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Gaijin
(This is not a romance. I NEVER write romances. If you're after one, please don't read this.)
When Jennifer left the cold and damp of London for the sparkle and bustle of Tokyo, she imagined she'd find a world full of cherry blossom festivals, ancient tea ceremonies and Geishas. What she got instead was a cramped, shared apartment, harassment on the subway and a mind-numbing job as a hostess at the Blonde Chick Bar in Roppongi.
With a single, unintentional insult all that changed. She wakes up to find that she has been kidnapped by Shindo: a sadistic Yakuza demi-god who doesn't take his loss of face easily. Caught between his hatred of all things foreign and a growing obsession with this blonde gaijin, he is determined to make her pay for her rejection in sadistic and degrading ways.
`A woman's lot is to endure,' says the fox spirit in her dreams, but Jennifer wonders whether there are indeed fates worse than death. Little by little, she finds out.
Gaijin is a dark erotica novella. It contains non-consensuality.
When Jennifer left the cold and damp of London for the sparkle and bustle of Tokyo, she imagined she'd find a world full of cherry blossom festivals, ancient tea ceremonies and Geishas. What she got instead was a cramped, shared apartment, harassment on the subway and a mind-numbing job as a hostess at the Blonde Chick Bar in Roppongi.
With a single, unintentional insult all that changed. She wakes up to find that she has been kidnapped by Shindo: a sadistic Yakuza demi-god who doesn't take his loss of face easily. Caught between his hatred of all things foreign and a growing obsession with this blonde gaijin, he is determined to make her pay for her rejection in sadistic and degrading ways.
`A woman's lot is to endure,' says the fox spirit in her dreams, but Jennifer wonders whether there are indeed fates worse than death. Little by little, she finds out.
Gaijin is a dark erotica novella. It contains non-consensuality.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2010
5 people are currently reading
997 people want to read
About the author
Remittance Girl
29 books426 followersRemittance Girl is a writer of erotic fiction. NOT ROMANCE OR EROTIC ROMANCE. Most of my work is short stories, but I do write some longer pieces – serials, novellas, etc. I live as an expat in a small Southeast Asian country, where I teach, write and grow orchids. I live with a cat called Seven. Although writing is not my main profession, it is the focus of my life. I hope that shows in the quality of my work.
As a writer, I feel very strongly that the erotica genre has suffered greatly over the years from a lack of quality, good editorship, and a dearth of publishers willing to put new material out there. It seems to have been appropriated by two literary camps: romantic fiction and pornography. These days most erotic fiction is either a romance novel with the spicy bits left in or, on the other side of the spectrum, stroke fiction with the solitary and express purpose of providing guided masturbatory fantasies.
This is sad, because I think erotic fiction, as a genre, should be neither and both those things, but it ought to be more, as well. I have no objection to representations of romantic entanglements in erotica, just as I have no objections to them in a sci-fi novel. Nor do I have any objections to a reader finding that a specific story arouses them to the point of wanting to masturbate. That’s also fine. But there are perfectly good genres where either of those reader desires are fulfilled specifically.
I believe that erotica, as a genre, should deal with the theme of erotic desire and, ideally, how desire informs, changes and manipulates the lives of the characters who are desirous. If erotic fiction can be this, then I think it has the potential to be an important cultural product, and should be proudly included in the literary cannon.
Some of you will have cleverly noticed that Remittance Girl is not the name I was born with. I decided to use a pseudonym because it is in keeping with the tradition of the Victorian pornographers. I could have chosen a name that sounded like a name, but where would be the fun it that. This is my identity for my writing, and for my online persona. I’ve had it for many years now.
The name itself is a reference to a “remittance man”. Wikipedia describes a remittance man thus:
Remittance Man
In the 19th century, the English usage of the word usually referred to money sent from England – the opposite direction to today’s usual usage of the term. A remittance man was an exile living on money sent from home. Within Victorian British culture, this often meant the black sheep of an upper or middle class family who was sent away (from the UK to the Empire), and paid to stay away. These men were generally of dissolute or drunken character, and may have been sent overseas after one or more disgraces at home.
If you wish to contact me, please email me at remittancegirl(at)gmail(dot)com
As a writer, I feel very strongly that the erotica genre has suffered greatly over the years from a lack of quality, good editorship, and a dearth of publishers willing to put new material out there. It seems to have been appropriated by two literary camps: romantic fiction and pornography. These days most erotic fiction is either a romance novel with the spicy bits left in or, on the other side of the spectrum, stroke fiction with the solitary and express purpose of providing guided masturbatory fantasies.
This is sad, because I think erotic fiction, as a genre, should be neither and both those things, but it ought to be more, as well. I have no objection to representations of romantic entanglements in erotica, just as I have no objections to them in a sci-fi novel. Nor do I have any objections to a reader finding that a specific story arouses them to the point of wanting to masturbate. That’s also fine. But there are perfectly good genres where either of those reader desires are fulfilled specifically.
I believe that erotica, as a genre, should deal with the theme of erotic desire and, ideally, how desire informs, changes and manipulates the lives of the characters who are desirous. If erotic fiction can be this, then I think it has the potential to be an important cultural product, and should be proudly included in the literary cannon.
Some of you will have cleverly noticed that Remittance Girl is not the name I was born with. I decided to use a pseudonym because it is in keeping with the tradition of the Victorian pornographers. I could have chosen a name that sounded like a name, but where would be the fun it that. This is my identity for my writing, and for my online persona. I’ve had it for many years now.
The name itself is a reference to a “remittance man”. Wikipedia describes a remittance man thus:
Remittance Man
In the 19th century, the English usage of the word usually referred to money sent from England – the opposite direction to today’s usual usage of the term. A remittance man was an exile living on money sent from home. Within Victorian British culture, this often meant the black sheep of an upper or middle class family who was sent away (from the UK to the Empire), and paid to stay away. These men were generally of dissolute or drunken character, and may have been sent overseas after one or more disgraces at home.
If you wish to contact me, please email me at remittancegirl(at)gmail(dot)com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
January 7, 2018
Talk about the definition of a mindfuck! Being abducted and abused by a breathtaking piece of art...
From just beneath his collarbone, over the entire surface of his chest, to the black band of fabric at his waist, was a garden, a zoo, a kaleidoscopic riot. Across one shoulder and down the right arm, almost to the elbow, flaming peony petals rippled against the wings of Luna moths. On the other side, fat gold carp swam over his bicep in a sea of waving blue-green pondweed. On his chest, a storm of cherry blossoms engulfed a geisha, despite her parasol.
...All the images that had drawn Jennifer to Japan, the mysteries and aesthetics, were etched on his skin. Her eyes pooled with new tears at the stupidity of it all. The bizarre idealization of a culture encapsulated on the flesh of a thug.
Jesus! I adore Luna moths. And cherry blossoms and Japanese tattoo art. And...whales. Wait!...Jennifer, what about whale hunting? That should've warned you not to idealize the Japanese culture too much...
In Gaijin, Jennifer escapes her damp London apartment to work as a hostess in the Blonde Chicks Bar in Tokyo.
From time to time, some jumped-up, arrogant bunch of Yakuza pricks would monopolize the club's facilities, but sooner or later, they'd always get bored and leave. (...) She'd heard stories - she'd always assumed they were urban myths - of Western hostesses getting snatched and murdered, but she never really believed it.
Unfortunately, Jennifer doesn't realize yet how dangerous the sadistic Yakuza boss Shindo actually is. And it's too late anyway, for he has already set his eyes on her...
Don't expect some smut-fest or even erotica pur sang. Gaijin's written too matter of factly for that and the author doesn't try to make this story especially titillating. But she does leave you much room to interpret this story in whatever way you like. Be it the gritty, distant recollection of a girl having experienced abuse or a darkly erotic tale. I loved being able to sculpt my own characters and layers in my mind, without having to purposefully ignore vulgar descriptions of unearthly beauty, full luscious lips, rock hard abs and overly explanatory comments. This is something I already love about the author's style: she allows you to think for yourself and doesn't fill in too many details.
Gaijin is beautifully poetic at times, and only every now and then the writing is slightly ineffective (then he sighed as it erupted hot and dark within her (the word dark has me pondering here) and he said, with a voice like skin drawn over gravel). It's absolutely nothing you cannot look past though.
The good thing about the fact that this is a novella of only 70 pages is that it's fast-paced. I found myself blazing through it in only one sitting. The downside is that Gaijin really only scratches the surface of what could've been an intensely dark and erotic psychological experiment. The author offers a few intriguing scenes and it's a shame that she rushes through them so fast. I also would've appreciated Gaijin to start at the Blonde Chicks Bar, to allow atmosphere-building and to fully establish the predatory ways of the Yakuza boss, before he abducts Jennifer and . It all happens in a bit of a blur.
Something that gets a lot of buzz in reviews for this book is the pearling. I already knew about the tradition of pearling among Yakuza (oh the tidbits your brain stores when you're a history nut!) and I agree with the heroine: this particular body modification does look like some revolting STD at first glance.
Because this is one of those stories that made me highlight parts on my ereader like crazy, a final quote:
"Is there a fate worse than death, Gaijin?" he asked, looking out over the snowy city. "Would you prefer to end your life this way, over the side of my balcony?" Gently, he drew the edges of her ruined dress apart, pulling it off her shoulders and letting it drop to the decking. "If you don't have enough courage, I can help you."
From just beneath his collarbone, over the entire surface of his chest, to the black band of fabric at his waist, was a garden, a zoo, a kaleidoscopic riot. Across one shoulder and down the right arm, almost to the elbow, flaming peony petals rippled against the wings of Luna moths. On the other side, fat gold carp swam over his bicep in a sea of waving blue-green pondweed. On his chest, a storm of cherry blossoms engulfed a geisha, despite her parasol.
...All the images that had drawn Jennifer to Japan, the mysteries and aesthetics, were etched on his skin. Her eyes pooled with new tears at the stupidity of it all. The bizarre idealization of a culture encapsulated on the flesh of a thug.
Jesus! I adore Luna moths. And cherry blossoms and Japanese tattoo art. And...whales. Wait!...Jennifer, what about whale hunting? That should've warned you not to idealize the Japanese culture too much...
In Gaijin, Jennifer escapes her damp London apartment to work as a hostess in the Blonde Chicks Bar in Tokyo.
From time to time, some jumped-up, arrogant bunch of Yakuza pricks would monopolize the club's facilities, but sooner or later, they'd always get bored and leave. (...) She'd heard stories - she'd always assumed they were urban myths - of Western hostesses getting snatched and murdered, but she never really believed it.
Unfortunately, Jennifer doesn't realize yet how dangerous the sadistic Yakuza boss Shindo actually is. And it's too late anyway, for he has already set his eyes on her...
Don't expect some smut-fest or even erotica pur sang. Gaijin's written too matter of factly for that and the author doesn't try to make this story especially titillating. But she does leave you much room to interpret this story in whatever way you like. Be it the gritty, distant recollection of a girl having experienced abuse or a darkly erotic tale. I loved being able to sculpt my own characters and layers in my mind, without having to purposefully ignore vulgar descriptions of unearthly beauty, full luscious lips, rock hard abs and overly explanatory comments. This is something I already love about the author's style: she allows you to think for yourself and doesn't fill in too many details.
Gaijin is beautifully poetic at times, and only every now and then the writing is slightly ineffective (then he sighed as it erupted hot and dark within her (the word dark has me pondering here) and he said, with a voice like skin drawn over gravel). It's absolutely nothing you cannot look past though.
The good thing about the fact that this is a novella of only 70 pages is that it's fast-paced. I found myself blazing through it in only one sitting. The downside is that Gaijin really only scratches the surface of what could've been an intensely dark and erotic psychological experiment. The author offers a few intriguing scenes and it's a shame that she rushes through them so fast. I also would've appreciated Gaijin to start at the Blonde Chicks Bar, to allow atmosphere-building and to fully establish the predatory ways of the Yakuza boss, before he abducts Jennifer and . It all happens in a bit of a blur.
Something that gets a lot of buzz in reviews for this book is the pearling. I already knew about the tradition of pearling among Yakuza (oh the tidbits your brain stores when you're a history nut!) and I agree with the heroine: this particular body modification does look like some revolting STD at first glance.
Because this is one of those stories that made me highlight parts on my ereader like crazy, a final quote:
"Is there a fate worse than death, Gaijin?" he asked, looking out over the snowy city. "Would you prefer to end your life this way, over the side of my balcony?" Gently, he drew the edges of her ruined dress apart, pulling it off her shoulders and letting it drop to the decking. "If you don't have enough courage, I can help you."
August 13, 2016
“Is there a fate worse than death, Gaijin?” he asked, looking out over the snowy city.“Would you prefer to end your life this way, over the side of my balcony?” Gently, he drew the edges of her ruined dress apart, pulling it off her shoulders and letting it drop to the decking. “If you don’t have enough courage, I can help you.” His whisper was like soft sand on paper.
Shindo-san! Shindo-san , can make anyone visit the four-finger deep wilderness. Gaijin is like a dainty firework waiting to be lit and rocketing in the sky with the most amazing colours, some sparkles shining brighter than the others. And, when the spectacle is over, you left desiring for more, much more.
Across one shoulder and down the right arm, almost to the elbow, flaming peony petals rippled against the wings of Luna moths. On his chest storm of cherry blossoms engulfed a geisha, despite her parasol.
Cherry blossoms, Luna moths, golden carps, kabuki samurai fighting blue dragons stretched on the taut and shiny skin and the sinister rowdiness of a Yakuza boss; I knew exactly what I was getting into and I could not contain my grin. Firstly, it is not a romantic erotica (thank god for it!) and for those who expect this to be an PG review, the strawberry twizzlers are at the kiddie table and while you are at it , please hand me the leather cuffs. The prose write-up is remarkably compact and captivates with every stiffened fist and hypnotic with the rhythms of lustful pain. There were times when my anticipations for the script made me insatiable for stricter sexual nuances and yearned for some synchronised kinbaku knotted entanglements. Why couldn't the Yakuza boss be a kinbakushi? Am I being a tad greedy? Fucking hell! Why not! Non-consensual /consensual sex, Yakuza boss, willful Gaijin-san Jennifer’s lustful groan from pleasurable pearls encompassing all elements of an alluring dark erotica and no shibari techniques! May be in the next one, isn't it so Remittance Girl? Yet, it was luscious and attractive read and not a single regretted moment in this miniature erotic treasure engrossed with the sexual magnetism and the incredibility of those hidden pearls.
"I'm just a foreigner. Just a stupid gaijin."
Shindo-san! Shindo-san , can make anyone visit the four-finger deep wilderness. Gaijin is like a dainty firework waiting to be lit and rocketing in the sky with the most amazing colours, some sparkles shining brighter than the others. And, when the spectacle is over, you left desiring for more, much more.
Across one shoulder and down the right arm, almost to the elbow, flaming peony petals rippled against the wings of Luna moths. On his chest storm of cherry blossoms engulfed a geisha, despite her parasol.
Cherry blossoms, Luna moths, golden carps, kabuki samurai fighting blue dragons stretched on the taut and shiny skin and the sinister rowdiness of a Yakuza boss; I knew exactly what I was getting into and I could not contain my grin. Firstly, it is not a romantic erotica (thank god for it!) and for those who expect this to be an PG review, the strawberry twizzlers are at the kiddie table and while you are at it , please hand me the leather cuffs. The prose write-up is remarkably compact and captivates with every stiffened fist and hypnotic with the rhythms of lustful pain. There were times when my anticipations for the script made me insatiable for stricter sexual nuances and yearned for some synchronised kinbaku knotted entanglements. Why couldn't the Yakuza boss be a kinbakushi? Am I being a tad greedy? Fucking hell! Why not! Non-consensual /consensual sex, Yakuza boss, willful Gaijin-san Jennifer’s lustful groan from pleasurable pearls encompassing all elements of an alluring dark erotica and no shibari techniques! May be in the next one, isn't it so Remittance Girl? Yet, it was luscious and attractive read and not a single regretted moment in this miniature erotic treasure engrossed with the sexual magnetism and the incredibility of those hidden pearls.
"I'm just a foreigner. Just a stupid gaijin."
June 3, 2012
This is another one of those books that’s described as ‘not for everyone’ – a description that I find so irresistible.
It’s a darkly erotic read with Jennifer, a British girl working as a bar hostess in Roppongi in Tokyo, drugged and abducted by Shindo San, a Yakuza henchman, in retribution for an apparent slight. He is no hero by any stretch of the imagination and she is held against her will, pierced and raped but horrified to find her own body betraying her with arousal and desire. So it’s non-consensual but it is portrayed in a fairly sensual way.
It’s a strange little story and very short but no less compelling for that. It’s told in a very matter of fact way, very little descriptive prose. The rape isn’t gratuitous – it’s just necessary for the story.
I have to say that the Japanese don’t come off very well in this one. I’m British and I’ve lived and worked in Tokyo and mostly I found them to be impeccably polite. It is an apparently male dominated society but really the women prevail – they’re just clever enough not to let the men realise. Only once in my time there did I get warned about speaking to a Yakuza (I did it unwittingly) and it was a Japanese woman who realised what I was doing and stopped me. Perhaps she perceived a danger that I never did.
They really did used to call me Gaijin San – which means foreigner but it was rarely used as an insult. The Japanese are a fairly insular society and a ‘gaijin’ is always going to stand out in a crowd and they really don’t know how to deal with us.
The ending, while not happy, is perfect for the story. Very interesting read and thanks to Joy for the recommendation.
Oh and the pearl thing - how incredibly fascinating!
It’s a darkly erotic read with Jennifer, a British girl working as a bar hostess in Roppongi in Tokyo, drugged and abducted by Shindo San, a Yakuza henchman, in retribution for an apparent slight. He is no hero by any stretch of the imagination and she is held against her will, pierced and raped but horrified to find her own body betraying her with arousal and desire. So it’s non-consensual but it is portrayed in a fairly sensual way.
It’s a strange little story and very short but no less compelling for that. It’s told in a very matter of fact way, very little descriptive prose. The rape isn’t gratuitous – it’s just necessary for the story.
I have to say that the Japanese don’t come off very well in this one. I’m British and I’ve lived and worked in Tokyo and mostly I found them to be impeccably polite. It is an apparently male dominated society but really the women prevail – they’re just clever enough not to let the men realise. Only once in my time there did I get warned about speaking to a Yakuza (I did it unwittingly) and it was a Japanese woman who realised what I was doing and stopped me. Perhaps she perceived a danger that I never did.
They really did used to call me Gaijin San – which means foreigner but it was rarely used as an insult. The Japanese are a fairly insular society and a ‘gaijin’ is always going to stand out in a crowd and they really don’t know how to deal with us.
The ending, while not happy, is perfect for the story. Very interesting read and thanks to Joy for the recommendation.
Oh and the pearl thing - how incredibly fascinating!
July 29, 2014
4 Stars
WOW!!!..What a dark..short..distrubing little tale that I thought was very well written...This one will not be for everyone...as there are scenes of non-consensuality...even though thats the case..let me tell ya..this one was...
Yes you heard me right this one was HOT!!!!...
This was my first book by this author and I can say without a doubt not my last!!!!
WOW!!!..What a dark..short..distrubing little tale that I thought was very well written...This one will not be for everyone...as there are scenes of non-consensuality...even though thats the case..let me tell ya..this one was...
Yes you heard me right this one was HOT!!!!...
This was my first book by this author and I can say without a doubt not my last!!!!
October 4, 2015
This is going to sound..
BUT, this book was
.. Full Review to come.
BUT, this book was
.. Full Review to come.
November 3, 2019
Such a good dark erotica short story. Unique, strange, exciting...and the pearls! So interesting, lol
![Profile Image for Michelle [Helen Geek].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1448463806i%2F5557851._CR0%2C13%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 3, 2012
5 Stars
This is a brutal story of a Gaijin’s abduction due to her own ignorance. Shindo frightened her and she avoided him. This self-preservation tactic was viewed as rudeness. In order to “save face” Shindo, a Yakuza leader, had Jennifer abducted and brought to him where he held her against her will and raped her repeatedly. He has no intention of letting her go until he tires of her, which may be never.
Jennifer had been a waitress at Blonde Chicks, a restaurant/bar in Tokyo. Three times she had been asked by Kuma to serve Shindo’s table, three times she refuses. He scares her, and besides, it isn’t her table to serve... She is only working at this bar to raise enough money to go home; London. She made a dreadful mistake thinking she would like the gentle culture of Japan, not realizing the culture is anything but the gentleness she romanticizes it to be. After the third time she refuses to serve Shindo, she is drugged and kidnapped.
This author writes beautifully. You get a small glimpse into a very different, puzzling culture. She paints an “anything but romantic” vision of this world. Everything has a dark side and she provides a small window for the reader. Kuma, Shindo’s loyal man, brought me to tears, gasping tears. His interaction with Jennifer is so kind, so tender in moments.
This isn’t a story for everyone. It has non-consensual moments and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I think what I liked most was the beautiful storytelling of this writer. It also made me once again realize, I truly love a story with an Asian theme and will be looking for more.
I enjoyed this and if this novella sounds interesting, give it a go. I don’t think you’ll be sorry. Thanks to Becs for leading the way. She read first and her review pushed me to read sooner rather than later!
Happy Reading!
This is a brutal story of a Gaijin’s abduction due to her own ignorance. Shindo frightened her and she avoided him. This self-preservation tactic was viewed as rudeness. In order to “save face” Shindo, a Yakuza leader, had Jennifer abducted and brought to him where he held her against her will and raped her repeatedly. He has no intention of letting her go until he tires of her, which may be never.
Jennifer had been a waitress at Blonde Chicks, a restaurant/bar in Tokyo. Three times she had been asked by Kuma to serve Shindo’s table, three times she refuses. He scares her, and besides, it isn’t her table to serve... She is only working at this bar to raise enough money to go home; London. She made a dreadful mistake thinking she would like the gentle culture of Japan, not realizing the culture is anything but the gentleness she romanticizes it to be. After the third time she refuses to serve Shindo, she is drugged and kidnapped.
This author writes beautifully. You get a small glimpse into a very different, puzzling culture. She paints an “anything but romantic” vision of this world. Everything has a dark side and she provides a small window for the reader. Kuma, Shindo’s loyal man, brought me to tears, gasping tears. His interaction with Jennifer is so kind, so tender in moments.
This isn’t a story for everyone. It has non-consensual moments and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
I think what I liked most was the beautiful storytelling of this writer. It also made me once again realize, I truly love a story with an Asian theme and will be looking for more.
I enjoyed this and if this novella sounds interesting, give it a go. I don’t think you’ll be sorry. Thanks to Becs for leading the way. She read first and her review pushed me to read sooner rather than later!
Happy Reading!
August 22, 2014
A dark lesson in letting go and thus being able to endure to survive.
The spare writing totally evoked Jennifer's situation. She did not know what was happening, were she was, why she was there and I could totally feel that, I had the same questions she had. The story kept building up and I was satisfied with the ending even though I was not ready for the cut-off.
Scary how Shindo blew hot and cold. Both the reasons for his actions and his actions were erratic, could not be pinned down. The contrast between how almighty Shindo was in relation to Jennifer and how ultimately insignificant he was in the grand scheme of things was brilliant.
August 11, 2022
THE PROSE!
This is so, so good.
Not a romance, but a tense, erotic work, this stands head and shoulders above "similar" works of fiction, because it is so well-written and poetic, but also because the author pulls no punches and has no qualms about disturbing the reader's romantic fantasies.
This is so, so good.
Not a romance, but a tense, erotic work, this stands head and shoulders above "similar" works of fiction, because it is so well-written and poetic, but also because the author pulls no punches and has no qualms about disturbing the reader's romantic fantasies.
March 8, 2013
A dark literary erotic novella that is lusciously written and beautifully melodic. A word of warning, this book is not for everyone and contains non-consensual scenes.
May 13, 2012
A reader has to exercise a lot of trust in an author. That they won't waste the time and money you invest to read the book. That they won't lead you astray through malice or neglect. That they won't take your mind to places where you don't want it to go.
As a result of personal experiences, there's nothing closer to my heart than the issue of violence towards women. So, it was with a lot of trepidation that I sat down to read a story containing even a fictional account of rape. You know what I was saying about having to trust an author? I already knew Remittance Girl is a magnificent writer but it required a lot of faith to let her take me there.
I can't tell you how relieved I am that my trust in RG wasn't misplaced, that this story didn't wreck me the way I was afraid it might. While it was explicit, it wasn't rape written to achieve a crude effect, be it titillation, or shock value or whatever, because I don't think I could have tolerated that. It was just a part of the story being told.
So what is this story about? It's about different cultures, broken illusions, the different perspectives of men and women, and ultimately it's about survival. Very much in the evolutionary sense of 'survival' - it's not about the fastest or strongest, it's about still being around after the rest have fallen.
I must confess, I'm dazzled by how terse Remittance Girl's story-telling is. The prose is vivid but without redundancy. She draws complex characters but without pointless detail. Her mastery of the language simply blows me away.
I can't imagine how anyone else could have written this story.
---
PS: Cari, I should have known better than to doubt you. I'm sorry. You were right and I was wrong.
As a result of personal experiences, there's nothing closer to my heart than the issue of violence towards women. So, it was with a lot of trepidation that I sat down to read a story containing even a fictional account of rape. You know what I was saying about having to trust an author? I already knew Remittance Girl is a magnificent writer but it required a lot of faith to let her take me there.
I can't tell you how relieved I am that my trust in RG wasn't misplaced, that this story didn't wreck me the way I was afraid it might. While it was explicit, it wasn't rape written to achieve a crude effect, be it titillation, or shock value or whatever, because I don't think I could have tolerated that. It was just a part of the story being told.
So what is this story about? It's about different cultures, broken illusions, the different perspectives of men and women, and ultimately it's about survival. Very much in the evolutionary sense of 'survival' - it's not about the fastest or strongest, it's about still being around after the rest have fallen.
I must confess, I'm dazzled by how terse Remittance Girl's story-telling is. The prose is vivid but without redundancy. She draws complex characters but without pointless detail. Her mastery of the language simply blows me away.
I can't imagine how anyone else could have written this story.
---
PS: Cari, I should have known better than to doubt you. I'm sorry. You were right and I was wrong.
April 4, 2013
3.5 stars
The trope of this erotic interlude is familiar: a blond-haired, blue-eyed gaijin working as a ‘hostess’ in Tokyo is secreted away by a powerful Japanese yakuza to be his personal love slave...
Some of the visual imagery was lovely and I appreciated the straight-forward, clean writing. With an abrupt, startling ending this felt like a section out of a larger work. While the premise didn’t stand out as especially unique and we don’t have time to get to know the main characters in real depth, the writing...well, it at times distinguished itself.
”...The onyx saplings rose like thin knives from the snowy forest floor. At first the only sound was that of her own breath, rough and jagged as she walked. Her feet were bare, but the snow felt like cotton wool—not cold at all—but each puff of steamy breath told her otherwise.
Then there were drops of water, dripping from the tree branches and hitting the snow. Each one was like a glass bell struck, a pure high tone...
Jennifer looked up. Walking towards her amidst the trees was a woman dressed in an elaborate red wedding kimono. As she came nearer, the gold thread embroidery sparked like tiny embers in the harsh winter light. Her hair was as black as the naked trees, her face pale as snow. Sliver-thin eyebrows, painted far above the natural curve of her brow gave the woman an almost frightening appearance...”
(she said) “...There is nothing more important than life. Men think other things matter more because they can never carry life inside them. But women—even you— must know: all you must do is endure. Have patience and endure.”
July 11, 2017
HOLY SHIT!! This is not my usual genre, BUT OH MY GAAWWD!!
and that's because i enjoyed it!
Now i need to go and rewatch the crying freeman.....
THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE!
and that's because i enjoyed it!
Now i need to go and rewatch the crying freeman.....
THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE!
January 22, 2019
Four solid stars. I needed a bit more meat on this bone to give this a five. I think this is the darkest short story that I have ever read and one of the few I actually liked. I'm not talking about those bodice rippers of which I never take that seriously. My nights have been sleepless and this was something I didn't have to commit to more than two nights to read. Alot of dark theme books are just disgustingly stupid, preachy, just not done right, or worse yet, turned in to romance. This story towed the line for me exceptionally well without being OTT, whiney, or preachy. What we have here is a well written thriller about abduction and sexual assault in the modern Japanese culture. It's really different from anything I have read. You can read the blurb and other reviews for more detail. I like to keep my details a little foggy as to not spoil some real gotcha moments for you. Though the ending was really abrupt, I appreciate the writer's fearlessness in tackling subjects that most authors get skewered for. There's a dark atmospheric cloud over the whole book that left me teetering on the edge and not wanting to put this down. This is NOT romance so please if dark themes trigger you, stay away. My only complaint is I would have liked for there to have been more of an ending. I just have a few questions. OK Remittance Girl where are you? Did you disappear or stop writing? I don't see any thing recent.
February 24, 2012
This story is not for everyone. It is, apparently, for me.
A dark tale, at times lush, at others cruel. Remittance Girl skillfully navigates the rocky waters of erotic non-con, never shying away from the ugly, yet unafraid to explore the loaded sensuality of the scenario.
The chemistry between Jennifer (the Gaijin) and her captor is a dangerous dance of lust and fury (on both parts), though the strange moments of brutal tenderness were surprisingly touching. Remittance Girl does a good job of not making the characters caricatures, when they so easily could be. For me, the ending was satisfying, and wrapped the tale well (It's not a "happy" story. There will be no happily ever after.)
I also have to note that I love the author's attention to cultural detail. She really captures the feeling of a foreigner trapped in over her head by mores she doesn't fathom, who has her Westerner's fantasies of the "exotic Orient" challenged by the complexities of modern Japan. It was the little details, from architecture to speech patterns, that made this story feel fleshed out and real.
Probably one of the best erotica eBooks I've read. If you're into this "niche," definitely put it on the top of your list.
A dark tale, at times lush, at others cruel. Remittance Girl skillfully navigates the rocky waters of erotic non-con, never shying away from the ugly, yet unafraid to explore the loaded sensuality of the scenario.
The chemistry between Jennifer (the Gaijin) and her captor is a dangerous dance of lust and fury (on both parts), though the strange moments of brutal tenderness were surprisingly touching. Remittance Girl does a good job of not making the characters caricatures, when they so easily could be. For me, the ending was satisfying, and wrapped the tale well (It's not a "happy" story. There will be no happily ever after.)
I also have to note that I love the author's attention to cultural detail. She really captures the feeling of a foreigner trapped in over her head by mores she doesn't fathom, who has her Westerner's fantasies of the "exotic Orient" challenged by the complexities of modern Japan. It was the little details, from architecture to speech patterns, that made this story feel fleshed out and real.
Probably one of the best erotica eBooks I've read. If you're into this "niche," definitely put it on the top of your list.
July 30, 2010
Gaijin is 76 pages long and hits 21,100 words. RG hooks you in from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. Her palette is swift, poetic, and violent. Strangers to Japan see this alien world through eyes marked with confusion, fear, fascination, and lust. Personally, I am repelled, fascinated, and adoring of Japanese culture. I feel RG intuitively allows the readers to express those very same emotions through Jennifer.
A stranger in a strange land who shuffles into a world within a world, proving centuries-old mythology isn’t dead—it’s only adapted.
The erotica deliberately cuts in certain passages, swathes us in others. Shindo’s motivations, sparse as they may be, fascinate me. Pebbles of information lead us toward his past, giving the reader bits to ruminate over but not enough for conclusion. Jennifer’s docility and defiance undulate like the shadows on a wall. They are as difficult to predict as Shindo’s moods.
The ending can be controversial depending on what Gaijin invokes with you. I won’t say which way I fell but I will say that I wasn’t ready for the story to be over. I really, really wasn’t. It goes without saying that I look forward to RG’s next work.
A stranger in a strange land who shuffles into a world within a world, proving centuries-old mythology isn’t dead—it’s only adapted.
The erotica deliberately cuts in certain passages, swathes us in others. Shindo’s motivations, sparse as they may be, fascinate me. Pebbles of information lead us toward his past, giving the reader bits to ruminate over but not enough for conclusion. Jennifer’s docility and defiance undulate like the shadows on a wall. They are as difficult to predict as Shindo’s moods.
The ending can be controversial depending on what Gaijin invokes with you. I won’t say which way I fell but I will say that I wasn’t ready for the story to be over. I really, really wasn’t. It goes without saying that I look forward to RG’s next work.
July 10, 2014
Don't understand the warnings...
I have read so many warnings about this book and, especially, this author. Yes, it was dark but I have certainly read darker. In the end, I was mildly entertained by the story. I felt like so much more could've been done but it ended so quickly. She's taken, kept for a little while and released but all in all, nothing is really delved into real deep. I feel like the author had a fantastic idea for a story and barely scratched the surface of what could've been done. It's a shame, really, because you can tell by her writing she's got real talent.
I have read so many warnings about this book and, especially, this author. Yes, it was dark but I have certainly read darker. In the end, I was mildly entertained by the story. I felt like so much more could've been done but it ended so quickly. She's taken, kept for a little while and released but all in all, nothing is really delved into real deep. I feel like the author had a fantastic idea for a story and barely scratched the surface of what could've been done. It's a shame, really, because you can tell by her writing she's got real talent.
Read
July 4, 2011A simply told story for much of the journey though where it matters the words in this story rise to wonderful heights of description. Superficially this is about the downfall of a woman kidnapped by a Yakuza boss because of an insult to his honor. It becomes much much more than a catalog of misery however and like the best stories, it takes you into her mind in a very evocative and memorable way. Excellent, but not for the faint of heart due to non-consensual scenes.
October 14, 2014
well that was fucked up.....i liked the dark aspect of the story..It was interesting with unexpected twists and end.....but I didn't like the bad feeling I got from it,I traveled to japan before and it was one of the best times ever and I didn't like what this story did to thoses good memories...it scard the hell out of me!
December 8, 2013
This will stay with me for a while.
Beautifully written, a dark story about people whose lives seem to exist in a vacuum. I liked the imagery, it was very vivid and seemed to speak of an inner strength and cleverness from Jennifer's point of view. A survivor who could assimilate even the unknown, she intrigued me and for anyone who has stood at the crossroads of life where turning in either direction is enough to make your stomach churn can appreciate that she was remarkable woman. Anyone who has visited a foreign culture without a strong support system can appreciate that it is very, very scary. I did not understand Shindo's end, that came out of the blue, but then there really wasn't going to be more detail for such a short book, there simply wasn't enough space. I was happy to read this on the recommendation of a friend and really liked the vivid imagery yet oddly stark writing of this author.
Beautifully written, a dark story about people whose lives seem to exist in a vacuum. I liked the imagery, it was very vivid and seemed to speak of an inner strength and cleverness from Jennifer's point of view. A survivor who could assimilate even the unknown, she intrigued me and for anyone who has stood at the crossroads of life where turning in either direction is enough to make your stomach churn can appreciate that she was remarkable woman. Anyone who has visited a foreign culture without a strong support system can appreciate that it is very, very scary. I did not understand Shindo's end, that came out of the blue, but then there really wasn't going to be more detail for such a short book, there simply wasn't enough space. I was happy to read this on the recommendation of a friend and really liked the vivid imagery yet oddly stark writing of this author.
May 6, 2011
I read this one a while back but after reading Comfort Food, I felt compelled to come back to this book and do a quick review. This book, while explicit, and a bit extreme for the average reader, is as much a psychological read as it is a sexual read. Remittance Girl takes risks and succeeds.
April 12, 2012
Seems wrong to say I enjoyed this but I did. I liked the story - it was interesting and absorbing. Tragic with an ending I didn't see. The pearls are a nice touch. Wouldn't mind experiencing those LOL.
June 28, 2012
Excellent writing, story was interesting as were the characters. It was a short story that felt complete and not rushed. Will read more by this author.
May 26, 2012
Gaijin starts off with a bang and never lets up. Very well written story.
August 4, 2014
Awesome short read with many twists and turns.
August 7, 2024
Recently there was a thread on r/RomanceBooks entitled “Romance Books make me feel overwhelmingly lonely.” The OP says in the thread that the books they read fill them with a sense of envy and a longing for their life to be like something from a book.
My thought, of course, is that this person needs to read some erotic horror!
It’s not even that I feel like EroHorr (lol) is more realistic than traditional romance.
Gaijin is as much of a fantasy as any “beautiful billionaire only has eyes for you,” novel.
But this sort of fantasy is uglier. More intrusive. Less concerned about comfort and tidy endings. And to me, it feels like a palate cleanse. It feels like resetting my expectations for human connection.
This story will most definitely still leave readers feeling lonely. But at least they (probably) won’t feel envy.
Also, holy shit, this is beautifully written. And I learned something new (yakuza pearls?!) So, yeah, I highly recommend!
My thought, of course, is that this person needs to read some erotic horror!
It’s not even that I feel like EroHorr (lol) is more realistic than traditional romance.
Gaijin is as much of a fantasy as any “beautiful billionaire only has eyes for you,” novel.
But this sort of fantasy is uglier. More intrusive. Less concerned about comfort and tidy endings. And to me, it feels like a palate cleanse. It feels like resetting my expectations for human connection.
This story will most definitely still leave readers feeling lonely. But at least they (probably) won’t feel envy.
Also, holy shit, this is beautifully written. And I learned something new (yakuza pearls?!) So, yeah, I highly recommend!
September 20, 2019
3.5
A dark, short read with an interesting story. Definitely not a romance.
A dark, short read with an interesting story. Definitely not a romance.
April 25, 2016
Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.
3 Stars!
A very short, somewhat dark story of a girl who works at a bar in Tokyo and gets kidnapped by a Yakuza mob boss. There’s not much in the way of story or plot and there’s little to no character or world building and absolutely no romance. This is just a very bare bones story of a girl who gets drugged and taken against her will and endures a couple of weeks of captivity at the hands of a man who is clearly off his rocker. Shindo can’t decide if he hates her or likes her but he has no guilt about forcing himself on her or giving her pleasure. Poor Jennifer can’t decide if she wants to enjoy the pleasure he gives her, or live or die. But in the end, she finds her backbone and the will to survive.
It wasn’t a bad story and there seemed to be quite a bit packed into 80 pages. I enjoyed the dark, sexy and complicated “relationship” between Jennifer and Shindo... even though it was a bit warped. I would have loved if this short was a bit longer and expanded on some details because I was very interested in where the whole dreamscape Goddess part came into play and why. I was also interested in learning more about Shindo and his history but there was none of that... and no chance of ever getting more either as that ending was a bit ... surprising.
This was my first read by Remittance Girl, but I liked the writing style and I’ve already purchased another book by this author to see if I like it as well.
3 Stars!
A very short, somewhat dark story of a girl who works at a bar in Tokyo and gets kidnapped by a Yakuza mob boss. There’s not much in the way of story or plot and there’s little to no character or world building and absolutely no romance. This is just a very bare bones story of a girl who gets drugged and taken against her will and endures a couple of weeks of captivity at the hands of a man who is clearly off his rocker. Shindo can’t decide if he hates her or likes her but he has no guilt about forcing himself on her or giving her pleasure. Poor Jennifer can’t decide if she wants to enjoy the pleasure he gives her, or live or die. But in the end, she finds her backbone and the will to survive.
It wasn’t a bad story and there seemed to be quite a bit packed into 80 pages. I enjoyed the dark, sexy and complicated “relationship” between Jennifer and Shindo... even though it was a bit warped. I would have loved if this short was a bit longer and expanded on some details because I was very interested in where the whole dreamscape Goddess part came into play and why. I was also interested in learning more about Shindo and his history but there was none of that... and no chance of ever getting more either as that ending was a bit ... surprising.
This was my first read by Remittance Girl, but I liked the writing style and I’ve already purchased another book by this author to see if I like it as well.
November 11, 2019
A short dark piece of erotic fiction about the dangers of voyeuristic white tourism and not truly understanding where you've decided to sample from.
Jennifer was sick of her damp dreary life in London and decided it would be quaint and fun to go stay in Japan for a while. After almost a year in country and no luck finding work which bleeds her funds dry, she's desperate to just get back to her old life... but first she needs to earn enough money to make it happen. She takes a job at a Blonde bar playing hostess and makes the mistake of turning down a Yakuza member 4 times too many. She wakes up pierced and kidnapped after the final time and proceeds to live the week—maybe two—from Hell. That Yakuza she slighted? He's decided she owes him for the offense, and it's not ever going to end.
There's a lot going on in this story for how short it is. I will be thinking on this one for a long time to come.
Trigger/Content warning: rape, violence against women, kidnapping, drugging
Jennifer was sick of her damp dreary life in London and decided it would be quaint and fun to go stay in Japan for a while. After almost a year in country and no luck finding work which bleeds her funds dry, she's desperate to just get back to her old life... but first she needs to earn enough money to make it happen. She takes a job at a Blonde bar playing hostess and makes the mistake of turning down a Yakuza member 4 times too many. She wakes up pierced and kidnapped after the final time and proceeds to live the week—maybe two—from Hell. That Yakuza she slighted? He's decided she owes him for the offense, and it's not ever going to end.
There's a lot going on in this story for how short it is. I will be thinking on this one for a long time to come.
Trigger/Content warning: rape, violence against women, kidnapping, drugging
March 4, 2012
I think I was tricked by this book. It's NOT what I was waiting (and hoping) for. Since I have read some of this author works, at her blog, I was thinking this would be so much darker. So much MORE. I can see there's a deep meaning to all of this, but I need to admit, I had my mind in a gutter when I bought this. But then again, it was being sold at amazon. If it was THAT bad-in a good way-, probably would it be at their blacklist. LOL. It wasn't a bad book, but when I'm promised something, I like to read that particular something. Gaijin just didn't delivered.
HUGE P.S. here: I need to convince my boyfriend to do the pearls thing. LOL
HUGE P.S. here: I need to convince my boyfriend to do the pearls thing. LOL
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