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失乐园
The book that caused a sensation! This tale of extramarital
sexual obsession and all-or-nothing love struck a deep chord in Japanese
readers. Published only recently, it set sales records in the millions of
copies and soon crossed over to other media as well--first as a radio and TV
drama, then as a blockbuster movie. The popularity of the novel has spread
across Asia as well, with hugely successful translations into Korean and
Chinese. In the West, readers may be reminded of The Bridges of Madison
County, another best-selling novel of blazing midlife passion--one with
a very different outcome.
sexual obsession and all-or-nothing love struck a deep chord in Japanese
readers. Published only recently, it set sales records in the millions of
copies and soon crossed over to other media as well--first as a radio and TV
drama, then as a blockbuster movie. The popularity of the novel has spread
across Asia as well, with hugely successful translations into Korean and
Chinese. In the West, readers may be reminded of The Bridges of Madison
County, another best-selling novel of blazing midlife passion--one with
a very different outcome.
Here the lovers are Kuki, a 54-year-old employee in a publishing company,
and Rinko, a childless, 37-year-old woman unhappily married to a cold fish
of a husband, a professor of medicine. Stuck in a dead-end job and an
uneventful marriage, Kuki is irresistibly drawn to Rinko from their first
encounter, seeing through her demure demeanor to the passionate woman
beneath. She returns his feelings with ever-increasing abandon, despite
lingering fears about where her sexual awakening may lead her. In the end,
both are prepared to risk all for their relationship: family, career, and
social standing, even life itself.
The story contrasts the lovers' defiantly freewheeling passion--described
in imaginative, smoldering detail--with a rigid society where people are
expected to play a prescribed role, whether as dutiful wife or compliant
office worker. In escaping these conventional roles, the lovers often escape
the city as well, immersing themselves in the traditional beauties of
Japanese nature and art as they give themselves over to each other and the
pleasure of the moment. And ultimately they make a much more radical escape:
one that will ensure that they are left in peace, to enjoy an abiding love.
Perhaps not all the choices they make will seem reasonable, or even
understandable, to Western readers. But their story, with elements as modern
as yesterday's headlines and as timeless as the tug between love and death,
opens a window into the secrets of the Japanese soul.
509 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
31 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Jun'ichi Watanabe
162 books57 followersJunichi Watanabe ( 渡辺淳一, Watanabe Jun'ichi, October 24, 1933 – April 30, 2014) was a Japanese writer, known for his portrayal of the extra-marital affairs of middle aged people.
His 1997 novel 'A Lost Paradise' became a bestseller in Japan and over Asia, and was made into a film and a TV miniseries. He has written more than 50 novels in total, and won awards including Naoki Prize in 1970 for 'Light and Shadow' (Hikari to kage), New Current Coterie magazine prize for Makeup, the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize in 1979 for 'The Setting Sun in the Distance' (Toki rakujitsu) and 'The Russian Brothel of Nagasaki' (Nagasaki roshia yujokan).
He was born in Sunagawamachi (present-day Kamisunagawa) and died on April 30, 2014 of prostate cancer in Tokyo.
His 1997 novel 'A Lost Paradise' became a bestseller in Japan and over Asia, and was made into a film and a TV miniseries. He has written more than 50 novels in total, and won awards including Naoki Prize in 1970 for 'Light and Shadow' (Hikari to kage), New Current Coterie magazine prize for Makeup, the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize in 1979 for 'The Setting Sun in the Distance' (Toki rakujitsu) and 'The Russian Brothel of Nagasaki' (Nagasaki roshia yujokan).
He was born in Sunagawamachi (present-day Kamisunagawa) and died on April 30, 2014 of prostate cancer in Tokyo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 10, 2025
1. 性
一开始，显然是瞄准书里写实的性描写去的。那些性描写，配上阅读时的想象，很能激发自己的情欲。
即使在现实生活中并没有配合过女方完成一次性活动，可在眼睛掠过那些文字后，这份想要尝试的心情会变得更加猛烈。
这里面自然有好色的心情所在，不过也试着用作者的观点来辩护自己，好色是身为男性的本性。
2. 爱欲
爱欲和性是密切不可分的。强烈的爱欲会催生强烈的性，适配的性又会激发出更强烈的爱欲。
这个故事便可以浓缩成这么一句，让人见识爱情里，那为期较短、生理性质最强烈的时期。
沿着书，顺带看完了电影《感官世界》，发觉两者强烈的相似之处。书的剧情，简直是[阿部定事件](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%...。
主角们在情欲最高峰的时候选择死去，那是“婚姻是爱情的坟墓”又一最好的证明。
也许现实本就如此，强烈的爱欲总会褪去。
3. 其他
书中男方喜欢上女方的原因清楚明了：追求新鲜感，配上女方身体的魅力。可我却不明白女方喜欢男方的原因为何，单纯出于他的体贴，以及在性上的服务意识？
有几段很有共鸣。那是自己翘课几天，躲在宿舍糜烂、虚空的日子，为之焦虑的同时，心底却有一丝“别人都在工作，我却躲在这里消沉”的快感。这样的感受和他们躲在出租屋里幽会是相类似的。
一样的是被社会所隔阂，一样的是和周围人关系的疏离。
书里有不少观点自己深表认同：
男人在性中越来越萎靡，女人却越来越得到滋养；
男人的性快乐表面看上去强烈，可在深度和体验上却不如女人性高潮的一点。
一开始，显然是瞄准书里写实的性描写去的。那些性描写，配上阅读时的想象，很能激发自己的情欲。
即使在现实生活中并没有配合过女方完成一次性活动，可在眼睛掠过那些文字后，这份想要尝试的心情会变得更加猛烈。
这里面自然有好色的心情所在，不过也试着用作者的观点来辩护自己，好色是身为男性的本性。
2. 爱欲
爱欲和性是密切不可分的。强烈的爱欲会催生强烈的性，适配的性又会激发出更强烈的爱欲。
这个故事便可以浓缩成这么一句，让人见识爱情里，那为期较短、生理性质最强烈的时期。
沿着书，顺带看完了电影《感官世界》，发觉两者强烈的相似之处。书的剧情，简直是[阿部定事件](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%...。
主角们在情欲最高峰的时候选择死去，那是“婚姻是爱情的坟墓”又一最好的证明。
也许现实本就如此，强烈的爱欲总会褪去。
3. 其他
书中男方喜欢上女方的原因清楚明了：追求新鲜感，配上女方身体的魅力。可我却不明白女方喜欢男方的原因为何，单纯出于他的体贴，以及在性上的服务意识？
有几段很有共鸣。那是自己翘课几天，躲在宿舍糜烂、虚空的日子，为之焦虑的同时，心底却有一丝“别人都在工作，我却躲在这里消沉”的快感。这样的感受和他们躲在出租屋里幽会是相类似的。
一样的是被社会所隔阂，一样的是和周围人关系的疏离。
书里有不少观点自己深表认同：
男人在性中越来越萎靡，女人却越来越得到滋养；
男人的性快乐表面看上去强烈，可在深度和体验上却不如女人性高潮的一点。
May 18, 2020
052-A Lost Paradise-Junichi Watanabe-Novel-1997
Barack
——No matter how much the lovers have fallen in love if one person suddenly does not love the other, then let her go, maybe he should also wish her to find her true love.
"A Lost Paradise" first published in 1997. A novel book. It tells the story of 55-year-old Shoichiro Hisagi and 38-year-old Rinko Matsubara, who chose to take the poison and die to freeze love at its climax.
Junichi Watanabe was born in Hokkaido in 1933 and died in 2014. He graduated from Sapporo Medical University and received a doctorate in medicine in 1963. He is a surgeon. But he still uses his spare time for literary creation. Representative works: "The Man's Things", "Paradise Lost", "Blurry", "The Woman's Things", etc.
In 1985, the "Plaza Agreement" was signed. The rapid appreciation of the yen against the dollar has hit Japan ’s export competitiveness and indirectly played a catalytic role in the Japanese economy ’s downturn of more than 20 years. When this book was written, Japan was in such an economic depression. Career frustration caused people to seek comfort from lust.
According to statistics, when the economy is depressed, the sales of lipstick and condoms will increase. Probably because when people lack the opportunity to work hard, they will seek physical satisfaction and comfort. The gloomy economic outlook also makes it difficult for people to have an optimistic estimate of their future. This pessimism makes people tend to think that the current state is the pinnacle they can reach, and then they can only go downhill.
In 1981, 33-year-old Charles (prince) married 20-year-old Diana (princess). However, due to the entanglement between Charles and Camilla, Charles and Diana finally divorced in 1996. In 2005, Charles married Camilla. It can be seen that even with a spouse like Diana who is almost goddess in the eyes of ordinary people, Charles still has not been able to resist the temptation of derailment.
Therefore, marriage without love is suffocating. When there is no temptation outside, it may still be able to barely maintain the surface tranquility, but once the temptation appears, it will quickly collapse. No matter how good the husband himself is, or how rich the material guarantee is for the wife, if he cannot devote enough emotion to his wife, he will also lose his wife's love. Feelings are not food stored in the refrigerator. They will break if they are not well maintained.
I don’t like this kind of negative pessimism. Perhaps love is not eternal. But if you are at the pinnacle of love right now, you are fully committed. If one party has lost love. Then let her leave without asking. Why must love be frozen at the peak in the form of death?
No matter how deep the love was. Time will naturally erode love. Therefore, only by two people working together to strengthen and maintain each day can love become stronger and stronger with time, rather than decay.
But I think it is like life, even if we may fail, we must go with confidence to win. Even if one of them changes his mind one day in the future, wouldn’t it be a good thing to bless her to find true love again? Why must we use this method to solve it?
No one can guarantee that people's emotions will remain unchanged for life. I think a paragraph should be added to the wedding oath, "If you don't love me anymore. I won't force you to stay with me. I might even bless you. Bless you, to find your true love for I love you."
Life is bound to die. Since it may be deeply loved, it may not be loved. Why should you be afraid of this possibility? I haven't read many novels about martyrdom. What impressed me most is A Yi's "Valentine's Day Explosion" in addition to Junichi Watanabe's "A Paradise Lost".
16/01/08
20/05/18
August 6, 2015
This poignant book by Junichi Watanabe was flying off the shelves in Japan in 1992, fourteen years before Shades of Grey became a smutty bestseller here in America. So popular in fact, its title (Lost Paradise) "Shitsurakuen" in Japanese came to be used for "having an affair" in the common vernacular. Narrator Kuki is a married 54-yr old mid-level manager in publishing with a grown daughter and a wife he cheats on sometimes. But he falls harder than he ever has before, when he meets Rinko, a beautiful, married 37-yr old calligrapher. His constant pontificating about his own sexual prowess and encyclopaedic knowledge of what most turns women on got to be a bit numbing; as all Kuki and Rinko do is have sex every second they are together for an entire year. While essentially porn, Lost Paradise follows the strict decorum common to Japanese literary (and menu or letter writing) traditions, full of highly stylized seasonal imagery and headings.
I think Juliet Winters Carpenter, the translator, did a great job of conveying the Japaneseness of it all, but I can tell she left the U.S. a long time ago by her use of jarringly stale phrases like, "(pretending suicide) gave him the willies"... or, "He scolded himself for shilly-shallying".
I think Juliet Winters Carpenter, the translator, did a great job of conveying the Japaneseness of it all, but I can tell she left the U.S. a long time ago by her use of jarringly stale phrases like, "(pretending suicide) gave him the willies"... or, "He scolded himself for shilly-shallying".
June 25, 2011
I'm so glad I could get through all the appalling sex scenes and keep going to the end. This couple was horrible. The guy was patronizing and at the same time insecure (oh, tell me is there any guy not like this...) The girl was the true embodiment hipocrisy. Saying all the things opposed to what she really wanted. On top of it, she could go ahead looking innocent like a white rose (of course this is only pictured in my head).
**I wonder what Satoshi think if he knows I write this. I think he will just smile and says that I am being mean.
I spent so much energy cursing left and right throughout the book. I really think that this is exactly what Watanabe-san had in mind. The book was so neutrally written (I really don't know how he did that), the kind that let the readers judge for themselves what opinion they would prefer to have. Brilliant.
**I wonder what Satoshi think if he knows I write this. I think he will just smile and says that I am being mean.
I spent so much energy cursing left and right throughout the book. I really think that this is exactly what Watanabe-san had in mind. The book was so neutrally written (I really don't know how he did that), the kind that let the readers judge for themselves what opinion they would prefer to have. Brilliant.
August 17, 2017
其实这是2015年读过的书。个人极力推荐，日本作家的小说一般充满一种无法名状的阴郁，这部也不例外。这个世界上，关于爱和性，两者都能完美搭配的对数少之又少，当他们相遇，而双方又都已有了家室，他们要怎么处理这段感情？怎么样面对自己的家庭和社会的眼光？他们的结局是出人意料，然而反过来想能在高潮中死去又何尝不是一种幸福呢？这本书里的心理描述以及细节把握都恰到好处，它也改变了一些我对爱与性的看法，读完不禁让人深思。
August 14, 2016
只能算一般吧…不能理解男女主角的逻辑…也可能殉情这事儿本来就没逻辑…
July 3, 2023
Számítottam rá már a cím alapján, hogy milyen jellegű történetet fogok olvasni, de régen lepett meg ennyire egy könyv nyitójelenete. Nem gondoltam volna, hogy egy erotikától túlfűtött szexjelenettel ennyire hatásosan lehet indítani. Ezután mutatja be a szerző apránként, mégis miről van valójában szó. Maga a sztori szerintem attól érdekes, hogy egy a miénktől teljesen eltérő kultúrában követhetünk nyomon egy szeretői viszonyt.
A ’90-es évekbeli Japánban meglepő módon elfogadottabbnak tűnt, legalábbis a leírtak alapján, a félrelépő felek nyílt összebútorozása, mint a válás. Ráadásul komoly következményei lehettek a munkahely, vagy más személyes kapcsolatok szempontjából. Ám aki Jápán sokszínű kultúráját akarná megismerni, nem ehhez a regényhez kell nyúlnia, mert itt inkább elejtett félinformációk vannak, mint tényleges adatok. Viszont érdekes adalék, hogy a főszereplő irodalmi szerkesztő, így relatíve sok utalás van japán írókra, költőkre, sőt még néhány híresebb bűnesetre is.
A dinamikus kezdés után azonban átcsap a regény a “szex vagy siránkozás”, “siránkozás vagy szex” kategóriába. Egyáltalán nem érzem azt a filozófiai mélységet, amit a fülszöveg ígér. Adott két felnőtt ember, akiknek tisztában kéne lennie a tettei következményeivel, mégsem ezt látjuk. Sőt, ha nagyon általánosítok, akkor elég tipikus felállás, középkorú férfi, 15-20 évvel fiatalabb nő. Maguk szexjelenetek is sztereotipikusak, mert alátámasztják azt a tévhitet, hogy egy nő minden egyes alkalommal, 100 %-ig sorozatos orgazmusokkal tarkítva élvezi a dolgot. Ettől függetlenül vannak benne érdekes gondolatok, de az nem igazán tetszett ahogy meg akarja magyarázni a párkapcsolati gyilkosságokat. A történet vége pedig enyhén túl van dramatizálva, ez még véletlenül sem a japán Madison megye hídjai!
Mindent összevetve egyébként érdekes olvasmány volt, messze jobb, mint amit erotikus-romantikus néven az átlag írók művelnek.
A ’90-es évekbeli Japánban meglepő módon elfogadottabbnak tűnt, legalábbis a leírtak alapján, a félrelépő felek nyílt összebútorozása, mint a válás. Ráadásul komoly következményei lehettek a munkahely, vagy más személyes kapcsolatok szempontjából. Ám aki Jápán sokszínű kultúráját akarná megismerni, nem ehhez a regényhez kell nyúlnia, mert itt inkább elejtett félinformációk vannak, mint tényleges adatok. Viszont érdekes adalék, hogy a főszereplő irodalmi szerkesztő, így relatíve sok utalás van japán írókra, költőkre, sőt még néhány híresebb bűnesetre is.
A dinamikus kezdés után azonban átcsap a regény a “szex vagy siránkozás”, “siránkozás vagy szex” kategóriába. Egyáltalán nem érzem azt a filozófiai mélységet, amit a fülszöveg ígér. Adott két felnőtt ember, akiknek tisztában kéne lennie a tettei következményeivel, mégsem ezt látjuk. Sőt, ha nagyon általánosítok, akkor elég tipikus felállás, középkorú férfi, 15-20 évvel fiatalabb nő. Maguk szexjelenetek is sztereotipikusak, mert alátámasztják azt a tévhitet, hogy egy nő minden egyes alkalommal, 100 %-ig sorozatos orgazmusokkal tarkítva élvezi a dolgot. Ettől függetlenül vannak benne érdekes gondolatok, de az nem igazán tetszett ahogy meg akarja magyarázni a párkapcsolati gyilkosságokat. A történet vége pedig enyhén túl van dramatizálva, ez még véletlenül sem a japán Madison megye hídjai!
Mindent összevetve egyébként érdekes olvasmány volt, messze jobb, mint amit erotikus-romantikus néven az átlag írók művelnek.
March 10, 2023
Maybe it's because of my young age, but this book was pretty darn disturbing in my opinion. Take literally all of this with a grain of salt because this review is by some high school student who doesn't even read much in the first place, so I'm really sorry for the sloppy review. Without further ado!
The two in the affair were just awful, but I do think that was Watanabe's point-- to highlight the intense obsession and the disgusting beauty of it. And I applaud him for communicating that, which is why I gave it a rating of 3 stars.
I feel as if the two lovers' characterization was on purpose, to make Kuki indecisive when thinking about divorcing his wife, and to make Rinko some damsel in distress when her husband traps her in the marriage. Speaking of her husband, I just thought of him as some wannabe Roger Chillingworth. I mean, taking pictures of his wife in a shameful state without her consent? And to think Kuki was kind of aroused by that! Thinking about pictures that his own lover was crying to him about because she didn't like it.
Oh yeah, and there was a lot of sex. I did like the sex scenes the first half, but I do find it a bit too much that they had sex like 3 times in the first chapter, and the second half of the book just became super depressing when they started discussing the case of Sada Abe so I couldn't enjoy it that much, really.
On god, though. Juliet Winters Carpenter is a brilliant translator. Love her.
The two in the affair were just awful, but I do think that was Watanabe's point-- to highlight the intense obsession and the disgusting beauty of it. And I applaud him for communicating that, which is why I gave it a rating of 3 stars.
I feel as if the two lovers' characterization was on purpose, to make Kuki indecisive when thinking about divorcing his wife, and to make Rinko some damsel in distress when her husband traps her in the marriage. Speaking of her husband, I just thought of him as some wannabe Roger Chillingworth. I mean, taking pictures of his wife in a shameful state without her consent? And to think Kuki was kind of aroused by that! Thinking about pictures that his own lover was crying to him about because she didn't like it.
Oh yeah, and there was a lot of sex. I did like the sex scenes the first half, but I do find it a bit too much that they had sex like 3 times in the first chapter, and the second half of the book just became super depressing when they started discussing the case of Sada Abe so I couldn't enjoy it that much, really.
On god, though. Juliet Winters Carpenter is a brilliant translator. Love her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2026
那種悶燒般的痛，像被什麼東西狠狠揪住，鬆不開，也放不下。這本書對我來說，不只是小說，更像一面照妖鏡，把婚姻這件事照得赤裸裸，一���遮掩都沒有。
久木在公司被邊緣化，生活了無生趣；凘子則守著一個對她冷淡的丈夫和公婆，日子過得像一潭死水。他們在喪禮上偶遇，之後因為共同參加書法課而越走越近。第一次去旅館的時候，凘子說了一句：「我已經很久沒有被當成女人了。」這句話讀到時，我差點掉下淚來。不是因為它多文藝，而是因為它太真實——很多婚姻裡，愛情早就被柴米油鹽磨光了，剩下的只有責任和習慣。
他們的戀情發展得極快，也極烈。從偷情到完全沉溺，兩人幾乎把所有時間都用來見面、做愛、談心。久木離婚了，凘子卻因為家庭壓力遲遲下不了決心。他們一起讀關於情死的新婚夫婦的書，一起討論「如果不能永遠在一起，那不如一起死」。最後，他們真的在京都的旅館，吃了安眠藥，選擇了殉情。書裡寫他們死前還做了愛，那段描寫細膩到讓人喘不過氣——不是情色，而是絕望的極致浪漫。
我一直覺得，婚姻制度本質上是一種財產和社會分工的安排。它保證了大部分人的基本生活需求：有人分擔經濟壓力、有人負責家務、有人養育下一代。但愛、性、和真正心靈相通的共同生活，這三樣東西，在文明社會裡，很難在同一段婚姻裡同時圓滿。絕大部分人選擇將就，自我安慰，告訴自己「這樣就夠了」，或者在婚姻裡找點小出口偷偷喘氣。這是大多數人的生存策略，也是社會運作的底線。
可是，對久木和凘子這種人來說，將就等於慢性死亡。他們不是不懂現實，而是拒絕接受那種「不完美但可以忍耐」的常態。他們蠢蠢欲動，不願意再自我欺騙，也不願意讓這段來之不易的愛情被現實一點一點磨蝕。對他們而言，如果愛情無法完整，那就乾脆用死亡來保全它的純粹。這種選擇很極端，也很自私，但讀完以後，我竟然無法苛責他們。因為在那個瞬間，我好像懂了：對某些人來說，半吊子的生活比徹底失去生命還要痛苦。
我反覆思考：如果是我，敢不敢像他們一樣？答案是，我不敢。但正因為不敢，才更被他們的勇氣震懾。他們用死亡換來了永恆的完整，而我們這些活著的人，卻得在殘缺的婚姻裡繼續妥協。
久木在公司被邊緣化，生活了無生趣；凘子則守著一個對她冷淡的丈夫和公婆，日子過得像一潭死水。他們在喪禮上偶遇，之後因為共同參加書法課而越走越近。第一次去旅館的時候，凘子說了一句：「我已經很久沒有被當成女人了。」這句話讀到時，我差點掉下淚來。不是因為它多文藝，而是因為它太真實——很多婚姻裡，愛情早就被柴米油鹽磨光了，剩下的只有責任和習慣。
他們的戀情發展得極快，也極烈。從偷情到完全沉溺，兩人幾乎把所有時間都用來見面、做愛、談心。久木離婚了，凘子卻因為家庭壓力遲遲下不了決心。他們一起讀關於情死的新婚夫婦的書，一起討論「如果不能永遠在一起，那不如一起死」。最後，他們真的在京都的旅館，吃了安眠藥，選擇了殉情。書裡寫他們死前還做了愛，那段描寫細膩到讓人喘不過氣——不是情色，而是絕望的極致浪漫。
我一直覺得，婚姻制度本質上是一種財產和社會分工的安排。它保證了大部分人的基本生活需求：有人分擔經濟壓力、有人負責家務、有人養育下一代。但愛、性、和真正心靈相通的共同生活，這三樣東西，在文明社會裡，很難在同一段婚姻裡同時圓滿。絕大部分人選擇將就，自我安慰，告訴自己「這樣就夠了」，或者在婚姻裡找點小出口偷偷喘氣。這是大多數人的生存策略，也是社會運作的底線。
可是，對久木和凘子這種人來說，將就等於慢性死亡。他們不是不懂現實，而是拒絕接受那種「不完美但可以忍耐」的常態。他們蠢蠢欲動，不願意再自我欺騙，也不願意讓這段來之不易的愛情被現實一點一點磨蝕。對他們而言，如果愛情無法完整，那就乾脆用死亡來保全它的純粹。這種選擇很極端，也很自私，但讀完以後，我竟然無法苛責他們。因為在那個瞬間，我好像懂了：對某些人來說，半吊子的生活比徹底失去生命還要痛苦。
我反覆思考：如果是我，敢不敢像他們一樣？答案是，我不敢。但正因為不敢，才更被他們的勇氣震懾。他們用死亡換來了永恆的完整，而我們這些活著的人，卻得在殘缺的婚姻裡繼續妥協。
February 15, 2025
The description of sex is insanely great, so passionate to relate. There are tons of male gaze unfortunately given the limitations of the time, but the descriptions are full of pure beauty, in a Japanese way, restrained on the outside and burning within.
I definitely also imagined dying in the arms of lover before. If have to die this way or that, this could be the best way to do so. I can see the reason if someone to pursue dying on the “peak” of your life, but I don’t think I’ll support it. Having any extra days with your lover is gifted. It makes no sense to end the love now if you feel like it will change in 20 years. It’s just cowardly. Don’t make it change then.
I definitely also imagined dying in the arms of lover before. If have to die this way or that, this could be the best way to do so. I can see the reason if someone to pursue dying on the “peak” of your life, but I don’t think I’ll support it. Having any extra days with your lover is gifted. It makes no sense to end the love now if you feel like it will change in 20 years. It’s just cowardly. Don’t make it change then.
July 20, 2025
At first, I was surprised that a writer like Junichi Watanabe—who so clearly rejects the constraints of social norms/ marital morality—would give his protagonists such a tragic ending. But then I realized: perhaps only tragedy could truly complete them. It’s a kind of mono no aware—a sorrowful, fleeting beauty that carries its own quiet sense of fulfillment.
The novel bears the unmistakable imprint of Japanese literature: somber, hauntingly melancholic, and at times laced with a seductive, otherworldly presence—like the faint trace of a spirit luring you toward the abyss.
The novel bears the unmistakable imprint of Japanese literature: somber, hauntingly melancholic, and at times laced with a seductive, otherworldly presence—like the faint trace of a spirit luring you toward the abyss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2025
是渡边淳一的成名作了，昨天在图书馆的时候看着，表示不是怎么吸引人呢其实，然后觉得前面有些评论性的句子还是很有想法的，后面看着就没什么感觉了，故事情节实在是称不上百科上说的扣人心弦跌宕起伏来着，虽然我表示真的不怎么能看懂。
讲的是婚外情者，在家庭不顺而爱情达到顶峰的时候选择双双死去。对于作者平和的笔调不想评论太多，对于看不懂的深意也没什么好说，只是这个爱到高潮戛然而止的想法却是在其他人口中听到过的，现在应是可以理解说话人出语的根据了，虽然这样的想法还是不怎么认同的，尤其是在连场景情节都没有的情况下。这里不深入辨析了，待有更多阅历时再看吧。（有看过的有想法的欢迎讨论）
讲的是婚外情者，在家庭不顺而爱情达到顶峰的时候选择双双死去。对于作者平和的笔调不想评论太多，对于看不懂的深意也没什么好说，只是这个爱到高潮戛然而止的想法却是在其他人口中听到过的，现在应是可以理解说话人出语的根据了，虽然这样的想法还是不怎么认同的，尤其是在连场景情节都没有的情况下。这里不深入辨析了，待有更多阅历时再看吧。（有看过的有想法的欢迎讨论）
December 26, 2019
Interesting story.
Couldn't think of another ending given where the plot is heading.
Couldn't think of another ending given where the plot is heading.
April 23, 2022
slightly disturbing
July 3, 2023
作者对心理的描写非常细腻，甚至可称作美。可我对这本书却没有什么好感，好像因为作者过分美化悖德的行为，源于他认可这种悖德的合理性。他认为爱是虚无的，是暂时的，是不可信赖的，所以两人才会用极端的方法试图将其留住。
可我不同，我认为世俗的磨难不仅不会摧毁爱，反而会让真正的爱历久弥新。
可我不同，我认为世俗的磨难不仅不会摧毁爱，反而会让真正的爱历久弥新。
May 16, 2024
“他们能自我克制到什么程度，又想满足彼此愿望到何种程度？这才是最大的问题。”
December 20, 2024
最后尸检报告得加一星!
May 12, 2025
无论你如何相爱如何做爱如何幻想爱，到头来也只有一份尸检报告，但是两人在最高潮时喝下毒酒在达到高潮的时候双双毙命，尸体僵硬到不能分离，也是爱了。
BTW，我高中的时候被我班的男生经常借走这本书，换回来的时候发现封面给我撕烂了连里面的正文都给我撕烂了几页……我真的
BTW，我高中的时候被我班的男生经常借走这本书，换回来的时候发现封面给我撕烂了连里面的正文都给我撕烂了几页……我真的
January 4, 2023
这是一个探索性与爱情，从而思索人生的故事。两个外遇者的生活，似乎是充满了“色情”。但却又似乎是那么“纯情”（放弃了一切世俗的金钱、名誉去爱，甚至为之去死）。到底什么是爱呢？爱是不是会变的呢？
主人公两人去死的原因，似乎是因为已经体验到了人生中最大的快乐，而又害怕时间会让对方变心，所以想在当下结束自己的生命。这样的逻辑，似乎充满了道理，可是又那么无理取闹。这样去活的人生，真正有意义吗？
又或者男主人公是被女主人公所“蛊惑”，直到最后，男主人公似乎在自杀时都有那么一点“空白”，而不知所措。而女主人公居然最后是微笑着死的。
似乎是一个简单的出轨故事，甚至都没有太多的剧情，却又这么让人深思。
主人公两人去死的原因，似乎是因为已经体验到了人生中最大的快乐，而又害怕时间会让对方变心，所以想在当下结束自己的生命。这样的逻辑，似乎充满了道理，可是又那么无理取闹。这样去活的人生，真正有意义吗？
又或者男主人公是被女主人公所“蛊惑”，直到最后，男主人公似乎在自杀时都有那么一点“空白”，而不知所措。而女主人公居然最后是微笑着死的。
似乎是一个简单的出轨故事，甚至都没有太多的剧情，却又这么让人深思。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
因為去了渡邊淳一文學館（是為的安藤忠雄的建築），好像得讀一讀他的書，讀完可以肯定的說不愛，但就是不知道為什麼，他的文字在我這好像生根長腳立住不走了
我討厭作者描寫的女性角色，她的保守、悶騷，「被開發」後的大膽和投入，對日本男人對這樣一個女性形象的憧憬感到不安。但，本書多到數不清性愛情節意外不難看，能順著故事推動而有新進展，細節非常詳盡，配合日本飯店雪景、花的變化真是浪漫至極，有趣的是久木對男女性的看法，譬如女性相對於男性在性事上所獲得的愉悅是更深沉與多層次的…
最後的結局不意外，中後段久木因為在編纂昭和史而查閱阿部定事件，妓女阿部定將其情人石田吉藏殺害後割下其陰莖和睪丸而走，欲自殺未成後被逮。凜子聽完久木的分享大感興趣，希望能親眼讀到文獻，並在之後有感而發，想要和久木一同死去，前幾次久木的反應是驚嚇、害怕、抗拒的，究竟哪一刻妥協了？是因為外遇的事情被抖到出版社而決定離職，背離社會倫理道德、正常工作家庭的緣故？這裡久木的心境轉折總感覺少了點什麼
題外話，日本出版行業感覺比台灣好太多，還有地方讓人勾心鬥角、爭權奪利
我討厭作者描寫的女性角色，她的保守、悶騷，「被開發」後的大膽和投入，對日本男人對這樣一個女性形象的憧憬感到不安。但，本書多到數不清性愛情節意外不難看，能順著故事推動而有新進展，細節非常詳盡，配合日本飯店雪景、花的變化真是浪漫至極，有趣的是久木對男女性的看法，譬如女性相對於男性在性事上所獲得的愉悅是更深沉與多層次的…
最後的結局不意外，中後段久木因為在編纂昭和史而查閱阿部定事件，妓女阿部定將其情人石田吉藏殺害後割下其陰莖和睪丸而走，欲自殺未成後被逮。凜子聽完久木的分享大感興趣，希望能親眼讀到文獻，並在之後有感而發，想要和久木一同死去，前幾次久木的反應是驚嚇、害怕、抗拒的，究竟哪一刻妥協了？是因為外遇的事情被抖到出版社而決定離職，背離社會倫理道德、正常工作家庭的緣故？這裡久木的心境轉折總感覺少了點什麼
題外話，日本出版行業感覺比台灣好太多，還有地方讓人勾心鬥角、爭權奪利
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
December 6, 2022DNF @ 25%
Picked up this book by accident, thinking it was something else. The issue is, this is one of those books you need to have knowingly chosen to want to read. To know the premise, and be intrigued by it. Maybe done some work into the historical background it was borne into. Hopefully have someone guide you on the intricacies and hidden meanings along the way.
Otherwise, you will be like me.
Let me explain.
I am so far 25% into this book. (And I don't foresee that number climbing higher in the future.) And the reason I decided to put the book down quarter-way through is because I got so sick of the male gaze.
The book follows 久木 (Sholchiro), who has an affair with 凜子 (Rinko). It starts with them having sex, and basically doesn't even stop describe them having sex. Apparently this was serialized in newspaper form, so I guess that made it more palatable...? Your weekly sex scene....? I don't know.
Anyway. That's not even my main issue with this book. I felt so disconnected from the characters. There is no transition period, no will-he-won't-he, no internal struggle. For the most part, they are pretty happy to see each other, and happier still to fuck each other. And if any stray thoughts about their respective SOs surface, they are quickly quashed. And to the normal, non-adultering person, this is strange??? There is a reason most people aren't cheating??? So it would have been nice to have been privy to the transition from them going from I-don't-want-to-cheat to hmm-maybe to oh-god-yes, especially since this is the main focus of the book.
But. That is still not my main issue. My main issue is the Everpresent Male Gaze™ and it's lesser known brother, the Everpresent Male Voice™. To the point where, I'm not sure, maybe it's deliberate?? Maybe it's advanced social commentary that I'm not enlightened enough to get?? There was one whole section where they're at a party together and he keeps undressing her in his mind, and imagining other men undressing her. And feeling happy about how many other men are picturing her naked when he's the only one who will get to actually undress her later. And many many scenes like that.
Overall: uncomfortable and creepy to read. Please make sure you know you want to read a book like this before starting to read it.
Picked up this book by accident, thinking it was something else. The issue is, this is one of those books you need to have knowingly chosen to want to read. To know the premise, and be intrigued by it. Maybe done some work into the historical background it was borne into. Hopefully have someone guide you on the intricacies and hidden meanings along the way.
Otherwise, you will be like me.
Let me explain.
I am so far 25% into this book. (And I don't foresee that number climbing higher in the future.) And the reason I decided to put the book down quarter-way through is because I got so sick of the male gaze.
The book follows 久木 (Sholchiro), who has an affair with 凜子 (Rinko). It starts with them having sex, and basically doesn't even stop describe them having sex. Apparently this was serialized in newspaper form, so I guess that made it more palatable...? Your weekly sex scene....? I don't know.
Anyway. That's not even my main issue with this book. I felt so disconnected from the characters. There is no transition period, no will-he-won't-he, no internal struggle. For the most part, they are pretty happy to see each other, and happier still to fuck each other. And if any stray thoughts about their respective SOs surface, they are quickly quashed. And to the normal, non-adultering person, this is strange??? There is a reason most people aren't cheating??? So it would have been nice to have been privy to the transition from them going from I-don't-want-to-cheat to hmm-maybe to oh-god-yes, especially since this is the main focus of the book.
But. That is still not my main issue. My main issue is the Everpresent Male Gaze™ and it's lesser known brother, the Everpresent Male Voice™. To the point where, I'm not sure, maybe it's deliberate?? Maybe it's advanced social commentary that I'm not enlightened enough to get?? There was one whole section where they're at a party together and he keeps undressing her in his mind, and imagining other men undressing her. And feeling happy about how many other men are picturing her naked when he's the only one who will get to actually undress her later. And many many scenes like that.
Overall: uncomfortable and creepy to read. Please make sure you know you want to read a book like this before starting to read it.
December 18, 2023
大半本是略有文学性的男频黄文，后面开始讨论殉情心理还是有可取之处,结局也挺震撼。
April 19, 2023
Found this book in my middle school library for some reason; this book is pretty obscene and quite Japanese in terms of the author's obsession with a somewhat perverted romantic and sexual relationship. Might be an interesting read for a Western reader with some interest in Japanese pornographic films
December 27, 2024
It had just occurred to me how insane this book is. I actually read it after I was just out of grades school? I always wanted to know if it was A Lost Paradise or No Longer Human that got me hooked to the idea of suicide.
Do you self a favor, read it when you are older.
Do you self a favor, read it when you are older.
November 24, 2020
Affairs have always been a popular topic in literatures, including these well-known ones like Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoj, L'Amant by Marguerite Duras or Lady Chatterley's lover by Lawrence.
But Japanese literature on such topic always stands out. Unlike other famous ones, affairs are normally the surface story and bait for reading, behind which lies deeper reflections and discussions of other social cultural issues.
While japanese ones, just focus on the affair itself, digging into the momental feelings, without moral judgements or discussions on issues at a upper scale. Such an attitude derives from the japanese island-cultural understanding of the universe that can trace back all the way in its litterateur even back to The tale of Genji.
And for exactly this reason, as a reader from a different culture, I didn't empathize too much during the reading, which led to a four star rating. The book itself is however really well-written that would worth a five star.
But Japanese literature on such topic always stands out. Unlike other famous ones, affairs are normally the surface story and bait for reading, behind which lies deeper reflections and discussions of other social cultural issues.
While japanese ones, just focus on the affair itself, digging into the momental feelings, without moral judgements or discussions on issues at a upper scale. Such an attitude derives from the japanese island-cultural understanding of the universe that can trace back all the way in its litterateur even back to The tale of Genji.
And for exactly this reason, as a reader from a different culture, I didn't empathize too much during the reading, which led to a four star rating. The book itself is however really well-written that would worth a five star.
November 26, 2022
渡边的书，读这一本书就够了。
April 4, 2018
对于这个命题的这种选择，几天内都处于混沌困惑的状态。我想理清楚的，是我与这本书的违和，究竟是缘于它在我之下，还是相反-我还参不透另一层次的或者更复杂的意识形态。
最终，我想，爱无论多复杂，应予以生。说爱，演成绝对的占有欲望，剥夺欲望，无论如何，很难定义为高级的升华。
我想了很久关于这两人的心理过程。关于书中类似的日本社会的殉情理念。一种生命决定，终究应该是一天天一步步，各种大大小小的物理和精神环境赋予人的影响，累积塑造而成。应该不是一种心情一件事，突然就说我要去死。而在这些纷繁的线索里，除了显然的不被祝福的爱，和对未来的恐惧，对下抛物线年龄的不安，对下抛物线爱情的无望，还有最致命的，或者是那种被人群封闭和孤立的状态，那种除了你，我再也没有谁了的绝望。尝过那种绝望，致死并非天方夜谭。
但久木和凛子并不一定是被人群孤立的，这一路，有一些岔口，有另一种处理的方法，仍能殊途同归。像所有最终被绝对封闭的人一样，大多时候，这种封闭是一种自主行为。自己一定要连过两夜，一定要在工作时间跑出去，一定要再接二连三在外留宿远游共渡。爱和欲望很难由理智驾驭，但中间一定有本可以暂时自制忍耐，想清后路，一件一件干净处理再在一起的办法。
人和爱的命运，由人的思维构成。思维主导行动构成。我不管渡边是什么大师，但是不再追渡边。不是我的大师。
他和我们家村上，也不是一国人。
最终，我想，爱无论多复杂，应予以生。说爱，演成绝对的占有欲望，剥夺欲望，无论如何，很难定义为高级的升华。
我想了很久关于这两人的心理过程。关于书中类似的日本社会的殉情理念。一种生命决定，终究应该是一天天一步步，各种大大小小的物理和精神环境赋予人的影响，累积塑造而成。应该不是一种心情一件事，突然就说我要去死。而在这些纷繁的线索里，除了显然的不被祝福的爱，和对未来的恐惧，对下抛物线年龄的不安，对下抛物线爱情的无望，还有最致命的，或者是那种被人群封闭和孤立的状态，那种除了你，我再也没有谁了的绝望。尝过那种绝望，致死并非天方夜谭。
但久木和凛子并不一定是被人群孤立的，这一路，有一些岔口，有另一种处理的方法，仍能殊途同归。像所有最终被绝对封闭的人一样，大多时候，这种封闭是一种自主行为。自己一定要连过两夜，一定要在工作时间跑出去，一定要再接二连三在外留宿远游共渡。爱和欲望很难由理智驾驭，但中间一定有本可以暂时自制忍耐，想清后路，一件一件干净处理再在一起的办法。
人和爱的命运，由人的思维构成。思维主导行动构成。我不管渡边是什么大师，但是不再追渡边。不是我的大师。
他和我们家村上，也不是一国人。
June 10, 2023
失楽園 by 渡辺淳一
日本小説里的憂鬱和虛無是如此特別，殉情作為一種追求享樂、逃避現實的象徵，令人震撼。十二個章節名也很浪漫：落日，秋天，良夜，短日，初會，冬瀑，春陰，落花，小滿，半夏，空蟬，至福。
做櫻花吧，定格在最絢爛的時候。愛到可以去死，燃燒掉生命只為保留這份愛最美的樣子。
『凡事都有正反兩面，唯有潛藏於尊嚴背後的淫蕩、躲藏在靜謐背後的癡狂、存在道德背後的悖德，才是人生無上的逸樂。』
日本小説里的憂鬱和虛無是如此特別，殉情作為一種追求享樂、逃避現實的象徵，令人震撼。十二個章節名也很浪漫：落日，秋天，良夜，短日，初會，冬瀑，春陰，落花，小滿，半夏，空蟬，至福。
做櫻花吧，定格在最絢爛的時候。愛到可以去死，燃燒掉生命只為保留這份愛最美的樣子。
『凡事都有正反兩面，唯有潛藏於尊嚴背後的淫蕩、躲藏在靜謐背後的癡狂、存在道德背後的悖德，才是人生無上的逸樂。』
November 18, 2008
One of my favorite books of all time... Deep, moving, and unforgettable. Somewhat graphic but beautiful all the same
February 1, 2015
It was my favorite book ever since I was a teen girl. It's a well written and well plotted story. A truly sensational performance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews