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This is Amiko, Do You Copy?
Tampaknya memang tidak ada yang bisa memahami Amiko. Mereka tak pernah mengerti betapa mengerikannya suara misterius dari balkon kamar yang selalu membuatnya ketakutan. Begitu pun dengan Amiko yang tak memahami mengapa Ibu tiba-tiba tertidur sepanjang hari, serta kakak yang tidak lagi bermain bersamanya dan bergabung dengan geng motor.
Ditulis oleh Natsuko Imamura, peraih Akutagawa Prize di tahun 2019 dengan karyanya yang berjudul The Woman in the Purple Skirt, This is Amiko membuatmu melihat dunia melalui kaca mata Amiko, seorang anak ceria dan penuh rasa ingin tahu, meski dunia selalu mengabaikan kehadirannya.
Akankah suara Amiko berhasil menemukan tempatnya di dunia? Ataukah dunia akan terus menutup telinga dan berpaling darinya?
Ditulis oleh Natsuko Imamura, peraih Akutagawa Prize di tahun 2019 dengan karyanya yang berjudul The Woman in the Purple Skirt, This is Amiko membuatmu melihat dunia melalui kaca mata Amiko, seorang anak ceria dan penuh rasa ingin tahu, meski dunia selalu mengabaikan kehadirannya.
Akankah suara Amiko berhasil menemukan tempatnya di dunia? Ataukah dunia akan terus menutup telinga dan berpaling darinya?
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Natsuko Imamura
8 books244 followersSee: 今村 夏子
Natsuko Imamura is a Japanese writer. She has been nominated three times for the Akutagawa Prize, and won the prize in 2019. She has also won the Dazai Osamu Prize, the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Kawai Hayao Story Prize, and the Noma Literary New Face Prize.
Natsuko Imamura is a Japanese writer. She has been nominated three times for the Akutagawa Prize, and won the prize in 2019. She has also won the Dazai Osamu Prize, the Mishima Yukio Prize, the Kawai Hayao Story Prize, and the Noma Literary New Face Prize.
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July 5, 2024
The world is rarely kind to those who are different, those who stand out from what society has deemed “acceptable” behavoir. And that can make the world a lonely place. This is Amiko, Do You Copy? by Natsuko Imamura, author of The Woman in the Purple Skirt, positions the reader into this sort of isolated existence as the story follows Amiko, a girl who seems to float through life as equally unaware of the bullying she receives as she is to how her own actions set her apart from others. Tender yet ultimately tragic, this is a story of the spreading consequences from misconceptions all seen through the eyes of a girl who can’t quite follow the thread of emotions and events. The story is best emphasized in a pivotal scene where Amiko speaks into her walkie-talkie, calling out to the world and receiving no response beyond, at one point when she hears ‘what sounded like a faint voice amid all the grating noise.’ Addressing neurodivergence and the ways people are misunderstood even by those closest to them, This is Amiko, Do You Copy? is a moving and rather heartbreaking story beautifully presented in a simplistic style (translated here by Hitomi Yoshio) that subtly implies far more than its own words.
I had enjoyed the way Imamura’s The Woman in the Purple Skirt left a lot unsaid but managed to make those omissions speak the loudest and found that this is a talent she carries over into This Amiko, Do You Copy?. The whole novella is overflowing in dramatic irony where the reader is far more aware of the interpersonal dynamics and emotional currents than Amiko herself, through whom the story is told. It is written in third person, though only offers Amiko’s perspective, and the prose is rather simplistic in order to capture the impressions of the world the way a child would (Amiko goes from being a young child to a teenager over the course of the story). Being third person instead of first gives us a sense that Amiko’s own life feels at a remove from herself.
‘She wanted to be kind. But the more she wanted to be kind, the sadder she got. She couldn’t find the words. She couldn’t say a word.’
Many of the events of the story simply pass by without much special emphasis or investigation in order to embody the way that, for Amiko, even the most dramatic of moments don’t seem to register as such to her. Aside from her brief moments with Nori, a classmate for whom she has developed a strong affection despite not reading his social cues of utter annoyance at her presence, Amiko is rather unaffected by everything around her. And, initially, rather blissfully so. ‘It’s like you’re free,’ a classmate admits before adding, ‘well, it’s also why you get bullied…’ The tragedy of the novella is that, because Amiko doesn’t pick up on social cues or socially acceptable behavior, some of her actions cause great offense and sadness to her own family. There are some deeply uncomfortable scenes, though we also recognize how Amiko meant no offense and doesn't even realize that she has offended.
While a revelation about her family comes quite late in the novella, it is almost brushed aside in the text which can feel a bit frustrating as it feels underexplored. And this feeling of frustration the reader may feel should hopefully be eye opening as to why the people around Amiko act so cruelly towards her instead of stopping to think about how that is just the way she is. They misunderstand her and are cold to her instead of accommodating, they mock her behavior, and even her extremely protective brother eventually finds her to be too much for him. I also found the presentation of the narrative, winding around itself and weaving back and forth across the timeline, to not only be a great way to tease out the story but also represent the way Amiko processes her experience in roundabout ways.
This is Amiko, Do You Copy? is a heartfelt yet heartbreaking story that serves as an expression on neurodivergence in a society that is not equipped to be accommodating. I'd be curious to read how those with more experience on the subject matter find the representation, and I'm also curious how the conversation around neurodivergence has changed since this was originally published in 2011. The book has been compared to Convenience Store Woman, though the two novels take fairly different approaches but both still become rather tragic social criticisms. Short, moving, and rather powerful, this book is a good reminder to have patience and understanding with others, and to show kindness instead of the cruelty Amiko finds here.
3.5/5
I had enjoyed the way Imamura’s The Woman in the Purple Skirt left a lot unsaid but managed to make those omissions speak the loudest and found that this is a talent she carries over into This Amiko, Do You Copy?. The whole novella is overflowing in dramatic irony where the reader is far more aware of the interpersonal dynamics and emotional currents than Amiko herself, through whom the story is told. It is written in third person, though only offers Amiko’s perspective, and the prose is rather simplistic in order to capture the impressions of the world the way a child would (Amiko goes from being a young child to a teenager over the course of the story). Being third person instead of first gives us a sense that Amiko’s own life feels at a remove from herself.
‘She wanted to be kind. But the more she wanted to be kind, the sadder she got. She couldn’t find the words. She couldn’t say a word.’
Many of the events of the story simply pass by without much special emphasis or investigation in order to embody the way that, for Amiko, even the most dramatic of moments don’t seem to register as such to her. Aside from her brief moments with Nori, a classmate for whom she has developed a strong affection despite not reading his social cues of utter annoyance at her presence, Amiko is rather unaffected by everything around her. And, initially, rather blissfully so. ‘It’s like you’re free,’ a classmate admits before adding, ‘well, it’s also why you get bullied…’ The tragedy of the novella is that, because Amiko doesn’t pick up on social cues or socially acceptable behavior, some of her actions cause great offense and sadness to her own family. There are some deeply uncomfortable scenes, though we also recognize how Amiko meant no offense and doesn't even realize that she has offended.
While a revelation about her family comes quite late in the novella, it is almost brushed aside in the text which can feel a bit frustrating as it feels underexplored. And this feeling of frustration the reader may feel should hopefully be eye opening as to why the people around Amiko act so cruelly towards her instead of stopping to think about how that is just the way she is. They misunderstand her and are cold to her instead of accommodating, they mock her behavior, and even her extremely protective brother eventually finds her to be too much for him. I also found the presentation of the narrative, winding around itself and weaving back and forth across the timeline, to not only be a great way to tease out the story but also represent the way Amiko processes her experience in roundabout ways.
This is Amiko, Do You Copy? is a heartfelt yet heartbreaking story that serves as an expression on neurodivergence in a society that is not equipped to be accommodating. I'd be curious to read how those with more experience on the subject matter find the representation, and I'm also curious how the conversation around neurodivergence has changed since this was originally published in 2011. The book has been compared to Convenience Store Woman, though the two novels take fairly different approaches but both still become rather tragic social criticisms. Short, moving, and rather powerful, this book is a good reminder to have patience and understanding with others, and to show kindness instead of the cruelty Amiko finds here.
3.5/5
June 17, 2023
Natsuko Imamura’s award-winning debut, adapted for cinema as This is Amiko, consists of episodes in the life of Amiko from Hiroshima, following her from age ten through to her mid-teens. I found it a slightly problematic piece, the style’s deceptively simple and direct, so at first it felt like a children’s book - maybe something aimed at pre-teens. But as Imamura’s narrative unfolded, it became clear children are far from her intended audience. Instead, her choice of style seems to be an attempt to represent events and experiences from Amiko’s perspective, and reflect an idea that she’s most likely neurodivergent or neuro-atypical – although this notion is never directly addressed or refined in any way.
At first Amiko’s world seems relatively secure and structured. Although she’s frequently singled out by her teachers for her apparently “inappropriate” behaviour, and has no friends, she’s close to her fiercely protective, older brother. Home seems tranquil enough, her pregnant stepmother teaches calligraphy in a spare room, and Amiko’s eager to meet her new brother or sister. But when the child dies at birth, everything changes. Amiko’s stepmother gradually retreats into silence, locking herself away in her bedroom; Amiko’s father’s rarely home and her brother joins a local gang. Amiko is now one of Japan’s many neglected or left-alone children (hoochigo). There’s no longer any stability or structure to Amiko’s days, she’s expected to fend for herself, often skipping meals and school, when she is there her classmates label her “weird” and shun or bully her.
I was conflicted about Imamura’s decision to write this entirely from Amiko’s point of view, the immediacy of each scene and Amiko’s matter-of-fact presentation of events could sometimes seem contrived or frustratingly vague. But as the story progressed, it could also be unexpectedly affecting and forceful – Imamura’s documentary-like approach sometimes reminded me of Cho Nam-joo’s Kim Ji-young, Born 1982. And there’s an intriguing, fly-on-the-wall quality to Imamura’s narrative, as if readers are eavesdropping on Amiko’s private thoughts and key experiences. But the lack of narration or any scenes providing a wider context made me slightly uncomfortable too, and I wondered if Imamura was trying to do too much – or too little – here. I was also curious about why she decided to link (a very broad conception of) neurodivergence to child abuse and what, if anything, she wanted to suggest about the possible relationship between these. Amiko’s certainly a compelling creation but I’d have appreciated an afterword outlining the basis for Imamura’s conception of the character: her background research; her understanding of neuro-atypicality and her particular interpretation here of what that might mean; as well as how all of these connected to her desire to explore the obvious social issues underlying her text. Translated by Hitomi Yoshio.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher Pushkin Press for an ARC
Rating: 2.5
At first Amiko’s world seems relatively secure and structured. Although she’s frequently singled out by her teachers for her apparently “inappropriate” behaviour, and has no friends, she’s close to her fiercely protective, older brother. Home seems tranquil enough, her pregnant stepmother teaches calligraphy in a spare room, and Amiko’s eager to meet her new brother or sister. But when the child dies at birth, everything changes. Amiko’s stepmother gradually retreats into silence, locking herself away in her bedroom; Amiko’s father’s rarely home and her brother joins a local gang. Amiko is now one of Japan’s many neglected or left-alone children (hoochigo). There’s no longer any stability or structure to Amiko’s days, she’s expected to fend for herself, often skipping meals and school, when she is there her classmates label her “weird” and shun or bully her.
I was conflicted about Imamura’s decision to write this entirely from Amiko’s point of view, the immediacy of each scene and Amiko’s matter-of-fact presentation of events could sometimes seem contrived or frustratingly vague. But as the story progressed, it could also be unexpectedly affecting and forceful – Imamura’s documentary-like approach sometimes reminded me of Cho Nam-joo’s Kim Ji-young, Born 1982. And there’s an intriguing, fly-on-the-wall quality to Imamura’s narrative, as if readers are eavesdropping on Amiko’s private thoughts and key experiences. But the lack of narration or any scenes providing a wider context made me slightly uncomfortable too, and I wondered if Imamura was trying to do too much – or too little – here. I was also curious about why she decided to link (a very broad conception of) neurodivergence to child abuse and what, if anything, she wanted to suggest about the possible relationship between these. Amiko’s certainly a compelling creation but I’d have appreciated an afterword outlining the basis for Imamura’s conception of the character: her background research; her understanding of neuro-atypicality and her particular interpretation here of what that might mean; as well as how all of these connected to her desire to explore the obvious social issues underlying her text. Translated by Hitomi Yoshio.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher Pushkin Press for an ARC
Rating: 2.5
November 17, 2023
My thanks to Pushkin Press for a review copy of this book via Edelweiss.
This is Amiko, Do You Copy? by Natsuko Imamura is another entry from Pushkin’s Japanese Novellas series, originally published in 2014 and in this translation by Hitomi Yoshio in 2023. This is the story of Amiko Tanaka, a young neurodivergent girl, who when the story opens, is living with her grandmother, and seems to have only one friend, Saki-chan whose visits she looks forward to. As she takes us back in time, we learn that she lived with her family, mother (whom we later see is her stepmother, a caring woman and not the typical fairy-tale one), father, and older brother, and led what one could describe as a ‘normal’ life, attending school, doing homework, and such. But being someone who doesn’t view life or society or the various frames society has created within which one is supposed to live from a ‘regular’ person’s perspective, we see that her so called normal life isn’t that; she skips school at times, eats rice and curry with her hands, likes to peep into the calligraphy classes her stepmother holds (especially as a young classmate she is interested in, Nori, is a student there), and sees only what appeals to her and not much else including among the people she might meet every day.
But things start to change for Amiko when her stepmother loses a child and falls into depression (set off in part by a rather callous act on Amiko’s part which the poor girl fails to realise the actual import of, since from her side she is doing it to comfort her mother), her brother takes up smoking and joins a biker gang, and her father is simply present but has little to do with her. Amiko must cope with everything around her on her own, navigating various situations she doesn’t understand.
Though narrated in third person, the story is told entirely from Amiko’s perspective and gives readers a sense of how someone in her situation sees, understands and experiences the world, and perhaps also how the world is built to accommodate only certain type/s of people and virtually locks out those that are different. As Amiko sees and experiences things from her own frames, in some senses, she remains protected from the hurt those around her might inflict—not sensing for instance when she is being avoided by someone; in others, even real physical hurt is taken much too lightly by her—the pain there but the act itself not affecting her the way it would others.
One doesn’t really get to see how Amiko’s family and friends view her situation or understand it. To an extent there is some understanding and much consideration from them, for instance she is rarely reprimanded for her ‘abnormal’ behaviour (though her stepmother does on one occasion tell her that she must do her homework, and so on); her brother Kota, though just a few years older is remarkably patient with her explaining to her to the best of his abilities how she must react in different situations, walking her back from school and putting up with antics an ‘ordinary’ teen might never do (after he joins the biker gang, this changes, but his presence in school and her being recognised as his sister protects her from the worst of bullies); likewise she is not scolded in school either, and she has a kind classmate who tries to help her in his own way.
But beyond this care, there also seems a lack of it, in that when there is a recognition that she is different, it doesn’t seem as if anything special is being done by them to understand her better or help her find a world she can fit in (I mean here may be a special school or homeschooling); and then when tragedy strikes, and Amiko gets more and more lost, even telling others what she is experiencing, she receives no attention whatsoever leaving her to deal with everything herself – a heartbreaking scenario for the readers to see.
This is a heart-wrenching book, especially as the reader can see more than Amiko does, but also one which leaves us with a lot of questions too, for beyond the typical and expected behaviours from fellow students (surprisingly considerate ones from some too) and the concern of a sort that is shown by family and teachers, one really doesn’t get to see their perspective on things, which would perhaps help us understand better why.
3.25 stars
This is Amiko, Do You Copy? by Natsuko Imamura is another entry from Pushkin’s Japanese Novellas series, originally published in 2014 and in this translation by Hitomi Yoshio in 2023. This is the story of Amiko Tanaka, a young neurodivergent girl, who when the story opens, is living with her grandmother, and seems to have only one friend, Saki-chan whose visits she looks forward to. As she takes us back in time, we learn that she lived with her family, mother (whom we later see is her stepmother, a caring woman and not the typical fairy-tale one), father, and older brother, and led what one could describe as a ‘normal’ life, attending school, doing homework, and such. But being someone who doesn’t view life or society or the various frames society has created within which one is supposed to live from a ‘regular’ person’s perspective, we see that her so called normal life isn’t that; she skips school at times, eats rice and curry with her hands, likes to peep into the calligraphy classes her stepmother holds (especially as a young classmate she is interested in, Nori, is a student there), and sees only what appeals to her and not much else including among the people she might meet every day.
But things start to change for Amiko when her stepmother loses a child and falls into depression (set off in part by a rather callous act on Amiko’s part which the poor girl fails to realise the actual import of, since from her side she is doing it to comfort her mother), her brother takes up smoking and joins a biker gang, and her father is simply present but has little to do with her. Amiko must cope with everything around her on her own, navigating various situations she doesn’t understand.
Though narrated in third person, the story is told entirely from Amiko’s perspective and gives readers a sense of how someone in her situation sees, understands and experiences the world, and perhaps also how the world is built to accommodate only certain type/s of people and virtually locks out those that are different. As Amiko sees and experiences things from her own frames, in some senses, she remains protected from the hurt those around her might inflict—not sensing for instance when she is being avoided by someone; in others, even real physical hurt is taken much too lightly by her—the pain there but the act itself not affecting her the way it would others.
One doesn’t really get to see how Amiko’s family and friends view her situation or understand it. To an extent there is some understanding and much consideration from them, for instance she is rarely reprimanded for her ‘abnormal’ behaviour (though her stepmother does on one occasion tell her that she must do her homework, and so on); her brother Kota, though just a few years older is remarkably patient with her explaining to her to the best of his abilities how she must react in different situations, walking her back from school and putting up with antics an ‘ordinary’ teen might never do (after he joins the biker gang, this changes, but his presence in school and her being recognised as his sister protects her from the worst of bullies); likewise she is not scolded in school either, and she has a kind classmate who tries to help her in his own way.
But beyond this care, there also seems a lack of it, in that when there is a recognition that she is different, it doesn’t seem as if anything special is being done by them to understand her better or help her find a world she can fit in (I mean here may be a special school or homeschooling); and then when tragedy strikes, and Amiko gets more and more lost, even telling others what she is experiencing, she receives no attention whatsoever leaving her to deal with everything herself – a heartbreaking scenario for the readers to see.
This is a heart-wrenching book, especially as the reader can see more than Amiko does, but also one which leaves us with a lot of questions too, for beyond the typical and expected behaviours from fellow students (surprisingly considerate ones from some too) and the concern of a sort that is shown by family and teachers, one really doesn’t get to see their perspective on things, which would perhaps help us understand better why.
3.25 stars
October 9, 2024
This intriguing novella about a neurodivergent young girl named Amiko and the world as seen through her eyes is a heartbreaking read. She appears content at first, living in her bubble and anticipating the birth of her new sibling, but her world abruptly changes when her stepmother loses the child. There were certain elements that I felt I missed or didn't fully comprehend in the manner I might have if I had greater knowledge of Japanese culture, as the story is written from Amika's point of view and she has limited awareness of what is happening to get family and so on. She is not your typical untrustworthy narrator. As readers, we are able to see more than Amiko does, but it also raises many questions for us because, aside from the usual and expected behaviors of others and the concern exhibited by family and teachers, we are not really given the opportunity to see their point of view, which could potentially help us comprehend why things the way they do.
But beyond this care, there also seems a lack of it, in that when there is a recognition that she is different, it doesn’t seem as if anything special is being done by them to understand her better or help her find a world she can fit in (I mean here may be a special school or homeschooling); and then when tragedy strikes, and Amiko gets more and more lost, even telling others what she is experiencing, she receives no attention whatsoever leaving her to deal with everything herself – a heartbreaking scenario for the readers to see.
But beyond this care, there also seems a lack of it, in that when there is a recognition that she is different, it doesn’t seem as if anything special is being done by them to understand her better or help her find a world she can fit in (I mean here may be a special school or homeschooling); and then when tragedy strikes, and Amiko gets more and more lost, even telling others what she is experiencing, she receives no attention whatsoever leaving her to deal with everything herself – a heartbreaking scenario for the readers to see.
September 27, 2023
You know when a story just speaks to you but you're not sure why. Well this is one of mine.
This is Amiko tells the story of Amiko, a little girl who has a form of neuro-divergence (its not made clear what). Amiko goes to school when she wants to; she struggles with relationships with her family and the other schoolchildren. At school she is ridiculed and bullied. At home she is mainly ignored.
Amiko does not grasp the most basic of human emotions and no one tries to explain the world to her. She is in love with a boy called Nori who only humiliates and bullies her.
This is a simple, sad tale of a little girl who no one takes the time to help. Her maladjustment in life makes her an easy target for bullies and it seems that her family cannot deal with her condition so they ignore her or chastise her for her difference.
I felt so sorry for Amiko. I wanted to pick her up and set her on her feet and tell her not everyone is cruel but autism is such a tricky condition to deal with and, never having had a family member anywhere on the spectrum I would probably do the same wrong things that everyone in the book does.
I loved this novella. The writing is beautiful; there's no word wasted. It is simple and lovely. I continue my love affair with Japanese literature.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advance review copy.
This is Amiko tells the story of Amiko, a little girl who has a form of neuro-divergence (its not made clear what). Amiko goes to school when she wants to; she struggles with relationships with her family and the other schoolchildren. At school she is ridiculed and bullied. At home she is mainly ignored.
Amiko does not grasp the most basic of human emotions and no one tries to explain the world to her. She is in love with a boy called Nori who only humiliates and bullies her.
This is a simple, sad tale of a little girl who no one takes the time to help. Her maladjustment in life makes her an easy target for bullies and it seems that her family cannot deal with her condition so they ignore her or chastise her for her difference.
I felt so sorry for Amiko. I wanted to pick her up and set her on her feet and tell her not everyone is cruel but autism is such a tricky condition to deal with and, never having had a family member anywhere on the spectrum I would probably do the same wrong things that everyone in the book does.
I loved this novella. The writing is beautiful; there's no word wasted. It is simple and lovely. I continue my love affair with Japanese literature.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advance review copy.
December 30, 2024
Subtle, tender and so heart-movingly written. I felt so empty upon finishing it, wondering on the after-scene to that last chapter with a lingering thought on Amiko’s words and hoping that Saki-chan was actually exist. It was such an emotionally intense theme that brought me to uncover the intricacies of a child’s naivety and pureness living in a world that neither imaginary nor reality, surviving in between craving for love to enduring the anonymity and hatred she received because of her neurodivergent character; a day as Amiko that makes me wanna go and hug her so tightly in every freaking chapters.
The plot somehow works backwards like a backstory to its prologue. Love the tone and way it was written— melancholic yet so pleasingly affecting with its absorbing characterization and dynamic; from Amiko unflinching father’s character and her stepmom’s psychological condition to her brother, Kota who turned into a juvenile delinquent and Nori, the boy that she was so obsessed with. The progress really struck me with an engaging exploration on belonging and loss, of family grief, loneliness as well that perspective of friendship that was shown through Amiko’s school scenes; it was so sad to see how she was treated by every classmates including Nori who loathed her too much. I wonder about that shaved head boy btw— he was too mysterious that I am judging his existence.
That walkie-talkie was surely a character by itself and I like how it plays its part in Amiko’s world; love the interactions Amiko created, her hopefulness was so charming and too cute it breaks me so much when the tragedy happened. It gets too surreal and emotionally distressing nearly the end but overall I enjoyed the read a lot. This novella really deserved those literary awards it received 👍🏻
Highly recommended!
“Um, are you listening? This is Amiko, do you copy?”
The plot somehow works backwards like a backstory to its prologue. Love the tone and way it was written— melancholic yet so pleasingly affecting with its absorbing characterization and dynamic; from Amiko unflinching father’s character and her stepmom’s psychological condition to her brother, Kota who turned into a juvenile delinquent and Nori, the boy that she was so obsessed with. The progress really struck me with an engaging exploration on belonging and loss, of family grief, loneliness as well that perspective of friendship that was shown through Amiko’s school scenes; it was so sad to see how she was treated by every classmates including Nori who loathed her too much. I wonder about that shaved head boy btw— he was too mysterious that I am judging his existence.
That walkie-talkie was surely a character by itself and I like how it plays its part in Amiko’s world; love the interactions Amiko created, her hopefulness was so charming and too cute it breaks me so much when the tragedy happened. It gets too surreal and emotionally distressing nearly the end but overall I enjoyed the read a lot. This novella really deserved those literary awards it received 👍🏻
Highly recommended!
“Um, are you listening? This is Amiko, do you copy?”
May 17, 2023
This was a poignant novella which talks about loss and the consequences of social stigma for neurodivergent people. Told through the viewpoint of the endearing Amiko, we follow her from childhood into her adolescent years as she narrates the changes she and her family go through based on several key moments in their lives.
Amiko is unlike everyone else around her; she lacks the kind of perception one needs to survive the brutalness that comes with interaction with your peers (especially when they're kids/teenagers), and she constantly misses the social cues which would enable her to blend in with the rest of society. Unfortunately for the girl, her interactions with the outside world often lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication as the meanings behind other people's words and subtler hints escape her.
The dissonance from what Amiko perceives and understands vs. what the rest of the non-neurodivergent people see forms the crux of this novella, and the writing hits the right note with a nice balance of naivety and wonder (as it's essentially from the POV of a child). Perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman, which deals with much of the same issues.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Amiko is unlike everyone else around her; she lacks the kind of perception one needs to survive the brutalness that comes with interaction with your peers (especially when they're kids/teenagers), and she constantly misses the social cues which would enable her to blend in with the rest of society. Unfortunately for the girl, her interactions with the outside world often lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication as the meanings behind other people's words and subtler hints escape her.
The dissonance from what Amiko perceives and understands vs. what the rest of the non-neurodivergent people see forms the crux of this novella, and the writing hits the right note with a nice balance of naivety and wonder (as it's essentially from the POV of a child). Perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman, which deals with much of the same issues.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 9, 2024
Bardzo lubię styl pisania Imamury - zawsze jest przenikliwy, ale oszczędny. Ta historia trochę przeszła obok mnie bez większych emocji.
November 14, 2024
A fantastic, powerful coming-of-age story.
October 25, 2025
sweet amiko is different and entirely ignorant to her surroundings, and is punished for it throughout the story. i can’t decide whether the fact she’s completely unaware of the way she’s treated is a good or bad thing considering her environment, but my heart breaks for her regardless
October 12, 2024
با اینکه طرفدار پروپاقرص ادبیات جنایی ژاپنم اما هنوز. نتونستم با ادبیات اجتماعی ژاپن ارتباط برقرار کنم بهخصوص اون دسته از موضوعاتی که مرتبط با دانشآموزان و سنین کودکی و نوجوانیه که اون بچه متفاوت از بقیهس. آنچنان واسم ملموس نیست و به درک درستی ازش نرسیدم.
قبلا هم تو این سبک کتاب بهشت رو خوندم و همین نظر رو داشتم.
شایدم کتاب باید طولانیتر و عمیقتر میبود که به درک درستی ازش برسم.
بااینحال نویسنده سه جایزه معتبر ژاپنی بوده و احتمالا تفاوت دیدگاهها و فرهنگهاست که متوجه عمق داستان و هدفش نشدم.
قبلا هم تو این سبک کتاب بهشت رو خوندم و همین نظر رو داشتم.
شایدم کتاب باید طولانیتر و عمیقتر میبود که به درک درستی ازش برسم.
بااینحال نویسنده سه جایزه معتبر ژاپنی بوده و احتمالا تفاوت دیدگاهها و فرهنگهاست که متوجه عمق داستان و هدفش نشدم.
November 2, 2023
I rather curious novella about Amika, a Neuro divergent young girl, and the world as seen through her eyes. She seems happy enough to begin with; living in her bubble, and looking forward to the arrival of her new baby brother, but when her step-mother loses the baby her world changes almost overnight. The story is told from Amika's point of view and she has little understanding about what is happening to get family and so to her, so there were definitely things that I felt I missed or didn't really understand in the way I might have if I had more knowledge of Japanese culture. She's a different kind of unreliable narrator.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
*Many thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
September 26, 2024
THIS BOOK MADE ME WEEP LIKE A CHILD😭
rounding this up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. i never thought i would have so much feels from reading a short story but i guess it really just speaks to me as someone who has worked with children with disabilities for years. i assumed amiko is in the spectrum ((even though it doesnt state what exactly in the book)) & i remembered a parent who once told me that she wished people ((including herself)) would be able to go into the mind of her child and see the world through his eyes in order to have a deeper understanding and i really love how this novella is a valiant attempt at doing exactly that.
amiko sees things differently and no one really understands amiko most of the time. and amiko dont understand why the rest treats her the way it is too - bullying & abandonment is something that amiko herself normalize, even around her loved ones. things will never be the same as she lives in a family burdened by loss and grief. we get to watch her attempt to lead an independent life as she grows up & the struggles that are associated with that, which often seem to fade into the background, overshadowed by her innocent perspective.
!!!!!!! this book is so important and im so glad it exists. easily read yet made me reflect on so many things. it forces us to re-examine our empathy & reading more from her POV just makes its more heartfelt and genuine. i just thought it would be better if its longer but i still appreciate the awareness.
im so glad to watch the movie afterwards which honestly was explored in more detail including the society's POV - highly rec to check it out too & i rarely say this for adaptations but i felt that it was really a great one and really made this book comes alive!!! :'-) AND THAT ENDING. the film truly captured beautifully & perfectly of the feeling i was getting when i was reading it 😭💯
rounding this up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. i never thought i would have so much feels from reading a short story but i guess it really just speaks to me as someone who has worked with children with disabilities for years. i assumed amiko is in the spectrum ((even though it doesnt state what exactly in the book)) & i remembered a parent who once told me that she wished people ((including herself)) would be able to go into the mind of her child and see the world through his eyes in order to have a deeper understanding and i really love how this novella is a valiant attempt at doing exactly that.
amiko sees things differently and no one really understands amiko most of the time. and amiko dont understand why the rest treats her the way it is too - bullying & abandonment is something that amiko herself normalize, even around her loved ones. things will never be the same as she lives in a family burdened by loss and grief. we get to watch her attempt to lead an independent life as she grows up & the struggles that are associated with that, which often seem to fade into the background, overshadowed by her innocent perspective.
!!!!!!! this book is so important and im so glad it exists. easily read yet made me reflect on so many things. it forces us to re-examine our empathy & reading more from her POV just makes its more heartfelt and genuine. i just thought it would be better if its longer but i still appreciate the awareness.
im so glad to watch the movie afterwards which honestly was explored in more detail including the society's POV - highly rec to check it out too & i rarely say this for adaptations but i felt that it was really a great one and really made this book comes alive!!! :'-) AND THAT ENDING. the film truly captured beautifully & perfectly of the feeling i was getting when i was reading it 😭💯
January 5, 2024
First read of 2024.
I was very surprised at how sad and bleak this book was. The book opens with a scene of Amiko, who is now living with her grandmother, as she gathers wild violets to gift to her dear friend, little Saki. With this tender opening, I was expecting the story to be completely joyful but I ended up finishing the last page with a very heavy heart.
This is Amiko, Do You Copy feels like a mesh of Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman and Won-Pyung Sohn’s Almond with its quiet exploration of living as an outlier within an indifferent and unsympathetic society. Amiko, the protagonist of the story, is slightly odd. She sings in the middle of class, walks around barefoot at school and eats with her hands. Due to her eccentricities, the people around Amiko struggle to carve out a space for her. She is often bullied and humiliated. Her brother avoids being seen with her at school, and she is largely ignored at home. What makes the story even more heartbreaking is Amiko doesn’t even comprehend why she was being ridiculed, or why her actions seem to make people around her upset. And although she doesn’t fully grasp her situation, the loss and isolation she experience as a child greatly affected her physical and psychological health.
Although heartbreak is very evident throughout the story, there is also a lot of heart and humour to be found here. Amiko is incredibly funny, endearing and deserved to be loved wholeheartedly. I just wanted to hug her, grab the other walkie-talkie and say to her: “Yes, Amiko. I copy that.”
Many thanks to Pansing Distribution for the gifted copy. I appreciate it.
I was very surprised at how sad and bleak this book was. The book opens with a scene of Amiko, who is now living with her grandmother, as she gathers wild violets to gift to her dear friend, little Saki. With this tender opening, I was expecting the story to be completely joyful but I ended up finishing the last page with a very heavy heart.
This is Amiko, Do You Copy feels like a mesh of Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman and Won-Pyung Sohn’s Almond with its quiet exploration of living as an outlier within an indifferent and unsympathetic society. Amiko, the protagonist of the story, is slightly odd. She sings in the middle of class, walks around barefoot at school and eats with her hands. Due to her eccentricities, the people around Amiko struggle to carve out a space for her. She is often bullied and humiliated. Her brother avoids being seen with her at school, and she is largely ignored at home. What makes the story even more heartbreaking is Amiko doesn’t even comprehend why she was being ridiculed, or why her actions seem to make people around her upset. And although she doesn’t fully grasp her situation, the loss and isolation she experience as a child greatly affected her physical and psychological health.
Although heartbreak is very evident throughout the story, there is also a lot of heart and humour to be found here. Amiko is incredibly funny, endearing and deserved to be loved wholeheartedly. I just wanted to hug her, grab the other walkie-talkie and say to her: “Yes, Amiko. I copy that.”
Many thanks to Pansing Distribution for the gifted copy. I appreciate it.
March 13, 2024
"She wanted to be kind. But the more she wanted to be kind, the sadder she got. She couldn’t find the words. She couldn’t say a word"
This novella tells the story of Amiko, a young neurodivergent girl, who struggles to read social traits or other people's emotions. She has a strange perception of the world. Given her condition, she is an outcast at home and is always bullied or teased by her schoolmates. She is obsessed with Nori, a boy who attended Amiko's stepmother's calligraphy class, but Nori does not share the same sentiment. When her stepmother suffers from depression after losing a child and her brother, Kota, takes up smoking and joins a biker gang, Amiko is forced to navigate this strange world by herself.
Though short, this is a well-constructed novel that showcases Natsuko Imamura's literary talent. Imamura managed to give an effective voice to Amiko when the whole story was told from the perspective of someone who is neurodivergent. The prose was full of subtlety, and tenderness while maintaining a melancholic tone. It exemplifies how the world and society could be so brutal towards people who are suffering from mental illness. The scene where Amiko uses the walkie-talkie (which was gifted to her during her tenth birthday) to call out to the world but without receiving any response, is truly heartwrenching and emotional. Imamura is also able to maintain an atmosphere that lacks clarity and vague where she doesn't spend much time explaining a lot of details to her readers (such as the source of the "grrr grrr, psssss" noise that is bothering Amiko, and the fact that Amiko is neurodivergent). Her trust in her readers' ability to understand and see through her metaphors is applaudable. This is what allows her to deliver a short yet impactful novella without wasting any words. All in all, Imamura instills the theme of compassion that we ought to show towards those who are suffering from any form of mental illness. A strong 4/5 star read! Thanks to Definitely Books and Pansing Distribution for sending this review copy to me!
This novella tells the story of Amiko, a young neurodivergent girl, who struggles to read social traits or other people's emotions. She has a strange perception of the world. Given her condition, she is an outcast at home and is always bullied or teased by her schoolmates. She is obsessed with Nori, a boy who attended Amiko's stepmother's calligraphy class, but Nori does not share the same sentiment. When her stepmother suffers from depression after losing a child and her brother, Kota, takes up smoking and joins a biker gang, Amiko is forced to navigate this strange world by herself.
Though short, this is a well-constructed novel that showcases Natsuko Imamura's literary talent. Imamura managed to give an effective voice to Amiko when the whole story was told from the perspective of someone who is neurodivergent. The prose was full of subtlety, and tenderness while maintaining a melancholic tone. It exemplifies how the world and society could be so brutal towards people who are suffering from mental illness. The scene where Amiko uses the walkie-talkie (which was gifted to her during her tenth birthday) to call out to the world but without receiving any response, is truly heartwrenching and emotional. Imamura is also able to maintain an atmosphere that lacks clarity and vague where she doesn't spend much time explaining a lot of details to her readers (such as the source of the "grrr grrr, psssss" noise that is bothering Amiko, and the fact that Amiko is neurodivergent). Her trust in her readers' ability to understand and see through her metaphors is applaudable. This is what allows her to deliver a short yet impactful novella without wasting any words. All in all, Imamura instills the theme of compassion that we ought to show towards those who are suffering from any form of mental illness. A strong 4/5 star read! Thanks to Definitely Books and Pansing Distribution for sending this review copy to me!
October 10, 2024
Well, kurasa aku menemukan penulis favorit terbaru.
Jika tiga cerita diurutkan dari yang paling favorit maka inilah urutannya:
1. Piknik
2. This is Amiko
3. Chizu
Piknik sangat mengingatkanku pada Perempuan Rok Ungu yang sangat kusukai: dunia kerja perempuan, obsesi, dan narator tak terlihat! Pada Piknik malah lebih rumit: tokoh aku si narator menceritakan dari sudut pandang temannya bernama Rumi yang menceritakan anak baru bernama Nanase yang menceritakan tentang pacarnya Nanase. Hah?? Gimana-gimana?
Dengan diksi yang tidak dibuat rumit, langsung on point dan minim kalimat berbunga-bunga yang berlebihan, sebenarnya buat ceritanya lumayan enak diikuti. Resepnya cuma berusaha menikmati dan bertahan dengan gaya berceritanya sampai akhir. Walaupun pas di akhir pun kurasa bakal menimbulkan reaksi: wtf did i just read??
Cerita pertama yang jadi judul juga dikisahkan dengan unik: tentang anak neuro divergent. Tapi seperti yang digunakan dalam Piknik, Imamura tidak tell sama sekali di dalam ceritanya kalau si Amiko ini neuro divergent. Gaya berceritanya memadu-padankan teknik tell and show dengan sangat efektif; tell untuk hal-hal sepele dan full show untuk hal-hal serius. Jadi, pembaca diharuskan mencari sendiri apa-apa yang tak tampak dipermukaan, apa sebenarnya yang ingin disampaikan Imamura.
Chizu juga mengadopsi gaya bercerita yang sama. Dengan cerita tentang seorang jompo kurasa membuat kumpulan cerita ini jadi komplit; tiga tokoh perempuan, tiga perbedaan umur, dan tiga perbedaan konflik. Tapi menurutku semua tokohnya sama dalam satu topik: kesendirian dan alienasi. Khas sastra jepang.
Jika tiga cerita diurutkan dari yang paling favorit maka inilah urutannya:
1. Piknik
2. This is Amiko
3. Chizu
Piknik sangat mengingatkanku pada Perempuan Rok Ungu yang sangat kusukai: dunia kerja perempuan, obsesi, dan narator tak terlihat! Pada Piknik malah lebih rumit: tokoh aku si narator menceritakan dari sudut pandang temannya bernama Rumi yang menceritakan anak baru bernama Nanase yang menceritakan tentang pacarnya Nanase. Hah?? Gimana-gimana?
Dengan diksi yang tidak dibuat rumit, langsung on point dan minim kalimat berbunga-bunga yang berlebihan, sebenarnya buat ceritanya lumayan enak diikuti. Resepnya cuma berusaha menikmati dan bertahan dengan gaya berceritanya sampai akhir. Walaupun pas di akhir pun kurasa bakal menimbulkan reaksi: wtf did i just read??
Cerita pertama yang jadi judul juga dikisahkan dengan unik: tentang anak neuro divergent. Tapi seperti yang digunakan dalam Piknik, Imamura tidak tell sama sekali di dalam ceritanya kalau si Amiko ini neuro divergent. Gaya berceritanya memadu-padankan teknik tell and show dengan sangat efektif; tell untuk hal-hal sepele dan full show untuk hal-hal serius. Jadi, pembaca diharuskan mencari sendiri apa-apa yang tak tampak dipermukaan, apa sebenarnya yang ingin disampaikan Imamura.
Chizu juga mengadopsi gaya bercerita yang sama. Dengan cerita tentang seorang jompo kurasa membuat kumpulan cerita ini jadi komplit; tiga tokoh perempuan, tiga perbedaan umur, dan tiga perbedaan konflik. Tapi menurutku semua tokohnya sama dalam satu topik: kesendirian dan alienasi. Khas sastra jepang.
November 18, 2023
A portrait of childhood through the eyes of an irrepressible young girl. So innocent and sad reading this from her pov.
August 5, 2024
What a beautiful, heartfelt novella. Poor Amiko, she is neurodivergent and has to be around people who don't accept her the way she is :(
August 11, 2024
This is a very moving portrait from the point of view of a junior high school student named Amiko. In flashbacks, we see her when she is younger too.
Amiko is neurodivergent. Yes, no one is “normal”, but the term specifically refers to people whose differences may stand out in certain ways, affecting, for example, social interactions and emotional intelligence.
We see that with Amiko from her point of view. The author and the text do not label her with a diagnosis, which is great, and we sometimes get glimpses of things that Amiko may not pick up on. I think this was very well done.
Some things that made me sad do not necessarily bother Amiko at all. It is not easy to tell. For example, her mother and older brother disappear from the narrative and probably from her life. That made me really sad.
However, if you read because you want to feel, you’ll love this story. It also connects to everyone’s experiences, because none of us sees things the same way, and this narrative really manages to demonstrate that.
It's hard not to fall for Amiko. She's as real as it gets.
Amiko is neurodivergent. Yes, no one is “normal”, but the term specifically refers to people whose differences may stand out in certain ways, affecting, for example, social interactions and emotional intelligence.
We see that with Amiko from her point of view. The author and the text do not label her with a diagnosis, which is great, and we sometimes get glimpses of things that Amiko may not pick up on. I think this was very well done.
Some things that made me sad do not necessarily bother Amiko at all. It is not easy to tell. For example, her mother and older brother disappear from the narrative and probably from her life. That made me really sad.
However, if you read because you want to feel, you’ll love this story. It also connects to everyone’s experiences, because none of us sees things the same way, and this narrative really manages to demonstrate that.
It's hard not to fall for Amiko. She's as real as it gets.
January 2, 2024
Completed my first #januaryinjapan
October 24, 2024
Usai membaca cerita Amiko yang ternyata baru sekitar lima puluh lima persen tebal buku, saya dikejutkan dengan adanya dua cerita lain yang diberi tajuk "Kisah-Kisah Lainnya". Saya kemudian menerka, “Wah, ini mungkin cerita sampingan yang mungkin dibawakan dari sudut pandang karakter yang lain tapi masih berkutat pada realm yang sama.” Ternyata salah dan kekecewaan saya muncul. Kisah lainnya tersebut berbeda dengan penokohan yang berbeda. Yang satu berjudul “Piknik” rasanya seperti novela tanpa jeda, sementara yang satu lagi “Chizu” yang benar-benar cerpen.
Ada rasa kecewa ketika kisah Amiko yang benar-benar bikin gamang dan penuh hal-hal “mustahil” (kata seorang penyair yang ulasannya ditaruh di awal buku) tidak benar-benar menjadi akhir buku. Kedua rasa itu lambat-laun hilang saat membaca dua cerita lain yang kemudian. Atau mungkin saya memang tidak seharusnya membaca dua cerita lain itu.
Anyway...
Kisah Amiko berpusat padanya yang melihat perubahan demi perubahan yang terjadi pada keluarganya. Ibunya yang dulu pengajar kaligrafi Jepang bergairah kini hanya bisa bergolar-goler di futon-nya. Ayahnya yang dulu penuh dukungan kini menjadi begitu abai. Kakak laki-lakinya yang dulu ceria kini menjadi anak nakal dan tidak pernah menemuinya lagi.
Semua ini tentu ada sebab. Ada momentum yang melibatkan kehamilan sang ibu dan kedukaan yang membuat semuanya jadi begitu berbeda. Dan Amiko harus melewati itu tanpa tahu apa yang harus ia lakukan. Ia beraktivitas seperti biasa namun tanpa panduan, sehingga mungkin dilihat berbeda oleh teman-teman sekolahnya. Ia jadi tidak bisa membaca, ia bau karena tidak mandi, dan ia kerap membolos sekolah. Bukan salahnya; ia tidak diarahkan.
Dari cerita Amiko, saya ambil kesimpulan dalam hemat saya bahwa masalah keluarga yang belum (atau tidak) diselesaikan dengan tuntas akan berdampak pada anggota di dalamnya. Namun, saat tidak benar-benar mau menyelesaikannya, anggota keluarga melakukan hal lain (yang mungkin berbeda dari sebelumnya) agar tetap bisa bertahan hidup. Hal-hal yang mungkin mustahil tapi harus dilalui oleh setiap anggota keluarga—oleh Amiko.
Terlepas dari itu, terjemahannya oke punya. Ilustrasi sampul buku dan isi buku juga perlu diacungi jempol. Suka banget.
Ada rasa kecewa ketika kisah Amiko yang benar-benar bikin gamang dan penuh hal-hal “mustahil” (kata seorang penyair yang ulasannya ditaruh di awal buku) tidak benar-benar menjadi akhir buku. Kedua rasa itu lambat-laun hilang saat membaca dua cerita lain yang kemudian. Atau mungkin saya memang tidak seharusnya membaca dua cerita lain itu.
Anyway...
Kisah Amiko berpusat padanya yang melihat perubahan demi perubahan yang terjadi pada keluarganya. Ibunya yang dulu pengajar kaligrafi Jepang bergairah kini hanya bisa bergolar-goler di futon-nya. Ayahnya yang dulu penuh dukungan kini menjadi begitu abai. Kakak laki-lakinya yang dulu ceria kini menjadi anak nakal dan tidak pernah menemuinya lagi.
Semua ini tentu ada sebab. Ada momentum yang melibatkan kehamilan sang ibu dan kedukaan yang membuat semuanya jadi begitu berbeda. Dan Amiko harus melewati itu tanpa tahu apa yang harus ia lakukan. Ia beraktivitas seperti biasa namun tanpa panduan, sehingga mungkin dilihat berbeda oleh teman-teman sekolahnya. Ia jadi tidak bisa membaca, ia bau karena tidak mandi, dan ia kerap membolos sekolah. Bukan salahnya; ia tidak diarahkan.
Dari cerita Amiko, saya ambil kesimpulan dalam hemat saya bahwa masalah keluarga yang belum (atau tidak) diselesaikan dengan tuntas akan berdampak pada anggota di dalamnya. Namun, saat tidak benar-benar mau menyelesaikannya, anggota keluarga melakukan hal lain (yang mungkin berbeda dari sebelumnya) agar tetap bisa bertahan hidup. Hal-hal yang mungkin mustahil tapi harus dilalui oleh setiap anggota keluarga—oleh Amiko.
Terlepas dari itu, terjemahannya oke punya. Ilustrasi sampul buku dan isi buku juga perlu diacungi jempol. Suka banget.
January 7, 2025
"This is Amiko. Do you copy?"
"Um, are you listening? It's me, Amiko."
This book is truly heart-wrenching. As I read, especially the final part, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming urge to hug Amiko or grab a walkie-talkie and tell her, “Hi Amiko. I’m here. I’m listening.” 💔
The story follows Amiko, a young girl full of innocence and naivety, who finds herself pushed to the edges of a society that doesn’t understand her. From childhood to adolescence, we witness her struggles as she tries to navigate a world that often feels unkind and confusing.
What broke my heart the most was how Amiko couldn’t understand why people avoided her or got angry with her. No one ever explained things to her in a way she could grasp, leaving her to face the world’s harshness without the needed support.
Her parents, overwhelmed and unsure of how to help, resorted to avoidance, hoping that with time, her struggles would simply disappear. This reaction highlights a more significant issue—how society often fails to support individuals with neurodivergent traits, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Imamura beautifully gives a voice to society's overlooked and misunderstood members. Through Amiko’s story, he shines a light on their innate kindness and purity—qualities that are so often ignored or misjudged. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the loneliness faced by those who don’t fit neatly into societal expectations.
The book also captures how society can sometimes be unforgiving to those who stand out. In a culture that often values conformity, being unique can feel like a burden. However, Imamura’s message is clear: differences are not flaws but strengths that add color and depth to the human experience. Instead of judging or isolating those who are different, we should strive to understand and celebrate the beauty of diversity.
Ultimately, this book is a moving exploration of neurodivergence, shedding light on the struggles faced by those who live outside society’s norms. It’s a story that deeply touches the heart and leaves a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
Please read this book. I highly recommend it 🥺💔
"Um, are you listening? It's me, Amiko."
This book is truly heart-wrenching. As I read, especially the final part, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming urge to hug Amiko or grab a walkie-talkie and tell her, “Hi Amiko. I’m here. I’m listening.” 💔
The story follows Amiko, a young girl full of innocence and naivety, who finds herself pushed to the edges of a society that doesn’t understand her. From childhood to adolescence, we witness her struggles as she tries to navigate a world that often feels unkind and confusing.
What broke my heart the most was how Amiko couldn’t understand why people avoided her or got angry with her. No one ever explained things to her in a way she could grasp, leaving her to face the world’s harshness without the needed support.
Her parents, overwhelmed and unsure of how to help, resorted to avoidance, hoping that with time, her struggles would simply disappear. This reaction highlights a more significant issue—how society often fails to support individuals with neurodivergent traits, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Imamura beautifully gives a voice to society's overlooked and misunderstood members. Through Amiko’s story, he shines a light on their innate kindness and purity—qualities that are so often ignored or misjudged. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the loneliness faced by those who don’t fit neatly into societal expectations.
The book also captures how society can sometimes be unforgiving to those who stand out. In a culture that often values conformity, being unique can feel like a burden. However, Imamura’s message is clear: differences are not flaws but strengths that add color and depth to the human experience. Instead of judging or isolating those who are different, we should strive to understand and celebrate the beauty of diversity.
Ultimately, this book is a moving exploration of neurodivergence, shedding light on the struggles faced by those who live outside society’s norms. It’s a story that deeply touches the heart and leaves a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
Please read this book. I highly recommend it 🥺💔
April 3, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
December 1, 2025
This is quite a sad book, though the narration doesn't dwell on sentimentality and just carries on dispassionately. I think it is a pretty tragic story about society's lack of understanding towards anything that doesn't conform.
January 24, 2024
Oh, wat heeft dit boek mijn hart veroverd en het vervolgens in stukjes teruggegeven. Een kort, maar zo'n ingrijpend en meeslepend verhaal. Het is ongelofelijk hoe schrijvers dat voor elkaar krijgen.
Het verhaal draait om een meisje dat anders is en haar plek in de wereld niet lijkt te kunnen vinden, zonder zelf door te hebben dat ze anders is. De exacte nuances laat de schrijver over aan interpretatie, maar oh Amiko, wat zou ik je graag uit dit boek willen halen en een dikke knuffel willen geven.
Een moeiteloze vijf sterren; een aanrader voor alle liefhebbers van (Japanse) literatuur.
Het verhaal draait om een meisje dat anders is en haar plek in de wereld niet lijkt te kunnen vinden, zonder zelf door te hebben dat ze anders is. De exacte nuances laat de schrijver over aan interpretatie, maar oh Amiko, wat zou ik je graag uit dit boek willen halen en een dikke knuffel willen geven.
Een moeiteloze vijf sterren; een aanrader voor alle liefhebbers van (Japanse) literatuur.
May 6, 2024
3.5
Well that was sad
Well that was sad
January 31, 2024
when i first started this, i thought i wasn’t the target audience because of the simple and straightforward writing style, as well as the fact that the story was told from a young girl’s perspective, but i soon changed my mind.
when her mother gave birth to a stillborn, amiko’s world very quickly became riddled with bullying and grief. misunderstood at school and often ignored at home, there was no one amiko could turn to for guidance and friendship. without directly addressing it, amiko’s character gave us a glimpse into a neurodivergent person’s mind and reading about it from her point of view made it all the more intimate and heartbreaking.
the book can be read in one sitting, but i thought it would’ve worked even better as a full-length novel rather than a novella because there were some themes that could’ve been explored in more detail, e.g. depression and child neglect. what i believed was an important revelation regarding amiko’s family was casually mentioned halfway through the book and then completely disregarded as the plot moved forward. regardless, i’d still recommend this because i liked the way it was written and could relate to some aspects of amiko’s personality.
when her mother gave birth to a stillborn, amiko’s world very quickly became riddled with bullying and grief. misunderstood at school and often ignored at home, there was no one amiko could turn to for guidance and friendship. without directly addressing it, amiko’s character gave us a glimpse into a neurodivergent person’s mind and reading about it from her point of view made it all the more intimate and heartbreaking.
the book can be read in one sitting, but i thought it would’ve worked even better as a full-length novel rather than a novella because there were some themes that could’ve been explored in more detail, e.g. depression and child neglect. what i believed was an important revelation regarding amiko’s family was casually mentioned halfway through the book and then completely disregarded as the plot moved forward. regardless, i’d still recommend this because i liked the way it was written and could relate to some aspects of amiko’s personality.
June 17, 2024
Saya itu sampai kesel dengan penerbitan buku ini: di sosmed penerbit ini sudah terbit lama, tapi sumpah ke Gramedia Depok (sebab ini yang paling dekat) nggak pernah ada itu buku. Jadi semacam goib, dan bertanya-tanya ini terbit publik atau bagaimana sih. Mengapa saya begitu ngotot, ya sebab aku suka sama The Woman in the Purple Skirt.... Unik saja cara penulis menuliskan tokoh dan konfliknya. Oke, ternyata ini tiga novela (This is Amiko Do You Copy, Piknik, sama Chizu). Chizu yang dari jumlah halaman paling pendek.
Gilaks, Amiko ini keren banget sih. Kedukaan bisa mengubah satu keluarga dengan Amiko yang memang se-plain itu menghadapi dunia.
Jadi makin harus memasukkan judul Asa: The Girl Who Turned into a Pair of Chopsticks ini untuk dibeli dan dibaca.
Gilaks, Amiko ini keren banget sih. Kedukaan bisa mengubah satu keluarga dengan Amiko yang memang se-plain itu menghadapi dunia.
Jadi makin harus memasukkan judul Asa: The Girl Who Turned into a Pair of Chopsticks ini untuk dibeli dan dibaca.
July 31, 2023
This is Amiko, Do You Copy? was a book I finished in a single sitting but which I am still contemplating in regards to my feelings towards it. The take is told entirely from Amiko's POV, which makes it feel simplistic at times despite the often difficult subject matter. It was interesting to see how she viewed the world and the events taking place around her, but at the same time, I felt a little detached from her as a character. When I turned the final page, I felt that the book had been interesting, but I hadn't engaged with it on a deeper level. It's probably most suitable for those who enjoy vignette-style stories where you are just getting a glimpse of someone's world rather than a story will a distinct beginning, middle and end. I am giving it 3.5 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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