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The Fall of the House of Nire
Depicts the life and adventures of a family which runs two mental hospitals in Japan during World War II
770 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 4, 2022
New heights of unimaginable madness set in a Tokyo orchard on the grounds of the Nire mental hospital during World War Two. One of the workers has grand ambitions and tells his master, "The fact is I'm of the caliber of a master politician, and I make no bones about it. The truth of the matter is that if you joined the army you'd be of no use to me anyway. You'd be much better off growing asparagus. You just leave the business of war to me." (14)
Kumagoro's master, the sickly Yonekuni has his own delusions to contend with, "It's as I said before, when that transcendent veil descends, and I have this feeling that I'm suddenly cut off from the world. Well, it's at times like that when I see the true longicorn, waving it's long horns about and walking all over the fig leaves. He's a weird thing, a mysterious form of existence. There seems to be a sort of light playing about him just where he is, so alive, so living, such complete proof that he at least does really exist, you know. And then I look all about me and that veil surrounding me is starting to dissolve." (15)
And so the world turns in the orchard, and the war seems impossibly far away. It is a 'mysterious form of existence' and Yonekichi feels he has much in common with the psychotic patients in the hospital. Observing his asparagus he explains, "see how it's coming out through that black earth, full of life, luxuriant... you know, the things I feel a real empathy with have somehow gone beyond the mere animal or vegetable distinction, as if my emotions had somehow transcended that; like that asparagus, for example, which, in my eyes, has a true nobility, which can be grasped by imperceptible degrees, as it were, in opposition to,in unawareness of, any shame one might be induced to feel in the voluptuous, almost obscene configuration that it..."
Here Kumagoro interrupts his ramblings to say "'The Deputy said we ought to stop growing asparagus...' interrupting the flow of words with flat abruptness. "Says we ought to grow cornfields instead."'
And so the world turns round and around and all the asparagus in this world is just a manifestation of something deeper and far more mysterious, life itself. And the characters that inhabit this world wander around making their entrances and exits, sometimes on cue and sometimes following the script, coexisting, but somehow never quite managing to connect.
Kumagoro's master, the sickly Yonekuni has his own delusions to contend with, "It's as I said before, when that transcendent veil descends, and I have this feeling that I'm suddenly cut off from the world. Well, it's at times like that when I see the true longicorn, waving it's long horns about and walking all over the fig leaves. He's a weird thing, a mysterious form of existence. There seems to be a sort of light playing about him just where he is, so alive, so living, such complete proof that he at least does really exist, you know. And then I look all about me and that veil surrounding me is starting to dissolve." (15)
And so the world turns in the orchard, and the war seems impossibly far away. It is a 'mysterious form of existence' and Yonekichi feels he has much in common with the psychotic patients in the hospital. Observing his asparagus he explains, "see how it's coming out through that black earth, full of life, luxuriant... you know, the things I feel a real empathy with have somehow gone beyond the mere animal or vegetable distinction, as if my emotions had somehow transcended that; like that asparagus, for example, which, in my eyes, has a true nobility, which can be grasped by imperceptible degrees, as it were, in opposition to,in unawareness of, any shame one might be induced to feel in the voluptuous, almost obscene configuration that it..."
Here Kumagoro interrupts his ramblings to say "'The Deputy said we ought to stop growing asparagus...' interrupting the flow of words with flat abruptness. "Says we ought to grow cornfields instead."'
And so the world turns round and around and all the asparagus in this world is just a manifestation of something deeper and far more mysterious, life itself. And the characters that inhabit this world wander around making their entrances and exits, sometimes on cue and sometimes following the script, coexisting, but somehow never quite managing to connect.
April 22, 2024
The Fall of the House of Nire is the third part of the original House of Nire novel. It follows the children and other relatives and friends of Kiichiro and the two hospitals through the early Japanese/Chinese/Manchurian wars, the main battles, destruction, fire storms and occupation.
Excellent view of how the war and suffering affected each group, each person and each area of Japan.
The House of Nire is an excellent read and I put it alongside of The Makioka Sisters and required reading.
Excellent view of how the war and suffering affected each group, each person and each area of Japan.
The House of Nire is an excellent read and I put it alongside of The Makioka Sisters and required reading.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews