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Tokyo
Social psychologist Ben Monroe has returned to Tokyo after a failed marriage, determined to seek out his former lover Kozue. His estranged teenage daughter Mazzy reluctantly flies from California to join him. On the flight she meets a young Japanese man, Koji, a cult survivor, who tells her the story of the luminous night princess Kaguya, a powerful tale of beauty and obsession. As Ben delves deeper into the underworld in search of Kozue, Mazzy and Koji are compelled to follow, and their four lives dangerously intersect as past and present collide.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2015
6 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Hogg
17 books25 followersNicholas Hogg was nominated for the IMPAC literary award for his début novel, Show Me the Sky. Winner of numerous short story contests, his work has also been broadcast by the BBC. His latest novel, TOKYO, is out now. www.nicholashogg.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 21, 2018
a good read up to a point, but its almost as if the author lost interest and decided to finish it any old way. I hated the ending..
December 19, 2015
Sets up a good story, but believe me when I say it goes absolutely nowhere with it.
August 10, 2022
sort of like murakami except written by a white guy
May 27, 2015
Tokyo, by Nicholas Hogg, is a story of loss and of the anchors that are grasped when a life is cast adrift. The writing demanded pauses for appreciation. It was a pleasure to read.
Social psychologist Ben Monroe studies group behaviour: the power of community, an individual’s desire to fit in, the benefits and drawbacks of crowd co-operation, and cults. Through his interest in the latter he meets his wife, Lydia. She is a strong willed woman who dismisses her husband when their toddler daughter, Mazzy, nearly drowns whilst in his care. However much Lydia may blame Ben for his momentary lapse it is nothing compared to the blame he heaps on himself.
Rejected by Lydia, Ben leaves her and Mazzy in California, traveling first to England and from there on to Japan. Whilst exploring this teeming yet fragile country he meets a beautiful young woman, Kozue, with whom he has a brief affair. Conflating good sex with love he struggles to forget her when he returns to England:
“this woman could bring me back to life”
Ben writes a book which will make his academic name and is subsequently offered the chance to return to Tokyo as a visiting professor. He persuades Lydia that Mazzy, now aged fifteen, would benefit by joining him there for six months. On her flight out she meets a young Japanese man, Koji. They speak only briefly but, unbeknownst to Mazzy, Koji becomes obsessed with her. It is not his first obsession.
Ben struggles to see his daughter as the beautiful young woman she is becoming. In trying to deal with his superficial perception he misses that underneath she still needs care. He takes to leaving her to pursue his will-o’-the-wisp of Kozue, a distraction that, once again, puts Mazzy in danger.
The style in which this book is written reminds me of Japanese authors I have read with its slightly surreal plot development and imagery. Characters are introduced but remain opaque. The reader is offered only glimpses of their depth, shadows emerging briefly as from behind the paper screen doors of the houses in which they live. Suggestion is powerful and no more is needed.
Japan is brought to life. I loved the observations on the irrelevance of so much that is valued by man:
“The earth moved […] oblivious to the act played out upon its surface”
When Ben visits the Fukushima exclusion zone he observes:
“In a shopping arcade grass shoots up from the steps of an escalator. How quickly the earth reclaims its space from our feeble endeavours.”
From “the safest country in the world”, despite the earthquakes, tsunamis and radiation, the descriptions of Japan darken as the tale progresses. The historical sex trade, where the geishas have morphed into hostesses, is explored alongside the attendant drugs and extortion. As the tension builds this distasteful side of Tokyo is offered up in contrast to the previously lauded order and honesty.
The plot of this story is compelling but it is the psyches of the protagonists that drew me in. The author captures the weaknesses of the middle aged man, the truculent teenager, and the let down wife with brutal honesty. He also takes the reader inside Japan, a country that I have never visited but, having read this book, feel I now know just that little bit better.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Cargo.
Social psychologist Ben Monroe studies group behaviour: the power of community, an individual’s desire to fit in, the benefits and drawbacks of crowd co-operation, and cults. Through his interest in the latter he meets his wife, Lydia. She is a strong willed woman who dismisses her husband when their toddler daughter, Mazzy, nearly drowns whilst in his care. However much Lydia may blame Ben for his momentary lapse it is nothing compared to the blame he heaps on himself.
Rejected by Lydia, Ben leaves her and Mazzy in California, traveling first to England and from there on to Japan. Whilst exploring this teeming yet fragile country he meets a beautiful young woman, Kozue, with whom he has a brief affair. Conflating good sex with love he struggles to forget her when he returns to England:
“this woman could bring me back to life”
Ben writes a book which will make his academic name and is subsequently offered the chance to return to Tokyo as a visiting professor. He persuades Lydia that Mazzy, now aged fifteen, would benefit by joining him there for six months. On her flight out she meets a young Japanese man, Koji. They speak only briefly but, unbeknownst to Mazzy, Koji becomes obsessed with her. It is not his first obsession.
Ben struggles to see his daughter as the beautiful young woman she is becoming. In trying to deal with his superficial perception he misses that underneath she still needs care. He takes to leaving her to pursue his will-o’-the-wisp of Kozue, a distraction that, once again, puts Mazzy in danger.
The style in which this book is written reminds me of Japanese authors I have read with its slightly surreal plot development and imagery. Characters are introduced but remain opaque. The reader is offered only glimpses of their depth, shadows emerging briefly as from behind the paper screen doors of the houses in which they live. Suggestion is powerful and no more is needed.
Japan is brought to life. I loved the observations on the irrelevance of so much that is valued by man:
“The earth moved […] oblivious to the act played out upon its surface”
When Ben visits the Fukushima exclusion zone he observes:
“In a shopping arcade grass shoots up from the steps of an escalator. How quickly the earth reclaims its space from our feeble endeavours.”
From “the safest country in the world”, despite the earthquakes, tsunamis and radiation, the descriptions of Japan darken as the tale progresses. The historical sex trade, where the geishas have morphed into hostesses, is explored alongside the attendant drugs and extortion. As the tension builds this distasteful side of Tokyo is offered up in contrast to the previously lauded order and honesty.
The plot of this story is compelling but it is the psyches of the protagonists that drew me in. The author captures the weaknesses of the middle aged man, the truculent teenager, and the let down wife with brutal honesty. He also takes the reader inside Japan, a country that I have never visited but, having read this book, feel I now know just that little bit better.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Cargo.
November 17, 2015
3.5 stars
Nicholas Hogg's Tokyo can best be summarized as Taken without the action (or Liam Neeson's charisma). What elevated it above the average was the unexpected psychological twist which arrived on page 148 of its 165 pages - probably a little too late for most readers.
I received a free copy of Tokyo through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nicholas Hogg's Tokyo can best be summarized as Taken without the action (or Liam Neeson's charisma). What elevated it above the average was the unexpected psychological twist which arrived on page 148 of its 165 pages - probably a little too late for most readers.
I received a free copy of Tokyo through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2018
started off well with vivid descriptions of japan, halfway through it got a bit tired and the plot twist at the end left me confused and i still don't fully understand what happened. it seemed a bit like the author just wanted to end the story and it felt like a cop out in a way. overall started off strong, ended just okay.
September 17, 2015
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Not knowing a lot about Japan myself, I found this to be a learning experience as well as entertainment. The story is very well written. I was expecting a different conclusion, what i got instead did not disappoint however.
January 4, 2017
Great descriptions, but didn't like the overall story
January 19, 2017
This book was given to me by a friend so I didn't know what to expect. Ben is a published author and professor of social psychology. He had spent a time in Japan and enjoyed the culture. He was back in Japan to carry out a study on into cults when he arranged for his estranged daughter, Mazzy to come to live with him and study in Tokyo. On her flight over she made an acquaintance of Koji who has just left a cult and took a shine to her. The book tells of Ben and Mazzy resurrecting their relationship and Ben finally catching up with a woman who had made a big impression on him on a previous visit
March 20, 2024
All of the conflicts in this story seem pointless and simple; there don't seem to be any real consequences to Ben, Mazzy, or Koji's actions. It's one-dimensional.
The novel also seems to exploit Koji's story; he's there for no reason other than that he has been a part of the very thing that Ben has spent his career studying. There's something interesting about the studied becoming the studier -- the stalker, if you will -- but I don't think that Hogg explores that idea deeply enough.
Not worth the read. I was just hoping for something more; a narratively satisfying end. Didn't get it.
The novel also seems to exploit Koji's story; he's there for no reason other than that he has been a part of the very thing that Ben has spent his career studying. There's something interesting about the studied becoming the studier -- the stalker, if you will -- but I don't think that Hogg explores that idea deeply enough.
Not worth the read. I was just hoping for something more; a narratively satisfying end. Didn't get it.
July 24, 2020
Slow-paced, dark; unsatisfactory ending
The book started off with potential but the story moved so slowly and none of the characters could hold my interest. After a long build-up, I expected a conclusion fusing the various elements of the book, but was ultimately disappointed. Many mistakes about detail of life in Japan could have easily been corrected by anyone knowledgeable.
The book started off with potential but the story moved so slowly and none of the characters could hold my interest. After a long build-up, I expected a conclusion fusing the various elements of the book, but was ultimately disappointed. Many mistakes about detail of life in Japan could have easily been corrected by anyone knowledgeable.
October 1, 2025
Es una trama interesante, entretenida pero que a mi parecer no profundiza en la temática principal que es la manipulación de las mandes por “líderes” espirituales que los llevan a concebir el suicidio como la entrada a un nuevo mundo, situación en la cual son más vulnerables los adolescentes y jóvenes que son maleables, nada excepcional.
Palomero 🍿
Palomero 🍿
July 20, 2018
Tokyo is a book which wholly immerses the reader in the eponymous city. Beautifully written.
November 12, 2019
A random find that was surprisingly absorbing.
October 30, 2022
Veramente noioso. Abbandonato.
June 7, 2023
La storia era inizia così bene. Purtroppo il finale è stato una delusione, molto sconclusionato. È stata una delusione. Due stelle per l'ambientazione
February 5, 2025
Author tragically runs out of typewriter ink before writing second half of book.
August 9, 2022
Loved reading about familiar places, little bit of intrigue and picked up towards the end
December 3, 2015
I read this book because Gill Tasker of Cargo Publishing told me, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, that I would really enjoy it. When Gill tells you something like that, even though she published the book, you know this is a book you must read. And when a book is published by Cargo Publishing you know that you are onto a good thing. And when the author is appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, you know that is a guarantee of quality. So I bought a copy of the book, got a ticket for the event, and set about the process of enjoying myself discovering an author who was completely new to me.
I hope that this blog will persuade my readers to do exactly that, as well, and that they will read "Tokyo" because it is a book that takes you to the heart of the human condition. The main characters are Ben, Mazzy and Koji, with Lydia, Kozue and a few others hovering in the background. Ben is a professor of social psychology studying Japanese cults, Mazzy is his daughter on a visit, keeping in touch with her mother Lydia by social media and Skype.. Kozue is Ben's lost love who he is trying to make contact with again. Koji is a psychopath. The story centres round the interaction of these five, and the other people in the book.
I do not intend to give away the plot development, but it is fair to warn the reader that there are some scenes of graphic violence, but not necessarily in the portrayal of the actual deed. It is more in the description of the thinking of the people concerned, or in their bafflement at the turn of events. But it is worthwhile talking about the elements that drive the plot.
Ben is searching for himself. This is crystallised in his search for Kozue, a lost love who he idolises, and in his relationship to Lydia, his older ex-wife. I am not sure why, but Oedipus' relationship with Jocasta kept coming into my mind. This is not a comparison that Nicholas Hogg makes directly, but it is very much a part of their relationship. Mazzy is seeking to become an adult. She is dependent upon her parents, an is, quite naturally, seeking to assert herself. Koji is seeking some form of redemption. Just as Ben seeks a way forward in his life by finding Kozue, so Koji finds himself attracted to Mazzy.
Nicholas Hogg takes you to the heart of a very human situation. You expect something dreadful to happen, and it does, but the resolution is not one that you will expect at all. This walk through the dark underbelly of Japan will tell you things that you do not want to know, but you will benefit from knowing them.
This is a remarkable book.
I hope that this blog will persuade my readers to do exactly that, as well, and that they will read "Tokyo" because it is a book that takes you to the heart of the human condition. The main characters are Ben, Mazzy and Koji, with Lydia, Kozue and a few others hovering in the background. Ben is a professor of social psychology studying Japanese cults, Mazzy is his daughter on a visit, keeping in touch with her mother Lydia by social media and Skype.. Kozue is Ben's lost love who he is trying to make contact with again. Koji is a psychopath. The story centres round the interaction of these five, and the other people in the book.
I do not intend to give away the plot development, but it is fair to warn the reader that there are some scenes of graphic violence, but not necessarily in the portrayal of the actual deed. It is more in the description of the thinking of the people concerned, or in their bafflement at the turn of events. But it is worthwhile talking about the elements that drive the plot.
Ben is searching for himself. This is crystallised in his search for Kozue, a lost love who he idolises, and in his relationship to Lydia, his older ex-wife. I am not sure why, but Oedipus' relationship with Jocasta kept coming into my mind. This is not a comparison that Nicholas Hogg makes directly, but it is very much a part of their relationship. Mazzy is seeking to become an adult. She is dependent upon her parents, an is, quite naturally, seeking to assert herself. Koji is seeking some form of redemption. Just as Ben seeks a way forward in his life by finding Kozue, so Koji finds himself attracted to Mazzy.
Nicholas Hogg takes you to the heart of a very human situation. You expect something dreadful to happen, and it does, but the resolution is not one that you will expect at all. This walk through the dark underbelly of Japan will tell you things that you do not want to know, but you will benefit from knowing them.
This is a remarkable book.
December 30, 2015
I’ve studied the Japanese culture, I write Japan-related fiction, and I speak the Japanese language, so I was really looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint - I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I don’t want to give away too much but I can say the plot was original, the characters were well-developed and insightful, and the author’s writing style was impressive. ‘Tokyo’ is not just a great work of fiction, it’s also a very good reference for anyone planning to live in Japan. The characters in this story are so convincing they offer an excellent introduction to understanding the Japanese mind-set and the plot touches on a lot of important issues that haunt modern-day Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun is often portrayed in the media as a safe country with a beautiful culture. However, there is a dangerous side to Japan which becomes obvious when you live there and you quickly realise this should be avoided at all costs. The author portrays this seediness perfectly when he describes the nightlife in Roppongi, the Shotgun Bar, the hostess bars as well as the nightclub scene, and Koji, the zealous cult member. In Japan, whenever you turn a corner you never know what to expect and this was brilliantly conveyed when Ben and Kozue dine at a secret location in a deserted Tokyo back street, the Zen moments Ben experiences when he hitchhikes his way around Japan, and when Mazzy joins her friend Larissa for a night out at the Yokohama Blitz and they end up in a bad way at a love hotel. The relationship between Ben Monroe and the hostesses Kozue and Yuki also offers a lot of insight into Japan’s floating world, its distractions, and its pitfalls. I also thought the father/daughter relationship between Mazzy and Ben was very realistic, although slightly disturbing, but I really felt they had a strong connection, a shared affection, and a special bond that was important to the plot’s structure. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Tokyo’ and I truly hope Nicholas Hogg writes another book set in Japan. He has a strong understanding of the Japanese culture and his writing ability is phenomenal.
February 27, 2016
The writing was very competent, I liked it. Nice rhythm.
“Haven’t you got a more recent photo?”
“It’s a great picture.”
“I do look cute.”
“You remember the trip?”
“Didn’t we see the wolf?”
“A coyote.”
The promise of the title, however, was largely unfulfilled. There was simply not enough of Tokyo, and its seedy side was barely licked. (Maybe because white foreigners of male persuasion have too few opportunities to experience it?) Two bars with hostesses – is that all?
The cult guy was actually not much more than a variation on the endless theme of robotic Japanese males yearning for blonde Western females. Kozue a variation on alluring Japanese females yearning for manly Western males. In other words, East (read: Japan) meets West (read: English-speaking world).
I liked Mazzy: cool name. I liked Lydia too. Actually, the portraits of women were GOOD which is a rare thing.
A lot of spelling mistakes in Japanese terms, sadly. The two kanji for “jealousy” 嫉妬 read shitto, not shito, and don’t mean “two women fighting”, although they both do have the onna-hen 女 component. The first kanji means “to get sick suddenly”, the second one “to envy”; the right-side component of the second kanji, 石, which is “stone”, is there to indicate sound and not any kind of fighty meaning. Yeah I know I’m ranting, but I hate the populist interpretations of kanji.
And if I once more see a reference to “Kabuki masks”, I’ll flip my shit. Folks! Kabuki has no masks!
August 25, 2016
Tokyo is not only an unusual read, but it's an absorbing one. It's got the pacing of a thriller, but it isn't one in the traditional sense. It's the story of Ben, a British psychologist who in his younger years travelled to Japan and met Kozue, a local. After a very intense relationship he eventually went back to Europe and married an American. Years later their marriage has failed and being an absent father to his teenage daughter Mazzy doesn't help. As a result, in an effort to find Kozue again and reclaim what they had he returns to Japan to work at the University and convinces his daughter to do a year at a school in Tokyo as well. Mazzy gets on the plane to Tokyo and sits down next to a quiet Japanese man, Koji, who has experienced a lot of quite shocking events in his life leading to his obsession with Mazzy. And as all three delve deeper into Japan and it's nasty side, unbeknownst to each of them they'll have each other to lean on.
I did not see the ending coming. Not for a longshot. Also, the writing is so hypnotic and the characters so interesting that you spend most of the time wondering where it's all leading and then when you get there it's a case of shock and awe.
Thanks to the publisher for giving me this proof. I really enjoyed it!
I did not see the ending coming. Not for a longshot. Also, the writing is so hypnotic and the characters so interesting that you spend most of the time wondering where it's all leading and then when you get there it's a case of shock and awe.
Thanks to the publisher for giving me this proof. I really enjoyed it!
December 29, 2016
The novel starts in a very different, new style which is interesting and exciting.
However: the protagonist is a Cult specialist, but there is only one example of a Cult described and the expectation of more to come is disappointed. Koji is a Cultist, but not much about it is shown, his mental state remains sketchy.
Mazzy (why pick such an outrageously stupid name for a rather normal teenager?) remains almost as sketchy. The family that used to be is a memory at most, Lydia's role is no more than a phone advisor... I had wished for more tension and clearer lines.
The end is left to the reader in terms of guesswork: what happened in the hotel? What happened to the girls and why did Koji leave them in as he did? What was his intention after all?
Kozue though is well portrayed - probably because her elusiveness matches Hogg's sketchy writing attitude.
Overall: an interesting experiment I rather enjoyed reading, but it calls for a thorough editing job and a lot more work on bringing characters to life.
However: the protagonist is a Cult specialist, but there is only one example of a Cult described and the expectation of more to come is disappointed. Koji is a Cultist, but not much about it is shown, his mental state remains sketchy.
Mazzy (why pick such an outrageously stupid name for a rather normal teenager?) remains almost as sketchy. The family that used to be is a memory at most, Lydia's role is no more than a phone advisor... I had wished for more tension and clearer lines.
The end is left to the reader in terms of guesswork: what happened in the hotel? What happened to the girls and why did Koji leave them in as he did? What was his intention after all?
Kozue though is well portrayed - probably because her elusiveness matches Hogg's sketchy writing attitude.
Overall: an interesting experiment I rather enjoyed reading, but it calls for a thorough editing job and a lot more work on bringing characters to life.
August 8, 2015
The beginning of the book was intriguing enough to keep me reading. Having lived and worked in western Japan for several years, I appreciated Hogg's attention to detail. Scenes between father and daughter were well written. The main characters moved through Japan in a way that felt authentic, yet I wasn't able to feel much for these lost men and by mid-point, the story danced on superficialities and I found myself dissatisfied with the thin portrayals of the women characters. That might have been the author's intent, to depict hazy obsession in a cold world. Yet, I had to force myself to read to the end.
August 30, 2023
nella mia spirale di ossessione per il Giappone ed in particolare per Tokyo, questo libro è stato letto ammetto esclusivamente per il suo titolo (ops). un thriller che ho trovato interessante appunto solo nelle descrizione delle strade secondarie di Tokyo, del Golden Gai. le premesse del mistero erano carine, ma la risoluzione del "finto" rapimento della figlia è stata una delusione. dimenticabile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2016
Absolutely fascinating. Great characters - including Tokyo itself, which if, like me you are fairly unfamiliar with, becomes a character in its own right.
I thought I could see where it was going, but I was completely wrong. Far more interesting than any of my second guesses, I never saw that ending coming.
I thought I could see where it was going, but I was completely wrong. Far more interesting than any of my second guesses, I never saw that ending coming.
April 26, 2017
Nicholas Hogg writing makes you think you are watching a movie. I really want to see one (or all) his books on screen one day!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews