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Oh! A mystery of mono no aware
Oh! is a hybrid novel, with nonfiction and artwork mixed in. The main storyline follows Zack Hara, a young Japanese American searching for an emotional life while traveling in Japan. Zack finds an ally in a professor and underground poet who introduces him to the concept of mono no aware, roughly translated as the emotive essence of things, or the sadness in beauty. The professor, grieving for a missing daughter, assigns Zack a set of mysterious tasks. Zack’s search for self-discovery turns into a search for the professor’s missing daughter, and draws him into the tragic phenomenon of suicide clubs.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
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187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 16, 2011
the packaging of this book is sublime. from the texture and quality and color of the cover and the endpapers to the interwoven snippets of art. it's an object that you want to hold and look at. i adored the little line drawings that opened up each chapter [more than the calligraphic paintings].
the book itself is deceptively easy to read i think. it really is a mystery w/ dropped hints and foreshadowing and if you are just skimming along getting involved in the characters you kind of forget that it's also about this very deep philosophy. mono no aware.
i am completely fascinated with this idea. think it has no real english translation and could easily be argued is at the heart of any creative endeavor.
and being half japanese and pretty much enthralled with japan in many ways - it's really fun to enter into the landscape of this book. especially since it's presented from a point of view i understand - the western one.
overall - fun - and engaging - and deep. i wouldn't normally pair those three simple adjectives together for a work of fiction, but it seems apt here.
the book itself is deceptively easy to read i think. it really is a mystery w/ dropped hints and foreshadowing and if you are just skimming along getting involved in the characters you kind of forget that it's also about this very deep philosophy. mono no aware.
i am completely fascinated with this idea. think it has no real english translation and could easily be argued is at the heart of any creative endeavor.
and being half japanese and pretty much enthralled with japan in many ways - it's really fun to enter into the landscape of this book. especially since it's presented from a point of view i understand - the western one.
overall - fun - and engaging - and deep. i wouldn't normally pair those three simple adjectives together for a work of fiction, but it seems apt here.
August 5, 2016
Not quite a 5, but maybe a 4.5, this is a very unusual book, both in its storyline and presentation. The novel (which seems at least semi-autobiographical) is interspersed with artistic plates done by the author's wife. Not sure what that really adds to the story, but (at least the color ones) are very striking. The plot deals with the concept of mono no aware, roughly the appreciation of emotion, especially sadness and sorrow, and the realm of Japanese suicide cults. Although that sounds rather bleak, the book reads quickly and the 'mystery' elements melds with the philosophy in a really satisfying way. PS ... if anyone has seen the movie 'The Forest', the same popular site for suicide figures prominently in this also.
December 18, 2019
I have been wanting to read Todd Shimoda for years! And finally getting a copy of his mono no aware mystery --like so many said below-- I have to start off by saying the book itself is a pleasure to behold. The publisher deserves a medal in this day and age to be producing books that are so gorgeous and colorful! I loved just holding itk in my hands-and will keep it out, close to hand, so I can look at it for awhile longer. Because I finished the novel in three fast sittings.
Even though it was dark in mood, it was very hard for me to put down. It is exactly what he says: a mystery of mono no aware.
The story was intriguing. A young man with a kind of "depersonalization" as written about by psychopathologist, Kimura Bin. He is numb. Kimura would say, too over focused on the world of "things" (consumerism and his moment by moment activities) he finds he is unable to feel things deeply. He lacks care (in Heidegger's terms). It would be so helpful to those reading the novel to also check out this essay, On Japanese Things and Words: An Answer to Heidegger's Question, by Michael F. Marra. Really interesting.
Shimoda uses the Japanese literary term of mono no aware to juxtapose a world where things matter/care and a world of going through the motions. Being able to experience the changing seasons is a stand in for all feeling in the novel. And it is dark having a main character who is so lethargic, and so lacking in authentic care--even for his own life.
I mean, the guy lives in Numazu and never once seems to notice Mt Fuji. And he is always going through the motions of these bizarre tasks his employer (a professor of psychology) sets for him. He becomes a kind of experimental rat.... and because nothing much matters, he just goes through all the tasks in a robotic manner--not that he cares as much as he has nothing much better to do.
There is no mention of Mt Fuji. There is no mention of Tanizaki's Shinju. But there is a lot on Motoori Norinaga--which was fantastic.
The moment of "Ah" of mono-no-aware is a moment of "between" where the self drops away and one can feel "at one" with the world; and it is something that can be felt at heightened moments relating to death, for example-- so the cherry blossoms as the scatter to quickly, or in the case of the novel, of suicide and death. If all things didn't die, we wouldn't care about them. Care is a kind of orientation to life, and this hero doesn't feel it.
I am interested in reading another novel by Shimoda and I hope to see more of his wife's beautiful arts. Again Kudos to Chin Music Publishing in Seattle.
Even though it was dark in mood, it was very hard for me to put down. It is exactly what he says: a mystery of mono no aware.
The story was intriguing. A young man with a kind of "depersonalization" as written about by psychopathologist, Kimura Bin. He is numb. Kimura would say, too over focused on the world of "things" (consumerism and his moment by moment activities) he finds he is unable to feel things deeply. He lacks care (in Heidegger's terms). It would be so helpful to those reading the novel to also check out this essay, On Japanese Things and Words: An Answer to Heidegger's Question, by Michael F. Marra. Really interesting.
Shimoda uses the Japanese literary term of mono no aware to juxtapose a world where things matter/care and a world of going through the motions. Being able to experience the changing seasons is a stand in for all feeling in the novel. And it is dark having a main character who is so lethargic, and so lacking in authentic care--even for his own life.
I mean, the guy lives in Numazu and never once seems to notice Mt Fuji. And he is always going through the motions of these bizarre tasks his employer (a professor of psychology) sets for him. He becomes a kind of experimental rat.... and because nothing much matters, he just goes through all the tasks in a robotic manner--not that he cares as much as he has nothing much better to do.
There is no mention of Mt Fuji. There is no mention of Tanizaki's Shinju. But there is a lot on Motoori Norinaga--which was fantastic.
The moment of "Ah" of mono-no-aware is a moment of "between" where the self drops away and one can feel "at one" with the world; and it is something that can be felt at heightened moments relating to death, for example-- so the cherry blossoms as the scatter to quickly, or in the case of the novel, of suicide and death. If all things didn't die, we wouldn't care about them. Care is a kind of orientation to life, and this hero doesn't feel it.
I am interested in reading another novel by Shimoda and I hope to see more of his wife's beautiful arts. Again Kudos to Chin Music Publishing in Seattle.
January 3, 2014
What Todd Shimoda has done with Oh! A Mystery of Mono No Aware is create a modern parable of our time. It's difficult imagining this book being written before the advent of the 21st century and interesting to see what the future will hold in its wake. A young Japanese-American, a technical writer, is searching for a "deep, sustained emotional experience". His lack of such experiences in his life suggests to him that he might not in fact, even be capable having one.
His quest takes him to Japan where he is introduced to the concept of "mono no aware", which roughly translated is the "stuff/things of sadness". Naturally enough, the words don't fully encapsulate the full, fluid meaning of this complex concept and Zack, the protagonist, has trouble finding a concrete definition and even more difficulty feeling it. But not for lack of trying. His unique and unsettling journey takes him through myriad situations which include scrapes with the police, performance art, sex, poetry, academia and suicide clubs.
"Oh!" is not quite like anything else. The book itself is beautiful, illustrated and designed by Todd's wife, L.J.C. Shimoda and the complete experience is a wonderful coming together of lovely, textured artwork, effortless, incisive prose, complex ideas and gathering mystery. The narrator, Zack, is a constant surprise, never quite saying or doing what you expect. He's one of my favorite characters in literature I've read in the past few years. In the end, Oh! A Mystery of Mono No Aware is an experiential collage of information, narrative, poetry and art.
His quest takes him to Japan where he is introduced to the concept of "mono no aware", which roughly translated is the "stuff/things of sadness". Naturally enough, the words don't fully encapsulate the full, fluid meaning of this complex concept and Zack, the protagonist, has trouble finding a concrete definition and even more difficulty feeling it. But not for lack of trying. His unique and unsettling journey takes him through myriad situations which include scrapes with the police, performance art, sex, poetry, academia and suicide clubs.
"Oh!" is not quite like anything else. The book itself is beautiful, illustrated and designed by Todd's wife, L.J.C. Shimoda and the complete experience is a wonderful coming together of lovely, textured artwork, effortless, incisive prose, complex ideas and gathering mystery. The narrator, Zack, is a constant surprise, never quite saying or doing what you expect. He's one of my favorite characters in literature I've read in the past few years. In the end, Oh! A Mystery of Mono No Aware is an experiential collage of information, narrative, poetry and art.
July 27, 2011
The look and feel of this book, in addition to the provocative illustrations, made this a book to own...a most gorgeous design...
the topic, intriguing...
A jaded American, deadened by consumer culture, becomes dangerously obsessed with a group suicide in Japan.
the topic, intriguing...
A jaded American, deadened by consumer culture, becomes dangerously obsessed with a group suicide in Japan.
February 16, 2020
The book itself is definitely the most beautifully published book I have ever read. I feel the language, pace, setting and story will stay with me for a long time. It was a very special read!
April 17, 2021
Sort of spiritual. Delves into mono no aware.
May 19, 2022
This was an entirely unique story to read and experience. The book itself is a work of art. I’m very glad I own this one.
so- I do have some grievances with the plot. The writing itself is of high quality. I’m just not sure the climax of finding true “mono no aware” should be when the main character is seconds from a successful suicide attempt. This reads the wrong way, frankly. I interpreted the book to be bringing light to the suicide tragedies happening in Japan and elsewhere. To instill the reader with the idea that death is necessary to achieve mono no aware feels… distasteful.
so- I do have some grievances with the plot. The writing itself is of high quality. I’m just not sure the climax of finding true “mono no aware” should be when the main character is seconds from a successful suicide attempt. This reads the wrong way, frankly. I interpreted the book to be bringing light to the suicide tragedies happening in Japan and elsewhere. To instill the reader with the idea that death is necessary to achieve mono no aware feels… distasteful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2010
Zack Hara is a Japanese-American who feels confined by a sense of emotional aridity. He decides to go to Japan, where he becomes intrigued by so-called "suicide clubs," whose members bolster one another's resolve in putting an end to their lives. He loses his translation job because he has overstayed his tourist visa and falls under the sway of a Professor Imai, who employs him part-time and sets various tasks for him to perform, such as writing poetry, investigating a particular suicide club incident, and looking for stones shaped like Asian pears.
The full title of Todd Shimoda's novel is Oh! A Mystery of Mono No Aware; and it is the key to much of what happens, and doesn't happen. As I have understood it, especially in the films of Yasujiro Ozu, mono no aware is a sense of sympathetic sadness that wells up in a person when confronted by the fragility of life. It is akin to Virgil's expression from the Aeneid, when he has Aeneas say "sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt": "these are the tears of things as mortality touches the soul."
In between the short chapters describing Zack's quest, there are attempts to define mono no aware that seem to spiral around, just as the life of the book's hero spirals down into a crisis.
Oh! is a singularly beautiful book as published by Seattle's Chin Music Press. The aestheticism of the Japanese literary concepts is mirrored in the beauty of the book with its tactile cover, tipped in handmade pages, and sewn signatures. Curiously, it is almost as if the subject of the book were commenting on its own physical aestheticism. In the end, there is a series of full-color art pages providing a kind of answer to Zack's search.
The author is a member of Goodreads who has written a number of works which I hope to add to my reading list.
The full title of Todd Shimoda's novel is Oh! A Mystery of Mono No Aware; and it is the key to much of what happens, and doesn't happen. As I have understood it, especially in the films of Yasujiro Ozu, mono no aware is a sense of sympathetic sadness that wells up in a person when confronted by the fragility of life. It is akin to Virgil's expression from the Aeneid, when he has Aeneas say "sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt": "these are the tears of things as mortality touches the soul."
In between the short chapters describing Zack's quest, there are attempts to define mono no aware that seem to spiral around, just as the life of the book's hero spirals down into a crisis.
Oh! is a singularly beautiful book as published by Seattle's Chin Music Press. The aestheticism of the Japanese literary concepts is mirrored in the beauty of the book with its tactile cover, tipped in handmade pages, and sewn signatures. Curiously, it is almost as if the subject of the book were commenting on its own physical aestheticism. In the end, there is a series of full-color art pages providing a kind of answer to Zack's search.
The author is a member of Goodreads who has written a number of works which I hope to add to my reading list.
December 26, 2013
Oh!: A mystery of 'mono no aware' by Todd Shimoda, and beautifully illustrated by Todd s wife, is a phenomenal experience. The copy I received from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program was the final production copy. When I held the package in my hands, I wondered why in the world the package was so heavy. Even its arrival created a mystery! I opened the package and held one of the most beautiful books I have ever had the pleasure of seeing and I work in a library. The cover design is a delight and the pages inside are silky like a fine art book. The chapter dividers are textured to match the beautiful artwork which adds to the story. I could not wait to see how the internal story would hold up to the external package. [return][return]I was not at all disappointed. To read the rest of my review, please click here.
January 18, 2016
A physically gorgeous book with delicious textured paper and artwork, Oh! A Mystery if Mono No Aware is a travel story, a mystery, and a cultural commentary rolled into one. And it holds together quite well, with artful flourishes throughout and a certain blase entertainment. But it never truly triumphs in any of these three genres.
The mood is the essence of the story, and it starts on a bit of a downer and pretty much stays there until the end. In some ways this mood is a stroke of genius, as it serves the premise of the story -- a jaded American travels to Japan to find something sublime underneath the dreary humdrum of commercial culture. But when we reach the story's culmination (and I won't spoil the plot twist at the end), we still have never found anything quite sublime, and the book ends where it began. This makes for an artistically coherent (even beautiful) statement, but at the expense of any soaring story arc or inspiration.
The mood is the essence of the story, and it starts on a bit of a downer and pretty much stays there until the end. In some ways this mood is a stroke of genius, as it serves the premise of the story -- a jaded American travels to Japan to find something sublime underneath the dreary humdrum of commercial culture. But when we reach the story's culmination (and I won't spoil the plot twist at the end), we still have never found anything quite sublime, and the book ends where it began. This makes for an artistically coherent (even beautiful) statement, but at the expense of any soaring story arc or inspiration.
November 4, 2014
Oh! A mystery of mono no aware is a hybrid novel, with nonfiction and artwork mixed in. The main storyline follows Zack Hara, a young Japanese American searching for an emotional life while traveling in Japan.
Oh! Is an amazing book - both in presentation and in storyline. It is a mystery presented in a rather "informative" manner. The sporadic poetry and illustrations add to the story. Unique in every way. Insignificant details become critical, less typical is the addition of Zack���s personal search for something completely intangible
This is not your standard mystery so if you are hoping to find that Oh! Isn't for you. If your looking for simple/ordinary clues leading to the solving of the mystery skip Oh! A mystery of mono no aware
Oh! Is an amazing book - both in presentation and in storyline. It is a mystery presented in a rather "informative" manner. The sporadic poetry and illustrations add to the story. Unique in every way. Insignificant details become critical, less typical is the addition of Zack���s personal search for something completely intangible
This is not your standard mystery so if you are hoping to find that Oh! Isn't for you. If your looking for simple/ordinary clues leading to the solving of the mystery skip Oh! A mystery of mono no aware
Read
June 18, 2010Though I wasn’t able to finish this philosophy fiction, it was intriguing – one westerner’s search for the Japanese concept of perfect Mono No Aware in life, while learning exactly what it is. Oversimplified, the term means the transient beauty of life, something that is in fact beautiful in its lack of longevity. The most used example of this is the sudden bursting forth of cherry trees whose blossoms soon fall and wither. This is a book that will put a substantial claim on your time and mental processes. If you can’t afford to give the book its due, don’t even bother.
August 2, 2009
From this novel, I began to understand the untranslatable Japanese concept of mono no aware, a deep emotional all understanding response to the "other" (I still don't quite have it)...natural world, human condition...but in a very specific and sudden moment, thus the title, "Oh!" This book integrates story, poetry, art, and philosophical exposition. Linda Shimoda is the illustrator and book designer.
Read
July 31, 2011In his quest to experience "mono no aware," a concept from Japanese literature that has to do with experiencing deep emotions in immediate response to one's environment, an emotionally dead young man unravels a mystery, learns to write poetry, and researches Japanese suicide groups.
It's a beautiful book containing lots of artwork by the author's wife. Even the paper was gorgeous.
It's a beautiful book containing lots of artwork by the author's wife. Even the paper was gorgeous.
May 17, 2011
Don't remember ever reading a book constructed like this one. Physically, plotwise (if it is a plot) and with that Zen complicated spareness that can seep into your thinking/feeling. Mono no aware. Sigh
July 14, 2011
i got pretty into bits and pieces, and i like the attempt to throw art into the mix, but something didn't quite click. if i were rating it before i read the final couple of chapters i probably would've bumped it up to 3 stars.
November 5, 2009
An intriguing story about a disaffected American man's investigation into the Japanese concept of mono no aware. The tale is told via narrative, ink paintings (done by the writer's wife), poetry, and definitions. The book itself is a work of art - gorgeously bound.
to-read-2
April 7, 2016"A fascinating glimpse into a little-known dark side of Japanese culture as well as a compelling account of an obsession with feeling emotional epiphany at any price."
November 15, 2009
verreee interesting. A mystery w/ a Japanese/American man at the center of it, but the novel centering in Japan. Beautifully bound book, too.
February 7, 2010
Fascinating so far. Reminds me of Murakami: character in transition in life, general unsettled feeling in narrative, search for meaning in Japanese countryside.
July 11, 2010
lovely book, moves delightfully slowly and beautifully, asian sensibilities preferred. really liked it
March 8, 2011
This is a tale of coming in touch with your emotions, a tale of the old and the current. Local Kauai author
July 2, 2011
So far: another gorgeous Chin Music Press book and a fascinating tale. More when I'm done.
July 2, 2012
Gorgeous book inside and out. Story is very provocative and the story itself held so much emotion.
October 13, 2012
Oh wow, Oh! is right.
October 29, 2013
3.5/5
April 29, 2014
Absolutely incredible book both in elegance of literary content and perfection of printing and binding. (Kudos to Chin Music Press on that too...)
April 17, 2010
OH...!
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