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Kiku's Prayer: A Novel
Endo Shusaku was a renowned twentieth-century Japanese author who wrote from the unusual perspective of being both Japanese and Catholic. His work is often compared to that of Graham Greene, who himself considered Endo one of the century's finest writers. A historical novel set in the turbulent period between the fall of the shogunate and the Meiji Restoration, "Kiku's Prayer" embodies themes central to Endo's work, including religion, modernization, and the endurance of the human spirit. In Japan, the book is considered one of his late masterpieces and has never before been translated into English.
Endo's novel is told through the eyes of Kiku, self-assured young woman from a rural village who falls in love with Seikichi, a devoted Catholic man. Practicing a faith still banned by the government, Seikichi is imprisoned and forced to recant under torture. Kiku's efforts to reconcile her feelings for Seikichi and the sacrifices she makes to free him mirror the painful, conflicting choices Japan faced as a result of exposure to modernity and the West. Endo's nuanced view of history is very much on display in this novel: Seikichi's persecution exemplifies Japan's insecurities toward the West, and Kiku's tortured yet determined spirit represents the nation's resilient soul. Yet "Kiku's Prayer" is much more than a historical allegory. It acutely renders one woman's troubled encounter with passion and spirituality at a transitional time in her life and in the life of her people.
Endo's novel is told through the eyes of Kiku, self-assured young woman from a rural village who falls in love with Seikichi, a devoted Catholic man. Practicing a faith still banned by the government, Seikichi is imprisoned and forced to recant under torture. Kiku's efforts to reconcile her feelings for Seikichi and the sacrifices she makes to free him mirror the painful, conflicting choices Japan faced as a result of exposure to modernity and the West. Endo's nuanced view of history is very much on display in this novel: Seikichi's persecution exemplifies Japan's insecurities toward the West, and Kiku's tortured yet determined spirit represents the nation's resilient soul. Yet "Kiku's Prayer" is much more than a historical allegory. It acutely renders one woman's troubled encounter with passion and spirituality at a transitional time in her life and in the life of her people.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1981
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384 people want to read
About the author
Shūsaku Endō
384 books1,047 followersShusaku Endo (遠藤周作), born in Tokyo in 1923, was raised by his mother and an aunt in Kobe where he converted to Roman Catholicism at the age of eleven. At Tokyo's Keio University he majored in French literature, graduating BA in 1949, before furthering his studies in French Catholic literature at the University of Lyon in France between 1950 and 1953. A major theme running through his books, which have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Russian and Swedish, is the failure of Japanese soil to nurture the growth of Christianity. Before his death in 1996, Endo was the recipient of a number of outstanding Japanese literary awards: the Akutagawa Prize, Mainichi Cultural Prize, Shincho Prize, and Tanizaki Prize.
(from the backcover of Volcano).
(from the backcover of Volcano).
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 19, 2025
Kiku's Prayer centers on the story of Kiku praying to the Virgin Mary in Ōura Cathedral, which is told in my favorite Endō novel Sachiko. Like Endō's other works, it told with complexity, a sense of the mysterious workings of grace. Not as powerfully written as his other works, perhaps, but the material is as strong.
Content warnings: detailed depictions of torture, including the torture of children; depiction of rape
Content warnings: detailed depictions of torture, including the torture of children; depiction of rape
June 23, 2023
One danger of reading a translated text is to misinterpret something. You see, I thought that the title, Kiku's Prayer could mean something like Japan's Prayer (Kiku = Chrysanthemum = One of the national flowers of Japan). But then, I found out that the title of the book is actually 女の一生 in Japanese, which means something like The Life of a Woman. (Although according to my teacher, Kiku's cousin Mitsu is an anagram of tsumi or "sin" in Japanese)
But enough about my failed attempt to analyse the title. I've mentioned before how much I love Endo Shusaku, and now that they've translated another book of his, you've got to read it!
Kiku's Prayer follows Kiku, a girl living on the cusp of a modernising Japan. She falls in love with Seikichi, whom she discovers is a kuros (a kakure kirishita - hidden Christian), a practitioner of the banned faith. Despite the international pressure, Seikichi and the other kuros are arrested and brought away to be tortured (in order that they apostasize).
Because of her love of Seikichi, Kiku does, well, in the end, she sacrifices her life. She uses her body to earn money that will help Seikichi (although the money is used for the officer's own pleasure instead) and ultimately dies of consumption.
In fact, this book has a very bleak conclusion. While Christianity is eventually allowed and the Kuros released, the non-Christians are the one who appear to come up on top. But you know, it really reminds me of the Christian Literary Theory, in that Endo presents a very accurate picture of the fallen world.
And in fact, the ending is not without hope. We see that Kiku has lived a life of Love, and with the brighter looking future of the Kuros, well ^^. I suppose you could say that this book is a lot like Endo's classic Silence, because both books end on what seems like a bleak future but carry a faint ring of hope. In addition, both books emphasise the idea of love, a key theme in Endo Shusaku's writings.
This is definitely a book you have to read. For anyone even remotely interested in Japanese Literature or Christian literature, this is a gem that you can't miss. It's actually an inspiring force for me to improve my Japanese so that I can read the books in the original language.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
First posted at my link text
But enough about my failed attempt to analyse the title. I've mentioned before how much I love Endo Shusaku, and now that they've translated another book of his, you've got to read it!
Kiku's Prayer follows Kiku, a girl living on the cusp of a modernising Japan. She falls in love with Seikichi, whom she discovers is a kuros (a kakure kirishita - hidden Christian), a practitioner of the banned faith. Despite the international pressure, Seikichi and the other kuros are arrested and brought away to be tortured (in order that they apostasize).
Because of her love of Seikichi, Kiku does, well, in the end, she sacrifices her life. She uses her body to earn money that will help Seikichi (although the money is used for the officer's own pleasure instead) and ultimately dies of consumption.
In fact, this book has a very bleak conclusion. While Christianity is eventually allowed and the Kuros released, the non-Christians are the one who appear to come up on top. But you know, it really reminds me of the Christian Literary Theory, in that Endo presents a very accurate picture of the fallen world.
And in fact, the ending is not without hope. We see that Kiku has lived a life of Love, and with the brighter looking future of the Kuros, well ^^. I suppose you could say that this book is a lot like Endo's classic Silence, because both books end on what seems like a bleak future but carry a faint ring of hope. In addition, both books emphasise the idea of love, a key theme in Endo Shusaku's writings.
This is definitely a book you have to read. For anyone even remotely interested in Japanese Literature or Christian literature, this is a gem that you can't miss. It's actually an inspiring force for me to improve my Japanese so that I can read the books in the original language.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
First posted at my link text
July 17, 2020
Kiku's Prayer first appeared as a newspaper serial in the Asahi Shimbun between November 1980 and July 1981. An English translation was published in 2012, and the second novel, Sachiko, will be released in English in August of this year (2020). Both are set mainly in Nagasaki, the first in the years toward the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and early Meiji era (around 1868) and the latter during the years leading up to the atomic bombing of the city. Often called Japan's Graham Greene, Shusaku Endo was a Catholic too and, like Greene, had paradoxical views on religious matters, which he addressed in his writing. With a different perspective on some of the same themes he examined in his novel Silence (1966), Kiku's Prayer and Sachiko are also historical novels about the persecution of Japan's Christians.
Kiku's Prayer is a tragic love story as well, with gut-wrenching descriptions of torture and self-sacrifice that Endo seems to protract almost sadistically in places. Another interesting aspect of the novel is its portrayals of early foreign residents (Chinese, Dutch, French) in Nagasaki, including Fr. Bernard-Thadée Petitjean and Western diplomats who put pressure on the Tokugawa and Meiji governments to end its centuries-old persecution of Kirishitan Japanese. The narrative arc, from childhood to old age, is well designed, with some characters slipping in and out of lead roles over the span of the story. The persecutor Ito Seizaemon is an especially compelling, one-of-a-kind character, superbly despicable and pitiful. Overall, Kiku's Prayer is a good book, and I look forward to reading Sachiko.
Kiku's Prayer is a tragic love story as well, with gut-wrenching descriptions of torture and self-sacrifice that Endo seems to protract almost sadistically in places. Another interesting aspect of the novel is its portrayals of early foreign residents (Chinese, Dutch, French) in Nagasaki, including Fr. Bernard-Thadée Petitjean and Western diplomats who put pressure on the Tokugawa and Meiji governments to end its centuries-old persecution of Kirishitan Japanese. The narrative arc, from childhood to old age, is well designed, with some characters slipping in and out of lead roles over the span of the story. The persecutor Ito Seizaemon is an especially compelling, one-of-a-kind character, superbly despicable and pitiful. Overall, Kiku's Prayer is a good book, and I look forward to reading Sachiko.
September 5, 2020
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, though "enjoy" is an odd word to apply to a story like this. I guess I mean enjoy the reading experience. I have heard in passing about the Japanese martyrs, but all my online searching found information solely on those who died in the 17th century, nothing about the 19th century. I was curious to read the account written by a Japanese catholic, and the book started well, but bogged down in the middle.
Many Asian love stories are tragic, and this one is no exception. It's tragic because it describes the suffering of Japanese catholics exiled to de facto concentration camps and submitted to torture to force them to apostasise. It's tragic because no one, from the priests to the Christians to Kiku herself, can see that their suffering has any positive result whatsoever. (Well, you can't when you're in the middle of it.) And of course Kiku's love is doomed from the start.
I have to say I didn't find the figure of Ito very convincing, but the author had something to say about torturers being more tormented than their victims, I guess. Perhaps it worked better in the original.
The business with the figure of the Madonna was not very convincing, particularly in the final scene between it and Kiku, with all those real tears and head-shaking (and no one else there to see it, of course) but never mind.
Many Asian love stories are tragic, and this one is no exception. It's tragic because it describes the suffering of Japanese catholics exiled to de facto concentration camps and submitted to torture to force them to apostasise. It's tragic because no one, from the priests to the Christians to Kiku herself, can see that their suffering has any positive result whatsoever. (Well, you can't when you're in the middle of it.) And of course Kiku's love is doomed from the start.
I have to say I didn't find the figure of Ito very convincing, but the author had something to say about torturers being more tormented than their victims, I guess. Perhaps it worked better in the original.
The business with the figure of the Madonna was not very convincing, particularly in the final scene between it and Kiku, with all those real tears and head-shaking (and no one else there to see it, of course) but never mind.
January 6, 2013
A copy of this ARC was sent to me thanks to NetGalley and Columbia University Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both parties in advance.
2.5
This book was an uphill battle for me to read. I found myself constantly jumping back and forth between what I actually felt about this story. Now that I have completed the novel, I feel like my thoughts are more sound.
Kiku's Prayer is a historical novel that takes place during Japan's attempts at modernization, when Christianity slowly began to make its way into the country. Those who were hidden Christians, if caught were punished for their actions and tortured. A lot of Endo Shusaku's work focuses deeply on the Japanese-Christian mentality and how Christianity represents a kind of "modernity." This is absolutely present here, and as a historical novel its slow paced, but very engaging. The characters do a great job of sharing their thoughts and feelings about the troubles within the society, and the romance between Kiku and Seikichi, a devoted Catholic man, is quite sound. There desperation to be with each other is quite interesting, though it's not without its faults. There relationship does come across too one-dimensional at times, which is a shame considering as stand alone characters they are fairly fleshed out.
When the plotline was about Kiku and Seikichi, I was enjoying the book. When it was Petitjean and Ito, I found the book incredibly preachy. In fact, those who are not the most religious will find aspects of this novel to be horrifically preachy in places as a lot of the characters basically want God to cleanse their souls and fix their problems. I'm pretty sure, that is not how God works. One thing I did enjoy was the bildungsroman aspects in this novel. I loved watching Kiku and Mitsu grow up and attempt to come to terms with the conflicts that were inherent in their town. As a coming-of-age narrative in a time when Japan is modernizing, its great to see characters who are genuinely curious about the world around them, and what I loved about Mitsu and Kiku is just how honest they feel throughout the novel...
...however, I found that while I was enjoying 75% of the novel, the last half I found was very problematic. For starters, was there really a good reason for Kiku to get raped and blame herself for it despite it not being her fault at all? I don't buy it, and I found that the rape scene completely cheapens the story. Yes I feel sorry for her, but what was the the real point in doing that? You take this incredibly strong female character, have her get raped, blame herself for all of it, and then basically say God is punishing her? I was incredibly disappointed by this because it just added nothing to the story for me. The push through the ending gets ever worsen because that's when the novel is at its preachiest, as all these characters seem to think it's God's job to fix them.
The pacing in this novel is also a bit problematic. I don't mind a slow novel this is not a book that you can just power through in a sitting. This book is very methodical, which for some readers is great and for others its a bit of a chore. While I enjoyed the historical elements, I found that I wasn't always invested in what was going on. Endo Shusaku has many great ideas, but I found this novel and its translation much too dry for my tastes.
Overall, if your interested in the historical time period in which this novel takes places, there's much to enjoy. If you are not the religious type such as myself, there can definitely be some difficult moments in this text that may sway you away from reading. I wanted to love this book more than I did, but I found the last 20% really did destroy the experience for me.
2.5
This book was an uphill battle for me to read. I found myself constantly jumping back and forth between what I actually felt about this story. Now that I have completed the novel, I feel like my thoughts are more sound.
Kiku's Prayer is a historical novel that takes place during Japan's attempts at modernization, when Christianity slowly began to make its way into the country. Those who were hidden Christians, if caught were punished for their actions and tortured. A lot of Endo Shusaku's work focuses deeply on the Japanese-Christian mentality and how Christianity represents a kind of "modernity." This is absolutely present here, and as a historical novel its slow paced, but very engaging. The characters do a great job of sharing their thoughts and feelings about the troubles within the society, and the romance between Kiku and Seikichi, a devoted Catholic man, is quite sound. There desperation to be with each other is quite interesting, though it's not without its faults. There relationship does come across too one-dimensional at times, which is a shame considering as stand alone characters they are fairly fleshed out.
When the plotline was about Kiku and Seikichi, I was enjoying the book. When it was Petitjean and Ito, I found the book incredibly preachy. In fact, those who are not the most religious will find aspects of this novel to be horrifically preachy in places as a lot of the characters basically want God to cleanse their souls and fix their problems. I'm pretty sure, that is not how God works. One thing I did enjoy was the bildungsroman aspects in this novel. I loved watching Kiku and Mitsu grow up and attempt to come to terms with the conflicts that were inherent in their town. As a coming-of-age narrative in a time when Japan is modernizing, its great to see characters who are genuinely curious about the world around them, and what I loved about Mitsu and Kiku is just how honest they feel throughout the novel...
...however, I found that while I was enjoying 75% of the novel, the last half I found was very problematic. For starters, was there really a good reason for Kiku to get raped and blame herself for it despite it not being her fault at all? I don't buy it, and I found that the rape scene completely cheapens the story. Yes I feel sorry for her, but what was the the real point in doing that? You take this incredibly strong female character, have her get raped, blame herself for all of it, and then basically say God is punishing her? I was incredibly disappointed by this because it just added nothing to the story for me. The push through the ending gets ever worsen because that's when the novel is at its preachiest, as all these characters seem to think it's God's job to fix them.
The pacing in this novel is also a bit problematic. I don't mind a slow novel this is not a book that you can just power through in a sitting. This book is very methodical, which for some readers is great and for others its a bit of a chore. While I enjoyed the historical elements, I found that I wasn't always invested in what was going on. Endo Shusaku has many great ideas, but I found this novel and its translation much too dry for my tastes.
Overall, if your interested in the historical time period in which this novel takes places, there's much to enjoy. If you are not the religious type such as myself, there can definitely be some difficult moments in this text that may sway you away from reading. I wanted to love this book more than I did, but I found the last 20% really did destroy the experience for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2017
I liked this less for the plot (a romantic tragedy--not my favorite) but for the setting, and how it enabled me to see a place and a time in history that I knew nothing about. Did you know that a small group of Christians persisted outside of Nagasaki throughout the time when Japan was closed to the West? I certainly didn't, and seeing their descendants' faith and devotion after Japan's doors opened a little in the 1860s was extremely moving. I wish there had been a little more to tell me what was fact and what was the novelization, but overall I was fascinated by this moment in history.
Also the translator is married to someone I dearly love, which I assume is how this ended up on my list (it's been there for a while so I don't exactly remember).
Also the translator is married to someone I dearly love, which I assume is how this ended up on my list (it's been there for a while so I don't exactly remember).
April 26, 2020
I wish I could give this powerful, haunting book 10 stars.
April 22, 2013
Read other book reviews at Book Junkie Joint.
A beautifully faithful and rich depiction of 19th century Japan at a time when Christianity is rewarded with persecution.
This book is very well-written and detailed, using picturesque words to describe the simple beauty of living during Kiku’s time. There is even comparison of the places during Kiku’s time with how they turned out to be in modern times. At the on-set, the narration feels as if the narrator is recalling memories from his distant past, but pretty soon, everything modern vanishes and a picture of 19th century Japan is depicted.
To be honest, the beginning was slow and dragging. I wanted something to happen to the characters soon - anything! But then again, I guess that's part of the beauty in this book. It teaches patience
Kiku's Prayer follows the life of Kiku, an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary life at a time when Japan is still struggling to open up to the world. She's naive and stubborn but she is pure-hearted and she loves deeply.
Her life takes a turn for something bad when she falls in love with Sekichi, a Christian, or in the book, a 'kirishitan'. To note, Japanese Christians were persecuted in 19th century Japan, so Sekichi's religion presented a huge danger to his life and brought fears for Kiku.
Aside from following the life of Kiku, this book also tells about the struggles of the Christian priest, Petitjean, who kept his faith and believed that there are still existing Japanese Christians.
Personally, I'm a Christian myself and thus, Sekichi's story of persecution is nothing new to me. Presently, there are two Filipino saints, one of whom is Saint Lorenzo Ruiz who received harsh torture due to his struggle to spread Christianity. Still though, it was really interesting to read a historically accurate novel about the struggle of Christianity in Japan.
By the end of this book, although the ending could be considered tragic, I feel as if I gained a new perspective because of Kiku. Yes, her life was wasted away but she did live a life of love for Sekichi. And Japan eventually opened up to Christianity. Even if her life was tragic, there was hope. And I think, that was the main goal of this story - to bring hope.
A beautifully faithful and rich depiction of 19th century Japan at a time when Christianity is rewarded with persecution.
This book is very well-written and detailed, using picturesque words to describe the simple beauty of living during Kiku’s time. There is even comparison of the places during Kiku’s time with how they turned out to be in modern times. At the on-set, the narration feels as if the narrator is recalling memories from his distant past, but pretty soon, everything modern vanishes and a picture of 19th century Japan is depicted.
To be honest, the beginning was slow and dragging. I wanted something to happen to the characters soon - anything! But then again, I guess that's part of the beauty in this book. It teaches patience
Kiku's Prayer follows the life of Kiku, an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary life at a time when Japan is still struggling to open up to the world. She's naive and stubborn but she is pure-hearted and she loves deeply.
Her life takes a turn for something bad when she falls in love with Sekichi, a Christian, or in the book, a 'kirishitan'. To note, Japanese Christians were persecuted in 19th century Japan, so Sekichi's religion presented a huge danger to his life and brought fears for Kiku.
Aside from following the life of Kiku, this book also tells about the struggles of the Christian priest, Petitjean, who kept his faith and believed that there are still existing Japanese Christians.
Personally, I'm a Christian myself and thus, Sekichi's story of persecution is nothing new to me. Presently, there are two Filipino saints, one of whom is Saint Lorenzo Ruiz who received harsh torture due to his struggle to spread Christianity. Still though, it was really interesting to read a historically accurate novel about the struggle of Christianity in Japan.
By the end of this book, although the ending could be considered tragic, I feel as if I gained a new perspective because of Kiku. Yes, her life was wasted away but she did live a life of love for Sekichi. And Japan eventually opened up to Christianity. Even if her life was tragic, there was hope. And I think, that was the main goal of this story - to bring hope.
December 1, 2014
Endo's one of my favourite authors so I was excited about the prospect of a newly-translated novel. However, this has been a big disappointment. I'm not going to blame the translator because I've read some of Gessel's other Endo translations and they read perfectly well. The fact is that this is, for its length, a rather slight story. It concerns a young girl falling in love with a young man who is a Christian, a religion still forbidden during the period in which the story is set (the 1860s). The story also features a young French priest attempting to contact Japan's secret Christians. Endo has dealt with this theme much better elsewhere - here, the plot is riddled with unlikely coincidences, the characters are not terribly interesting, and it's all rather superficial and simplistic, with Endo frequently repeating things and spelling them out for us as if he believes his readers to be a bit dense. I must confess I abandoned this after about 170 pages, something I very rarely do. Perhaps I'll come back to it at some point but I might need someone to persuade me that it gets better in order to do so!
One might be tempted to think that Endo was getting a bit senile at this point, but he did write some good novels after this one, so I don't think that can explain this. Perhaps he was trying to write a bestseller aimed at housewives or something... I realise that I seem to be a lone dissenting voice regarding this book, so maybe I'm wrong - in fact, I hope that I am!
One might be tempted to think that Endo was getting a bit senile at this point, but he did write some good novels after this one, so I don't think that can explain this. Perhaps he was trying to write a bestseller aimed at housewives or something... I realise that I seem to be a lone dissenting voice regarding this book, so maybe I'm wrong - in fact, I hope that I am!
October 27, 2018
Reading in translation is always hit or miss. I watched the movie Silence, based on another book by this author, and wanted to give him a try. This was the only one available at the library. It has a lot of similar themes, especially the oppression of Christians (or Kirishitans) in Japan. The author obviously did a lot of research and based all his characters on real people, which adds realism, but also, I feel, some tentativeness in letting his imagination fill in the gaps.
It's a well-done story, not heavy-handed at all. It has a degree of complexity, unlike a lot of Christian fiction, which aims to teach morals or "prove" that Christianity is the only good path (all the Christians end up happy and wise; all the non-Christians suffer miserably - Kiku's Prayer is much more realistic).
Overall, I'd recommend this book if you're interested in learning about a historical period in Japan and how religious oppression can take many forms. I appreciated Endo's take on colonialism and contact with Europeans, which also had a degree of nuance not often encountered in such discussions (West bad, East good).
It's a well-done story, not heavy-handed at all. It has a degree of complexity, unlike a lot of Christian fiction, which aims to teach morals or "prove" that Christianity is the only good path (all the Christians end up happy and wise; all the non-Christians suffer miserably - Kiku's Prayer is much more realistic).
Overall, I'd recommend this book if you're interested in learning about a historical period in Japan and how religious oppression can take many forms. I appreciated Endo's take on colonialism and contact with Europeans, which also had a degree of nuance not often encountered in such discussions (West bad, East good).
September 1, 2016
This was a very well written translation by Van Gessell. He has translated 7 other books by Endoo Shuusaku. It was a difficult yet fascinating story to read. It recounts the persecution of Christians during the 1800's in Japan. The wording is beautiful and I'm not sure whether to credit the original author or the translator - both I guess. Beautiful literature and painful story. I think it is important for me to understand a little bit about the history of this saga in Japan's history. I would recommend it for anyone interested in the subject, or in Japan, but keep in mind it is disturbing to read about tortures and betrayals of trust.
August 1, 2018
3.5 stars
Filled with historical facts interrupting the plotline which hindered the novel's development and my level of empathy... Last couple chapters picked up the slack though.
Kiku's Prayer is pretty similar to Silence, although it has a feminine dimension which connects Kiku to Mary through their resignation of a loved one. Intriguing side characters too; I just did not like the interruptions and jumps in plotlines.
Filled with historical facts interrupting the plotline which hindered the novel's development and my level of empathy... Last couple chapters picked up the slack though.
Kiku's Prayer is pretty similar to Silence, although it has a feminine dimension which connects Kiku to Mary through their resignation of a loved one. Intriguing side characters too; I just did not like the interruptions and jumps in plotlines.
July 5, 2014
This was a very well written book and a good one to be reading while traveling in Japan. It only covers a small period in history but is very accurate in detail and nuanced in the character development of a people and a country. It not as entertaining as Shogun but it has an insiders point of view.
September 18, 2014
This is one of our dear friend's translations. He is gifted! Japanese is sooo difficult but Van makes it seem effortless. His translation is pure elegance in words.
June 5, 2016
So glad I read this book. Learned a bit about a time in the history of Japan.
April 22, 2016
Actually made me cry in public, essential chrisposting lit family
August 28, 2021
-POTENTIAL SPOILERS~
To be honest, I'm still unsure of how exactly I felt about this book. I certainly liked it, but sometimes it also majorly dragged. It's one reason it took me so long to finish it because I'd get to a very slow part then just get bored and drag my feet about continuing.
The plot of the book itself was good though. It's about a lesser-known period of time though we briefly discussed it in one of my Japanese classes, but the fact is most people just don't know this happened. It's a straight-forward premise that focuses more on the characters, following them throughout several years. I liked the passage of time, the descriptions of all the changing seasons, the holidays and festivals they all do, it was simple but really helped the story come to life and just show the characters as regular people. That plus the occasional asides about how much the city has changed since the story's setting really makes it feel like someone old is reminiscing on these things and telling you their story.
I liked the character of Kiku, how she remains strong-hearted and passionate but she slowly learns to accept Seikichi's faith and eventually is willing to do anything to save him from being imprisoned. Though maybe I'm a fool, I wasn't expecting her story to have such a tragic end, but at the same time there's still hope. I also liked Seikichi and his resilience and strong faith to keep going no matter what happened to him. There were also various side characters who do their roles in the story well.
However, the biggest problem I had was the pacing was all over the place. Lots of parts just drag or little gets done so it feels like a chore to read, plus the style itself was very dry. Sometimes it seemed like you were reading a textbook where the story would stop to give you random historical facts, with footnotes even, on things that were often only mentioned once. I don't know if the dry tone was the author's style, the fault of the translator, or a little bit of both, but it made getting through this book hard even though I liked everything else. Some things were hard to properly get into since they were literally just told to us.
Overall, good characters with lots of nice historical touches on a lesser-known part of history but the style is too dry and the pacing is too disjointed to get much entertainment out of. However the good stuff does make me interested to check out his other book similar to this Sachiko, perhaps I may mesh with the style of that one more.
To be honest, I'm still unsure of how exactly I felt about this book. I certainly liked it, but sometimes it also majorly dragged. It's one reason it took me so long to finish it because I'd get to a very slow part then just get bored and drag my feet about continuing.
The plot of the book itself was good though. It's about a lesser-known period of time though we briefly discussed it in one of my Japanese classes, but the fact is most people just don't know this happened. It's a straight-forward premise that focuses more on the characters, following them throughout several years. I liked the passage of time, the descriptions of all the changing seasons, the holidays and festivals they all do, it was simple but really helped the story come to life and just show the characters as regular people. That plus the occasional asides about how much the city has changed since the story's setting really makes it feel like someone old is reminiscing on these things and telling you their story.
I liked the character of Kiku, how she remains strong-hearted and passionate but she slowly learns to accept Seikichi's faith and eventually is willing to do anything to save him from being imprisoned. Though maybe I'm a fool, I wasn't expecting her story to have such a tragic end, but at the same time there's still hope. I also liked Seikichi and his resilience and strong faith to keep going no matter what happened to him. There were also various side characters who do their roles in the story well.
However, the biggest problem I had was the pacing was all over the place. Lots of parts just drag or little gets done so it feels like a chore to read, plus the style itself was very dry. Sometimes it seemed like you were reading a textbook where the story would stop to give you random historical facts, with footnotes even, on things that were often only mentioned once. I don't know if the dry tone was the author's style, the fault of the translator, or a little bit of both, but it made getting through this book hard even though I liked everything else. Some things were hard to properly get into since they were literally just told to us.
Overall, good characters with lots of nice historical touches on a lesser-known part of history but the style is too dry and the pacing is too disjointed to get much entertainment out of. However the good stuff does make me interested to check out his other book similar to this Sachiko, perhaps I may mesh with the style of that one more.
May 16, 2024
Kiku’s Prayer is a literary masterpiece. While Endo’s name is regularly mentioned these days after the Scorsese film brought his excellent novel Silence to the fore, I have yet to hear anyone make mention of his other works. Kiku’s Prayer outshines Silence.
As a young girl, Kiku and her cousin Mitsu are rescued by a boy from a neighboring village, a boy named Seikichi whom they are told they much never contact again because the people from his town are anathema. As teenagers, they travel to Nagasaki to begin earning a living as maids and happen to come across that same Seikichi, all grown up and selling produce in the streets. Mitsu has an almost childlike willingness to do as she is told, work hard, and help any injured or needy creature she comes across. Kiku is a headstrong leader who boldly rushes into trouble. And Kiku is smitten with Seikichi, in spite of the growing certainty that he is a Kuro, of the banned religion of the foreigners. As the Shogunate falls and the Emporer welcomes in the Meiji restoration and European trade burgeons after centuries of Japanese isolationism, those who profess the Kirishitan faith will come once again under violent scrutiny.
Kiku’s Prayer, which wasn’t translated into English for over three decades after its original publication, is a novel of sweeping historical and literary significance that should stand with Anna Karenina and East Of Eden as a major literary work at the top of all great must read lists. It is a full-bodied historical exploration of love and persecution, persecution and purity, the search for God and the search for meaning in a land erupting with political upheavals. To me, the spiritual reflections rival those of Silence, Viper’s Tangle, The Power And The Glory, Karamazov, and Ivan Ilyich. The complex cast of characters and sweeping historical context give the story a largeness like those of East Of Eden or War And Peace.
Seriously, if you have ever been impacted by literature, you should read this.
As a young girl, Kiku and her cousin Mitsu are rescued by a boy from a neighboring village, a boy named Seikichi whom they are told they much never contact again because the people from his town are anathema. As teenagers, they travel to Nagasaki to begin earning a living as maids and happen to come across that same Seikichi, all grown up and selling produce in the streets. Mitsu has an almost childlike willingness to do as she is told, work hard, and help any injured or needy creature she comes across. Kiku is a headstrong leader who boldly rushes into trouble. And Kiku is smitten with Seikichi, in spite of the growing certainty that he is a Kuro, of the banned religion of the foreigners. As the Shogunate falls and the Emporer welcomes in the Meiji restoration and European trade burgeons after centuries of Japanese isolationism, those who profess the Kirishitan faith will come once again under violent scrutiny.
Kiku’s Prayer, which wasn’t translated into English for over three decades after its original publication, is a novel of sweeping historical and literary significance that should stand with Anna Karenina and East Of Eden as a major literary work at the top of all great must read lists. It is a full-bodied historical exploration of love and persecution, persecution and purity, the search for God and the search for meaning in a land erupting with political upheavals. To me, the spiritual reflections rival those of Silence, Viper’s Tangle, The Power And The Glory, Karamazov, and Ivan Ilyich. The complex cast of characters and sweeping historical context give the story a largeness like those of East Of Eden or War And Peace.
Seriously, if you have ever been impacted by literature, you should read this.
April 7, 2023
If there were half ratings, this would be closer to a 4.5, I think. It doesn’t have the emotional impact of Silence—nothing does, really—but it does a good job for what it is: a further analysis on the persecution and suffering of Japanese Catholics with the added messiness of a love story. It’s raw, it’s tragic, but there is a glimmer of hope at the end. The main theme is suffering, as expected, but the book also explores the different forms of faith. There’s the more academic faith of a French priest, the resilient but sometimes misinformed faith of a Japanese peasant, but also the faith of Kiku trying to save the Christian boy she loves despite not understanding Christianity. Her railings against the statue of Our Lady, while sometimes amusing, were so human. How often do we want to do the same?
Now, on Itou. Introduced as a pathetic, manipulative, hateful man, Endo tried his best to write him as a sympathetic character. I don’t think it quite worked for me, but that’s part of the point, isn’t it?
Trigger warning for some sexual coercion and sex scenes in the latter portion of the book.
Now, on Itou. Introduced as a pathetic, manipulative, hateful man, Endo tried his best to write him as a sympathetic character. I don’t think it quite worked for me, but that’s part of the point, isn’t it?
Trigger warning for some sexual coercion and sex scenes in the latter portion of the book.
July 20, 2024
Endo Shusaku is most famous for Silence but that book pales in comparison to Deep River, which I love. But in the end, Kiku’s Prayer is the most heart-wrenching of the three. The book is Endo’s tribute to the city of Nagasaki and to the persecution of the Urakami Christians. It is his way of writing about the amazing devotion of these historical Christians who would not give up their faith; it is Endo’s grappling with those questions about God and undeserved suffering that surface as this story, based on real people and cruelly real events, unfolds. My Japanese wife has read this story three or four or five times or more. She has recommended it to me countless times. Now that I’ve read it, I know why.
These stories are portals to black history and to the whiteness of pure, devoted hearts like Kiku’s.
These stories are portals to black history and to the whiteness of pure, devoted hearts like Kiku’s.
October 2, 2024
Read through most of the book in a couple sitting, but slow down significantly towards the end where the emotional climax is. The book is beautiful and at times heartbreaking, with Kiku's story sharing certain parallels with other tales of noble prostitutes in East Asian literature (most prominently Vietnam's national epic the Tale of Kieu). The author expertly infused folk knowledge with Christian dogma, lending a uniquely Japanese texture to the trials and tribulations suffered by Urakami Christians.
January 29, 2021
About love and otherness, set in a compelling time in Japan’s history when it had an uncomfortable and halting arrangement with Christianity.
An important antidote to other literature I have come across that focusses on the worst aspects of Catholic Christians in Japan at the time.
An important antidote to other literature I have come across that focusses on the worst aspects of Catholic Christians in Japan at the time.
September 28, 2021
A magnificent, heartbreaking masterpiece of faith, love, suffering, and tragedy. Endo was one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century, and certainly one of the greatest of Christian novelists. This beautiful translation should lead more people to discover and appreciate him.
December 13, 2025
“Pain will give birth to love among them. Without pain, Lord Itō… love cannot come into being.”
July 30, 2019
遠藤周作の本はキリスト教の話しが多いなぁと思っていたけれど、この本は日本のキリスト教者が、どれだけ残酷に扱われてきた事の史実が分かりとても勉強になった。
最後まで楽しむことが出来た。私としては、第二部よりも一部の方が読みがいがあると思う。
最後まで楽しむことが出来た。私としては、第二部よりも一部の方が読みがいがあると思う。
February 8, 2018
It's a very painful book, detailing the torture and the sufferings that the Japanese Christians had to go through back in those times. But it also shows the depth of faith, revealing how one might persist and keep up hope despite the infinite pain that was heaped upon them. It moved me greatly to read about the sufferings of others and how they stuck solidly through to the bitter end. There is no greater pain, and yet they survived, and that is something we can all learn from.
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