understand how the cookie crumbled for her." How the cookie crumbled? Really?
The first and last stories are the strongest of the four. The second story loses a little bit of credibility that it might not lose if the central characters weren't junior high students. I can't imagine a junior high student (Japanese or otherwise) asking the question, "But why? Isn't that just superficial humanism?" The conversation continues in that vein for some time. I'm not sure if that's another translation issue, but no junior high school students in the world actually talk that way.
To appreciate the final story, it's good to have a little bit of background on the Japanese view of abortion, which is not controversial in Japan at all, really. Therefore, having a nurse who feels ambivalent about performing abortions may seem rather obvious by American standards, but it would be out of the ordinary in Japan. At one point, the nurse says, "With abortions, children are denied their right to be born and are killed before they ever get to see the light, thanks to their mothers who are so egotistical they dare to say, 'I don't want you born.'" This is pretty central to the Western pro-life movement, but in Japan it would be quite a radical thing to say. It would be interesting to see how that story was received in Japan.
Overall, what the stories have in common, other than the looming Mt. Fuji, is a character or multiple characters on the edge of psychotic breaks. The auther gets into their heads and puts the reader there, so that even psychotic thoughts seem rational. Consider one anorexic woman's commentary: "The human mouth disgusts me. It's an internal organ, a mucous membrane, exposed at the lower part of your face; a gaping hole that's just there. The sight of food being pushed into it and masticated weirds me out and makes me nauseous." Well, yeah, when you put it that way.
Overall, an interesting, worthwhile read. If you can, though, skip the English translation.
The first and last stories are the strongest of the four. The second story loses a little bit of credibility that it might not lose if the central characters weren't junior high students. I can't imagine a junior high student (Japanese or otherwise) asking the question, "But why? Isn't that just superficial humanism?" The conversation continues in that vein for some time. I'm not sure if that's another translation issue, but no junior high school students in the world actually talk that way.
To appreciate the final story, it's good to have a little bit of background on the Japanese view of abortion, which is not controversial in Japan at all, really. Therefore, having a nurse who feels ambivalent about performing abortions may seem rather obvious by American standards, but it would be out of the ordinary in Japan. At one point, the nurse says, "With abortions, children are denied their right to be born and are killed before they ever get to see the light, thanks to their mothers who are so egotistical they dare to say, 'I don't want you born.'" This is pretty central to the Western pro-life movement, but in Japan it would be quite a radical thing to say. It would be interesting to see how that story was received in Japan.
Overall, what the stories have in common, other than the looming Mt. Fuji, is a character or multiple characters on the edge of psychotic breaks. The auther gets into their heads and puts the reader there, so that even psychotic thoughts seem rational. Consider one anorexic woman's commentary: "The human mouth disgusts me. It's an internal organ, a mucous membrane, exposed at the lower part of your face; a gaping hole that's just there. The sight of food being pushed into it and masticated weirds me out and makes me nauseous." Well, yeah, when you put it that way.
Overall, an interesting, worthwhile read. If you can, though, skip the English translation.
July 19, 2015
I really liked these stories and themes in them, especially Jamila which was like American Psycho meets Hoarders in Japan. A quick read and the philosophical problems aren't posed in any puzzling or subtle way. It's like if the X-files were tv shows investigating suicides and other mundane (but endlessly fascinating) spiritual or existential problems.
Reading this review here helped me with some questions I had about whether some of the unsophisticated moments could be blamed on the translation. I still don't know FOR SURE and never will since I probably won't ever learn Japanese AND reread this book in it, but at least I know I wasn't alone at cringing at seemingly unfitting language like "my peeps". It's not that I can't imagine a twenty-something Japanese woman saying "my peeps", but it totally didn't go with the rest of the language. I guess there's no way to really know for sure what the original style is when reading a translation, especially when there's so much more than language that's foreign to someone like me, and probably lots of language that there really is no translation for. Not that I read it thinking, "wow; this is all so exotic and foreign to me!" But I don't know about cultural stuff like how Japanese people generally feel about abortion (another reason I appreciate this review).
Anyway, I can see myself reading more of this author as translations become available. It was dark pleasure reading that reminded me of reading for pleasure as a young teenager.
Reading this review here helped me with some questions I had about whether some of the unsophisticated moments could be blamed on the translation. I still don't know FOR SURE and never will since I probably won't ever learn Japanese AND reread this book in it, but at least I know I wasn't alone at cringing at seemingly unfitting language like "my peeps". It's not that I can't imagine a twenty-something Japanese woman saying "my peeps", but it totally didn't go with the rest of the language. I guess there's no way to really know for sure what the original style is when reading a translation, especially when there's so much more than language that's foreign to someone like me, and probably lots of language that there really is no translation for. Not that I read it thinking, "wow; this is all so exotic and foreign to me!" But I don't know about cultural stuff like how Japanese people generally feel about abortion (another reason I appreciate this review).
Anyway, I can see myself reading more of this author as translations become available. It was dark pleasure reading that reminded me of reading for pleasure as a young teenager.
October 13, 2014
Riveting book on the lives of dysfunctional Japanese living under the shadow of the great mount Fuji. I was totally moved by the lucid writing style of Randy Taguchi, who was both bold and sensitive to human emotions. I loved the depictions of the various characters, the literal store supervisor, his young wrist cutting lover, the garbage collector Jamila, the compassionate nurse were so well presented that they will remain with me for a considerable time.
This is the first time I have read Randy, and I don't think this will be the last.
This was a fantastic read.
This is the first time I have read Randy, and I don't think this will be the last.
This was a fantastic read.
July 11, 2017
I read this book a couple days after reading Outlet. I could tell both were written by the same author: both are about the human spirit and show an earnest desire to share; both are very straightforward – to the point of being pedestrian – in their narrative style. Of the four stories in this book the first two, The Blue Summit and The Sea of Trees, were decent stories but seemed innocent and almost YA (Young Adult) to me. The fourth, Child of Light, was well told and very moving, and yet ran a predictable course and left no room for surprises. It was the third story, Jamila, that really struck me and made me think and convinced me that I had not made a mistake in buying and reading this book. To judge from the reviews here on GR and elsewhere, different people react to the story in different ways, but for me it was an affecting parable on the Buddhist idea of attachments. If I were putting together an anthology of contemporary Japanese short stories Jamila would be the first one I would add.
June 18, 2018
I was pretty happy with this book. The stories took some unexpected and interesting turns from me. I liked the references to AUM and the way she presented the former members as people sincerely working for self improvement. As with some of her other stories, I found her to be well informed about Buddhist ideas, which unfold through the main character in the first story. This is not the first time she has talked about AUM, and certainly not her first story using Buddhist philosophy. I'm reading her book ZAZEN GIRL now, but it's hard to tell if it will be translated into English. If you like these stories, I want to recommend two movies based on her novels: Konsento (Outlet) and Antena (Antenna), both about people who develop shamanic abilities.
April 15, 2024
— "Okano, what do you think Japan's greatest faith is?
I've been thinking about this constantly, and I believe it's perhaps Mount Fuji. The Japanese have been viewing Mount Fuji and placing their faith in it since the days of the Kojiki. That mountain is the corpus of the collective unconscious of the Japanese. All Japanese share a particular image of Mount Fuji-of its Japanesque beauty, its exquisite sublimity. Mount Fuji is both material and immaterial. It's the greatest specter."
July 11, 2017
An effort to read but I'm glad I did.
Four thoughtful and moving short stories set in the shadow of Mount Fuji. The translation was jarring at first, but I grew accustomed to the awkward language. I found the characters intriguing and wanted to learn more about them. It wasn't a smooth read, but I'm glad I kept at it.
Four thoughtful and moving short stories set in the shadow of Mount Fuji. The translation was jarring at first, but I grew accustomed to the awkward language. I found the characters intriguing and wanted to learn more about them. It wasn't a smooth read, but I'm glad I kept at it.
October 17, 2019
What a weird book, I didnt enjoy this one. I thought it was going to be with stories relating to Mount Fuji, mostly about some guy and fucked up dreams, eating assholes and killing people to put them in a hole.
Silver lining is it was free with kindle unlimited.
A book some may enjoy but not for me.
Silver lining is it was free with kindle unlimited.
A book some may enjoy but not for me.
December 3, 2018
I was drawn into these stories by the elements of distance and disconnection, which seem to fit wonderfully into this ever-more-fake social-media driven world we live in. Taguchi's characters are always slightly outside the world, scrambling for a foothold or unable to steer their own destinies. Mount Fuji looks on like a parent, sometimes supportive and tender, sometimes scolding and threatening.
June 22, 2015
Fujisan is a small book that consists of a novella and 3 other short stories. I borrowed it from the kindle library, the name seemed to catch my attention. The first story was pretty strange and it reminded me a lot of Haruki Murakami with it's dreamy atmosphere and the theme of loneliness which also stems out in the other stories. The Sea of Trees and Jamila were my favorites, the character were quirky and weird. I loved the Sea of Trees' theme about death and consciousness, and the question of life, it made me question my own beliefs of what happens when people die and why people want to die. Remember that the Sea of Trees is actually a real forest near mount Fuji, the Sea of Trees is an English translation of Aokigahara, which is the forest that is famous for being a peaceful place for people to commit suicide. A lot of people probably think it's pretty sick, but the Japanese or most Asian cultures believe death is a beautiful thing in life, death means eternal peace. Jamila was very interesting, maybe even in a bit disturbing due to the narrator's personality. He comes off as a jerk, self centered, but then you start to realize that he has absolutely no care for other people, mostly because he can't understand other people, and people in general just bother him because they are just too hard to understand. So I kind of felt bad for him afterwards. The last short story was a touching story and one of the topics was abortion, and it kind of teaches people to be kind to others no matter how they view things. I can't really explain why I like it, but I found it moving somehow. Actually I found this whole book to be rather enjoyable and I'm glad that I randomly found it in the Kindle library.
November 4, 2012
While little known in America- ‘Fujisan’ is only her second book released in English- Randy Taguchi has written 14 novels and many short stories and essays and is immensely popular in Japan. The four stories in ‘Fujjisan’ are all set on or near Mt. Fuji. That, and the fact that all four protagonists are struggling psychologically, is what connects these stories together. In ‘Blue Summit’, a former cult member working in a convenience store strives to deal with life now that he is allowed free will. ‘Sea of Trees’ is a coming of age story, as three boys in their early teens meet danger and death for the first time. ‘Jamila’ is the name of a hoarder, the psychological opposite of the narrator, who throws away his past like dirty hankies. In ‘Child of Light’, a nurse faces life and death and the human spirit- far from the first time for her- as she wonders about her future.
The protagonists are all struggling to reconcile their images of themselves. Faced with change on a deep level, they are all knocked off balance and into new understanding of themselves by other people. The stories are quiet and reflective like a Japanese garden but deeply moving.
The protagonists are all struggling to reconcile their images of themselves. Faced with change on a deep level, they are all knocked off balance and into new understanding of themselves by other people. The stories are quiet and reflective like a Japanese garden but deeply moving.
March 11, 2015
I really, really enjoyed this. Like a modern, Japanese version of Joyce's Dubliners, each story introduces a protagonist on the verge of a personal epiphany. The emotions are refreshingly raw and honest, without the airiness that often turns me against such introspective characters. Taguchi has a real habit of sneaking up on the reader with an emotional rabbit punch from characters that often seem to be numb and burned out at first glance. The last story, in particular, completely floored me at (at least) one point.
I see there are a few grumbles about the translation, particularly Mahtani's use of some English slang. As a long-term resident in Japan and a daily user of Japanese, I thought the translation was fine. In places the slang adds to the characterization, particularly in the case of the 'Osaka-mama' that is briefly encountered in the fourth story.
I see there are a few grumbles about the translation, particularly Mahtani's use of some English slang. As a long-term resident in Japan and a daily user of Japanese, I thought the translation was fine. In places the slang adds to the characterization, particularly in the case of the 'Osaka-mama' that is briefly encountered in the fourth story.
August 22, 2015
This is a collection of four short stories, all featuring Mount Fuji in some way.
In the first story a former member of a strict meditative ashram tries to create an oasis of calm in a late-night convenience store and finds a girl who needs some calm and stability.
The second story is about four teenage boys and suicide, but it a lot less morbid and a lot funnier than the subject matter would suggest.
The third story concerns an old lady who collects junk and a young man who throws most of his life into a metaphorical hole and forgets about it.
The final story is about a group of women who climb the mountain and see the dawn from the summit. It is also about birth and death.
They are good stories. All of them could take place almost anywhere in the world, but at the same time they are all quintessentially Japanese.
In the first story a former member of a strict meditative ashram tries to create an oasis of calm in a late-night convenience store and finds a girl who needs some calm and stability.
The second story is about four teenage boys and suicide, but it a lot less morbid and a lot funnier than the subject matter would suggest.
The third story concerns an old lady who collects junk and a young man who throws most of his life into a metaphorical hole and forgets about it.
The final story is about a group of women who climb the mountain and see the dawn from the summit. It is also about birth and death.
They are good stories. All of them could take place almost anywhere in the world, but at the same time they are all quintessentially Japanese.
January 29, 2013
I was surprised how much I liked this book. Each of the four novelettes is constructed with heart, humor and reality that takes the good with the bad. The lead characters are all very flawed, at least one to the point of dislike until a glimpse of the reasons for his depravity become evident. These stories hold the mirror up to life in an honest and effecting way. I hope that more of Randy Taguchi's novels and stories become available in English; I will read as much of her work as I can get my hands on.
December 21, 2012
These haunting stories all take place with Mt. Fuji brooding over them. Their atmospheric quality borders on the surreal, although they are firmly rooted in the presentday world. Except for some questionable apparitions. My favorite, Jamila, will stay with me a long time. Although the author has said that Mount Fuji is the spiritual center of Japan, sometimes the inclusion of the mountain facing dawn or sunset can be a bit contrived.
January 30, 2013
I made it thru the first novella and part of the second before I had to put this down. Either the writing here is terrible, or the translation is. I suspect it's the latter. Storywise, I had no issues with the work, but the sentence structure and language choices were so poor that I couldn't focus on plot, theme, or characters. Someone who cares less about language (or who can read this in its original Japanese) might find this more enjoyable, but it's not for me.
December 7, 2013
I loved this book, each story was well written, unique and beautiful in its own way. This book is one of my all time favourites. I love the different perspectives and views of humanity from each character, reading this book was like painting a beautiful masterpiece, different strokes with colours both dark and vivid that somehow unite together to form a finished piece.
November 20, 2015
A thought-provoking collection of 4 short stories revolving around the mysterious Mount Fuji.
The texts are lovely, mixing dream and reality freely, exploring feelings both dark and light. However, the prose reads awkwardly. I fear this must be put down to the apparent difficulties in translating Japanese to English, despite the credentials of the translator given at the end of the anthology.
The texts are lovely, mixing dream and reality freely, exploring feelings both dark and light. However, the prose reads awkwardly. I fear this must be put down to the apparent difficulties in translating Japanese to English, despite the credentials of the translator given at the end of the anthology.
March 13, 2013
It's not often you read four short stories that haunt you for weeks. I can't get this book out of my head.
November 12, 2013
maybe some parts were a little lost in translation or at least dampened by it. Really enjoyed the stories all the same.
February 25, 2015
I read two of the four stories that make up this book and I don't know why I stuck it out that long. Too much metaphysical/ paranormal for me.
September 12, 2016
An interesting collection of short stories, all with Mount Fuji as a backdrop. Very interesting.
August 3, 2015
Well written - just not my kind of book.
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