Gasa-Gasa Girl

Mas Arai #2

by Naomi Hirahara

From the time she was a child, Mas Arai’s daughter, Mari, was completely gasa-gasa–never sitting still, always on the go, getting into everything. And Mas, busy tending lawns, gambling, and struggling to put his Hiroshima past behind him, never had much time for the family he was trying to support. For years now, his resentful daughter has lived a continent away in New York City, and had a life he knew little about. But an anxious phone call from Mari asking for his help plunges the usually obstinate Mas into a series of startling situations from maneuvering in an unfamiliar city to making nice with his tall, blond son-in-law, Lloyd, to taking care of a sickly child…to finding a dead body in the rubble of a former koi pond.

The victim was Kazzy Ouchi, a half-Japanese millionaire who also happened to be Mari and Lloyd’s boss. Stumbling onto the scene, Mas sees more amiss than the detectives do, but his instinct is to keep his mouth shut. Only when the case threatens his daughter and her family does Mas take action: patiently, stubbornly tugging at the end of a tangled, dangerous mystery. And as he does, he begins to lay bare a tragic secret on the dark side of an American dream.…

Both a riveting mystery and a powerful story of passionate relationships across a cultural divide, Gasa-Gasa Girl is a tale told with heart and wisdom: an unforgettable portrait of fathers, daughters, and other strangers.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Japan, Mystery Thriller, Asian Literature, Crime, Asian American

287 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Naomi Hirahara is the USA Today-bestselling and award-winning author of multiple mystery series, noir short stories, nonfiction history books and one middle-grade novel. Her Edgar Award-winning Mas Arai series features a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor. Her first historical mystery, CLARK AND DIVISION, which follows a Japanese American family from Manzanar to Chicago in 1944, won a Mary Higgins Clark Award in 2022. Her two other series star a young mixed race female LAPD bicycle cop, Ellie Rush, and a Filipina-Japanese American woman in Kaua'i, Lellani Santiago. She also has written a middle-grade book, 1001 CRANES. In 2025, the history book she co-wrote with Geraldine Knatz, TERMINAL ISLAND: LOST COMMUNITIES ON AMERICA'S EDGE, won a California Book Award gold medal. She, her husband and their rat terrier live happily in her birthplace of Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Patrick Sherriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure the plot meanders, the action is restrained, the sleuth is a gardener, but it feels wrong to call this a cozy mystery. There's nothing eminently unbelievable or silly about the Mas Arai mysteries, in fact there is nothing cozy about our hero, a survivor of the Hiroshima A-bombing who must come to terms with life in the US as an at times unwelcome citizen who feels little love for Japan. But instead of a hard-drinking, hard-living PI for hire, Arai-san is a cantankerous 70-year-old who is struggling to keep a relationship with his only daughter. There's humour and plenty of amusing, and at times, profound asides about life in the US from one of the hyphenated. The writing, I felt, was stronger in this second outing from the first, but it may be just that I'm getting to grips with the characters. Brian Nishii is an excellent narrator for the series, by the way. An excellent way to spend my commute walking to work in Abiko, Japan.

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[Chris Cutler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow-on to Summer of the Big Bachi. The best part of the book is the excellently written viewpoint that lets the reader see the world through the eyes of a gardener. Mas is just as convincing as before, and Hirahara once again does a very good job of letting the mystery drive the book without upstaging the people and relationships that the story is really about.

Surrounded by expert understatement, the central clue about the murder is disappointingly over-obvious. But since "whodunnit" isn't the main point it isn't too much of a let-down, and there were plenty of other pieces to try to put in place.
Gasa-Gasa Girl also falls a bit short in that the historical research Hirahara delivers feels layered onto the plot, rather than woven into it as was the case in Big Bachi. That is a small point, though, and a only a slim margin keeps this book shy of five stars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mari Arai was always known to her parents as being gaza-gasa, an into everything kind of girl, just the opposite of laid back. Mas Arai, her dad tells her she takes after her mother. Mari retorts that her mother claimed it was a trait taken from her father. This may be the closer to the truth. Mas Arai had dreams of becoming an engineer but he life took another path after he was fortunate enough to survive the Hiroshima bomb.

Mas ended up becoming a gardener in the LA area and spent many decades at this craft. Retirement is a word that he knows will never apply to him. He spent many years living very quietly until he was involved in a case chronicled in THE SUMMER OF THE BIG BACHI the first in this series by Naomi Hirahara. Now he is traveling to New York because his daughter has issued a cry for help.

He is just getting his feet accustomed to concrete sidewalks when he discovers the dead body of his son-in law LLoyd's boss in a Koi pond with mysterious markings. This victim was Kazzy Ouchi a magnate in the silk garment industry was the son of a humble gardener at a big New York City estate. Mas becomes enmeshed in the complex affair because one of his strengths is that he is not a quitter. Mari and Lloyd are in the middle of this scenario and Mas investigates so he can extricate them.

This is a lovely book with interesting fascinating characters who have a background as a part of American history. The author touches gently on all the different generations of Japanese-Americans and how East coast and West coast lives of the citizens differ.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, this isn't a stand alone - read Summer of the Big Bachi for backstory on Mas and his family. I commend the author for switching the location to NYC, where she does a good job with setting scenes, as well as credible impressions by Mas. My problem was that I never got a handle on the characters in this specific story, so never felt fully invested in the plot, so I didn't really care who did it, or why. Moreover, I didn't feel we learned a lot about his daughter Mari either. Tug Yamada's subplot was interesting, with a classic example of "showing, not telling" at the end. One thing that occurs to me is that Mas doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor -- he's a bit dull that way.

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sophomore slump? The second book in the Mas Arai series is sentimental, often boring, and loaded with grammatical errors. Bummer.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's a mystery series, at least so far, Mas Arai is not a cliche amateur detective. This time it's his daughter and son-in-law that find themselves in over their head in a garden renovation and ask Mas to come and help out. Things spin out of control with murder, embezzlement and other complications raising their head. A decent read, and while not a roman noir mystery, it's not a cozy one either.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, light reading. I have the first 3 of the series - gifts - therefore, I'm reading them. However light and entertaining they are, there is at least one aspect of the presentation of the Japanese/American characters that I find at least annoying and degrading. It may be authentic but I feel like it's over done - and that's the "dialect" or pronunciations of these characters (especially the main character and his close friends) of English with a Japanese "accent". I'm surprised by the author's use of this "device".

I do enjoy the author's use of language, however. That's fun (for me).

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second mystery featuring Mas Aria, Hiroshima survivor and hard-working California gardener. So good to see Mas and his daughter mend their relationship and work together to solve a murder. A lot of interesting cultural info about Japanese Americans and some family dynamics familiar to us all.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Big Bachi a few months ago and wanted to like it more than I did. However, after seeing Hirahara at Bouchercon last month, I decided to give the series another try. I'm glad I did. In this novel, Mas Arai goes to New York to help his daughter. While he is there, the man she and her husband are trying to build a garden for is murdered. Both are considered suspects, so Mas tries to find out who is really responsible.

Mas is bewildered by both New York and his daughter, but muddles through with dogged determination. I found myself growing fonder and fonder of this curmudgeon as the story went on. I will definitely continue to read in this series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely start a series on other than the first book, but I was given this one and didn't realize it was part of a series. It didn't seem to cause a problem. The protagonist, Mas Arai, a Japanese-American gardener in Los Angeles, is a unusual person to be solving a murder in New York. But he is a fascinating character, and the mystery he has to unravel is complicated and interesting. A quick, fun mystery.

I do think I'll go back and read the first book, and probably others in the series as well.

[Virginia Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mas Arai's lively daughter Mari lived in Altadena, they called her Gasa Gasa Girl because she was always on the go. Now she's grown up, living in New York with her hakujin husband and baby boy, and somewhat estranged from her widowed father. When she asks him to come see her, he doesn't know what to expect. What he finds is a mystery involving a private Japanese garden and a murder, for which both Mari and her husbands are suspects.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series. In this book Mas goes to New York to visit his daughter, son-in-law and new grand baby. The first book seems such a fit with LA I was apprehensive. But it was good. I liked following Mas gettting around, comfortable and discovering New York. Of course he discovers a dead body in the book of his son in laws work place.

I am eager to read the 3rd book.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mas is a fascinating character, gruff and quiet and by no means a detective. He doesn't set out to solve murders, but they happen around him and he has to cope. He is slow to warm to, but he crept up on me, and now I'm quite taken with him. Looking forward to more from HIrahara.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent sequel in the Mas Arai series, with crusty gardener Mas traveling to New York to bail his daughter out of some hot water. I love the complex, realistic characters, and the relationships between them all.

[Jasachi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good mystery book but a bit complex. I had to use some thinking for this book.
~Sachi <3

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second in the series even more than #1. Mas Arai visits his daughter in NYC and gets involved in a mystery and murder. Great characters and good mystery.

[Indie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the culture, history, and generational differences...

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mas gets involved with the death of his son in laws emplyoyer. He is a kibei who returns to the U S after the WWII. His daughter had moved to NYC and needs his help.

[L Coller · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a cozy than expected, but the story is good. I find Mas to be really annoying, I may not read others in the series.

[Ms McG · Rating 1 out of 5]

The "eye-dialect" spelling for the speech of some characters put me off; it seemed inconsistent and unnecessary. I know Hirahara can write effectively, but she is not consistent.
DNF

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, and slightly off.

[Tbfrank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Semi-retired, septagenarian, widowed Japanese-American gardener Mas Arai is plucked from his comfortable bachelor existence in Altadena, California by an urgent call for help from his daughter Mari in New York. The alternately reticent, prickly, humble, pushy Mas finds himself negotiating the crowds and climate of the Big Apple to come to the aid of Mari, her husband Lloyd, and his three month old gransdon Takeo. Before he can catch his breath, he finds a murdered man buried under a pile of trash in an empty garden pond. First his son-in-law is a suspect then his daughter is arrested and charged with the crime. His home put up as collateral and $10,000 charge on his new credit card for bail, he's determined to see his daughter set free.

In a complex if meandering plot, the narrative moves along quickly, pausing to introduce historical and cultural background including observations of the on-going effects of the forced relocation of Japanese-Americans at the start of WWII. A host of interesting characters, described as only a Kibei (born in America and educated in Japan) and survivor of Hiroshima like Mas Arai can do.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second Mas Arai mystery, but like the first novel, the emphasis is on Mas, his family, and his outlook on life, not on solving murders. Mas is called to New York City by daughter, Mari, who needs his help; her newborn son is sick, her project is in trouble, and she is arrested for murdering her boss. Mas remains calm and steadfast during this turmoil, and he is able to call on his friends and put together clues to help him solve the mystery.

Lots of ethnic Japanese-American flavor. The author uses many Japanese words and phrases and always adds the English translation. You get a feel for what Mas is going through and how his mind works in dealing with problems.

However, there are many references to Mas's bad habits and health problems: smoking cigarettes, bad dentures, hurting himself using broken tools. Japanese-American men of that generation certainly had no concerns with diet, exercise and maintaining good health.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is unusual to see Mas outside of Los Angeles, but in this case he is visiting his daughter, Mari who is experiencing post partum depression. Her husband is the gardener at Waxley House and the gardens have been vandalized. She wants his help to get the gardens ready for a celebration.

What he finds is a very confusing city to get around in, his son in law taken into custody for questioning and then Mari being arrested for the murder of Kazzy Ouchi, who owns the house and gardens and was found dead by Mas in the koi pond.

Despite his disorientation in New York, Mas uses his friends and acquaintances to get the investigation rerouted to the correct killer. His internal observations are absolutely priceless.

I own a signed copy of this mystery and will read on in this series.

[Ian Martyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I did enjoy the first book just a bit more, I really enjoyed Gasa-Gasa Girl as it builds upon Summer of the Big Bachi quite nicely. It's a little slower to start, but it provides a very compelling mystery. I really like how believable the character of Mas Arai is, now completely out of his element in New York City. I don't have much else to add without spoiling anything, but I will say that it's nice to be able to get to meet Mari Arai since we heard about her a lot in the first book. If you enjoyed Summer of the Big Bachi, definitely read this one.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because it was inspired by Takeo Shiota's Japanese Garden in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The last chapter heading was a quotation from Shiota about how "the added years only serve to increase the glories" of a garden. Sadly, Shiota died in an internment camp during WWII, never getting to see that. I would have liked more about the gardening, but I appreciated getting introduced to Shiota.

[Jim Bow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t a review per se. It’s an acknowledgment. I’ve worked with a couple of elderly Nisei from time to time. They grunt a lot while listening. I always picture the late Pat Morita when I read Mas Arai.
I also once spent a weekend driving a bus for a Go For Broke reunion in Seattle. Tug reminds me of those guys.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent series, mostly for the historical and cultural insights the Japanese American community during and after WWII. Mas Arai is a is a good character, but has been aged so quickly that it’s starting to require too large a suspension of disbelief. It’s wonderful to have a senior sleuth, but follow in the model of Mrs Marple and don’t age him so quickly.

[Chavaleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my church members worked with this author a while back when they both worked for the LA school district. He was excited that she has now fulfilled her dream of being a published writer and encouraged me to read her books -- and I am so glad!
Extremely enjoyable mysteries plus a window into the life of Japanese Americans.

[Christian Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't sure how Mas would settle into becoming a makeshift detective after the first entry into the series, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this book. Great callbacks to the first book without alienating readers who are unfamiliar. Good mystery with a satisfying ending, and Hirahara's writing really shines with the parallels between the changing landscapes and Mas.