Japanese Literature discussion

This is the discussion thread for our February discussion of Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro, first published in 1996.



The Wiki page for Kaneshiro identifies him as a Zainichi Korean novelist who was born in Kawaguchi, Saitama and subsequently acquired Japanese citizenship as well as a Law degree from Keio University.

I'm a big fan of character lists, so sharing this, also from a different Wiki page.

Sugihara Main protagonist. Was a zainichi chosenjin (North Korean nationals in Japan) but changed to zainichi kankokujin (South Korean nationals in Japan). Wins every fight he has been in his Japanese high-school. Known as the "idiot of the school" in his Korean school. Seems to know a lot of trivial facts. Falls in love with Sakurai.

Katou Sugihara's friend in his Japanese school. Katou is Japanese and is a son of a yakuza.

Sakurai Became friends with Sugihara at Katou's birthday party and starts to go out with Sugihara.

Hideyoshi Sugihara's father. First generation zainichi kankokujin. Ex-pro boxer.

Michiko Sugihara's mother. Second generation zainichi kankokujin.

Jong-Il Sugihara's closest friend from the Japanese Korean school. Known as the "genius of the school".

These 2 links, first to a Japan Times article and then to the profile at the PEN website, focuse primarily on the translation and translator. I identified no spoilers in either, but reader beware.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/...

https://pen.org/capturing-the-hurt-on...

These 2 reviews, on the other hand, are spoiler-filled.

https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/...

as is this one from Asian Review of Books.
https://asianreviewofbooks.com/conten...

I started it and it is very engaging. A very direct and fresh voice of a young man, talking as if we were in a real conversation where he is prepared to be frank, honest, and say the truth about what went down. I am after 20 pages totally pulled into the narrative.

(view spoiler)[
It is innovative for me to read from the perspective of a badass, who is not taking any crap. As one of the themes was bullying, I thought I was going to read a victim story , but that is not how it sets out... He has not many friends, true, but he is feared, I did not expect that. Let's see how it evolves. (hide spoiler)]

This is certainly smooth and quick.

40% done.

It’s written in an intriguing way, with a little foreshadowing to pull the reader along. Certainly has a YA type of vibe.

I only worry a bit that with such an important opportunity to hear a voice usually silent in J-lit, this might pull a bit too many punches for me. I’m hoping it gets a bit serious at some point, but maybe that’s not what this book is??

On a personal note, I know a few people who have gone to North Korean schools, and have had my students play against one in a rugby game.

For the game, if you remember the North Korean”cheerleaders” at the China olympics, the crowd gave off a little of that vibe... like they were super behaved, but in a fretful sort of way.


Still enjoying.

As for my friends who went to a North Korean school, they said the only reason they did so was that those were the last schools with real discipline and their parents choose it for that reason. Once outside the walls of the school and away from Big Brother’s eyes, they all are just your average “Japanese” person. (BTW for anyone who doesn’t understand, beyond what the book explains, nationality can be tricky in Japan, and at times people who were born here, to parents born here, only able to speak Japanese, will identify as Korean and as a Canadian where at times people who just arrived nearly immediately become Canadian, that’s always been shocking).

Agnetta wrote: "I started it and it is very engaging. A very direct and fresh voice of a young man, talking as if we were in a real conversation where he is prepared to be frank, honest, and say the truth about wh..."

I agree 100%. It's not like anything else I'd typically pick up, but he engaged me from maybe page 6 - 7 on, and one big plus was, I'm actually on the team of a guy who has confidence, who knows exactly who he is, and, as of yet, doesn't appear to have a substance abuse problem, a gambling problem, isn't running from the law ... yet. I'm 38% through.

Ian wrote: "This is certainly smooth and quick.

40% done.

It’s written in an intriguing way, with a little foreshadowing to pull the reader along. Certainly has a YA type of vibe.

I only worry a bit that wi..."

Your take is interesting and I agree. I'd like to hear and learn more. I've only indirectly bumped into any description of the experience of Koreans in Japan through books like People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo--and the Evil That Swallowed Her Up, and I'd hoped that this novel would offer more substance, although the narrator's voice is fresh and appealing.

Is the Kevin Kwan schtick the voice he has throughout Go!? Which brings me to, who is Kaneshiro's audience? He's explaining a lot of terms that a Japanese reader would understand. Why? Surely he didn't write this novel for a Western audience... Did he? (I recall Amazon Crossing is the publisher and several of us got this book free as part one of Amazon's translated fiction promotions. Did they guarantee him translation into English prior to his writing Go?)

I'll see if I can find any interviews with him.

Carol. Maybe the explanations were the translators choice?

Joji Obara (People who eat Darkness’s Zainichi) is an interesting place to learn, as he’s a monster, some Japanese blamed his Korean soul for what he became (“certainly he’s not Japanese”) but his fathers life is the stereotypical story of the success that some Zainichi were able to achieve after the war.

No spoilers... but maybe wait until you finish to read on...


I just finished. Comments:

Sakurai and Sugihara are 17 or 18 for much of this book... so, being sexual is not a surprise... but it always felt wrong to me... was it because they are high school students?? Why?

I think it’s because of two reasons. One, is that there sexual awakening lacked discomfort or shyness that I think would overpower the eroticism of such a scene. For example, I’d expect this kind of book to suggest something like “when I saw you I felt flushed and warm like I’d never felt before”, but instead Sakurai says”I got wet”.

This leads to my other feeling, which is that those two act like young children, excited to discover things and tell their family and friends... the sexuality seems wrong for the age I picture them to be...

Anyone else??

Started today. A nice quick read, which is a relief! About 20% in. I'm enjoying the slightly cynical, casually violent but with a soft side, main character of Sugihara. He's just met Sakurai at the party, and she seems a suitable foil to his attitude.

Has anyone seen the film? I will probably check it out when I'm finished.

(view spoiler)[ Of course, with the epitaph from Romeo and Juliet at the beginning and the narrative look ahead ('of course this doesn't end happily') we know how it's going to pan out. But I think I will enjoy this one. 'Woman in the Dunes' it most certainly is not!! :-) (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Ian wrote: "No spoilers... but maybe wait until you finish to read on...


I just finished. Comments:

Sakurai and Sugihara are 17 or 18 for much of this book... so, being sexual is not a surprise... but it al..."

I'm at the 71% mark. My reaction to the sex and her comment was meh, but that's likely because I expect Japanese teen characters to be jaded and only slightly less nihilistic than the characters in Snakes and Earrings. I so hated that book, but at the same time, it moved my internal sense of teen normalcy way off the charts. At this point, if a teen character in a Japanese novel isn't a hostess, I am happy with almost anything else occurring.

But, I wouldn't be if the novel was written by a British author about characters with similar family backgrounds and the like, which is uncomfortable to admit, but I think it's a testament to how much my expectations of country- and society-specific norms is shaped by my reading choices rather than any personal experience. And this novel is 20 years old, so, if anything, their choices seem to reflect or be in synch with what I read from Higashino and other authors. Is it not?

Ian wrote: "Carol. Maybe the explanations were the translators choice?

Joji Obara (People who eat Darkness’s Zainichi) is an interesting place to learn, as he’s a monster, some Japanese blamed his Korean soul..."

Maybe it was. If I recall correctly, Kaneshiro has written 19 other books so I'd love to hear if anyone has read another whether he seems to be anticipating a Western audience, in the way that I've heard that Murakami makes certain choices in writing his novels specifically in anticipation of making the translation process easier.

***

My takeaway from People Who Eat Darkness - and it was my first realization that Japan discriminates against Japanese citizens of Korean ancestry, so really I was a complete idiot - was that the career and business limitations imposed on Obara and other Zainichi likely created significant resentment and either played a large role in his anti-social / criminal conduct or he might have just been a psychopath, or both. Then again, it was written by Richard Lloyd Parry who endeavors to be fair and informative in his story-telling, but always brings his own cultural expectations with him for the ride.

Alan wrote: "Started today. A nice quick read, which is a relief! About 20% in. I'm enjoying the slightly cynical, casually violent but with a soft side, main character of Sugihara. He's just met Sakurai at the..."

Yes : )

Although there's a (view spoiler)[death at the halfway point of the book (hide spoiler)] that I wasn't prepared for and which hit my hard. Kaneshiro shifted gears somewhere between say the 30% mark and the 50% mark in a manner so subtle that I missed it and was lulled into thinking I was still in the slightly snarky land of safety. Then he sucker-punched me, and I realized I'm all-in on this one.

I went to a presentation by Richard Lloyd Perry and was lucky enough to get invited to the dinner afterwards. His stories of Obara suing him and threatening him were incredible. (Though I believe he chose to never use the mans name to avoid any future legal troubles).

I would agree that he is a true journalist and so not just a great writer but trustworthy. His Tsunami book
Is heartbreaking and wonderful as well.

Ian wrote: "I went to a presentation by Richard Lloyd Perry and was lucky enough to get invited to the dinner afterwards. His stories of Obara suing him and threatening him were incredible. (Though I believe h..."

That must have been incredible. His tsunami book was a game-changer for me. My expectations of nonfiction ratcheted up after reading it.

I finished Go. Gave it 5 stars because it was successful on its own terms, in what its author wanted it to be. I only wish it had been 100 pages longer, and it’s been years since I said that about any novel.

I could not find the book "In Exile" from Takeshi Kaikō that is mentioned twice in the novel
Anybody knows which novel it could be ? Maybe it was not translated when this book was translated ? Could it be Into a Black Sun: Vietnam, 1964-1965 , translation under a different title ?

For good measure I added Darkness in Summer to my Reading list, just not to lose track of the author .,...

Agnetta wrote: "I could not find the book "In Exile" from Takeshi Kaikō that is mentioned twice in the novel
Anybody knows which novel it could be ? Maybe it was not translated when this book was ..."

Great catch. I remember wanting to chase this, but then forgetting and doing nothing.

The original title of Into a Black Sun: Vietnam, 1964 - 1965 is 輝ける闇 [Kagayakeru yami] (as per GR) which Google Translate indicates means, "Shining Darkness".

It's a bit closer to "Shining a Light into Darkness", I think. 'kagayaku' is the intransitive verb for 'to shine', which would make 'kagayakeru' the transitive form.

I don't see any titles of his on GR that would translate to "In Exile", but some of them are only in French (and I'm hopeless there).

Nope, the french I saw are defenitely Darkness in Summer. (Les Ténèbres D'un Été: Roman)

Does this translator not know about the famed translator's notes ?? Come on !

We need someone who has an original Japanese text to see what it might be!

Kaiko also wrote a number of short stories. Is it possible it refers to one of them? (Although the only collection I've seen translated into English doesn't include a story that has a title close to this.)

Agnetta, I agree (and not just cos I did a postgrad degree). Cite sources. Notes, notes, notes!!

I sent a message to the translator to see if she can tell us the Japanese name of that book.

A lovely response:

The Japanese title is 流亡記 but a translation of that title doesn't exist in English, so I went with an appropriate-sounding title. Happy that you are reading the book. Please spread the word! :)

Aww, that's sweet. I put it into a Google translate (I know, I'm sorry) and it came back with Exile, so pretty much spot on.

I think we'd all like to know if this is a novel published that just has no record for anyone outside of Japan. When was it published?

And thank you for chasing that up. Such a quick response too!! :)

Ian is such a ressource for this group! thanks a lot Ian !!! Now I have peace. :)

Ian wrote: "No spoilers... but maybe wait until you finish to read on...


I just finished. Comments:

Sakurai and Sugihara are 17 or 18 for much of this book... so, being sexual is not a surprise... but it al..."


***SPOILERS***
Answering to Ian's opinion, and from my experience as mother of two teenage sons... (view spoiler)[ I also found it a bit off. I thought it was a bit too mature actually, I did not think teenagers would get into such an intense relationship and show this kind of restraint.

But thinking it over, on the other hand, I do appreciate Sugihara is not your average teenager, is he ? With his self-imposed training disciplines, study disciplines, going to the japanese school, being an expert close combat fighter, the university entrance grades... What he reads !!! He is , if nothing else, special! in that sense, the extra ordinary way in which they manage the sexuality also makes sense. Which part of Sugihara's life is not extraordinary ? And Sakurai, being a girl, it is more normal she takes her time and wants it to be super special. (in my now- grown-up-girl-opinion :) )

On the other hand, Sakurais blunt talk, that I totally recognize. Even with me my 16 year old can sometimes say some pretty direct blunt things, so if they are amongst their own age-group, I can only imagine. They would not use the flowered language we actually find in novels. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

It was a very fast read for me , and I woudl defenitely put it under YA.
But I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The perspective of bullying, racism and discrimination from a "winner" kind of guy (he is, no doubt about it), was special. Still we get a good peak at what it is for the less strong discriminated people too.

It was not especially deep, or did go very profoundly into the themes. But it was a great read non the less. Such speed, clarity, freshness, and I was totally on board. It reminded me of the novels I read in my youth and did make me love reading. The ones that prepared me for my more serious readings. It was a refreshing break in between my heavy liftings. (....Sand, dunes and holes, anybody ? )

I'm now about 40% in. Still enjoying it. I agree with the others, it definitely has a YA feel, which maybe is the reason why the 'explanations' feel a little obvious? I don't know how much Japanese kids are taught about, or are aware of, the issues involved. Others will have a much better understanding than I.

My reading experience is, however, a little surreal. I bought a kindle edition. Not something I normally do but it was 99p, so what the heck. It seems to come with pre-highlighted passages, all of which are 'important'. So either I have a 2nd hand e-book (is such a thing possible) or I have an edition that has been read by someone reviewing it? I simply don't know. It's very odd. It's like someone shouting 'here's an important sentence, don't miss it' as I progress.

If many people highlight the same area on kindle it does that. Odd really!

Maybe the setting of teh kindle is on "Show popular highlights" or similar.... It exists... I think I had a similar experience once.

you absolutely have to find and uncheck that setting.... Unless you love to know exactly what "the masses" view as most important... I just get irritated and only do my own highlights in non fiction books....

Ian & Agnetta, thank you. I simply had no idea. I will try and switch it off tomorrow lol. God forbid I want to know what the 'masses' think lol ;-)

One more reason for me to stick to obsolete technology :)

I'm absolutely with you, Bill. Give me a physical book any time. Even a second hand book shows love and care. Fortunately, the next lot of group reads I have in paper form.

Alan wrote: "Ian & Agnetta, thank you. I simply had no idea. I will try and switch it off tomorrow lol. God forbid I want to know what the 'masses' think lol ;-)"

I’m in the “prefer paper” camp, but this is a setting. Do turn it off. I’ve probably read 300 novels on kindle and have never observed highlights. Thank you, God.

I never considered searching for a highlight off-switch. Thanks to all!

Alan wrote: "I feel like there should be a luddite's version of rock, paper, scissors. Maybe Hardback, Paperback, Kindle. HB beats PB, PB beats Kindle, Fire beats HB and PB, Hammer beats Kindle, Fire beats Hamm..."

If only ARCs still came in hard copy, at least on occasion. *sigh*

I simply forget that I have digital files. The inability to sort my kindle files into shelves means that Forty-Seven Samurai: A Tale of Vengeance and Suicide in Haiku and Letters gets forgotten when I choose my next read. I blame the Kindle app for all of my personal failings.

Thanks to all, I've now changed my settings so no more highlights on kindle. Joy.

Carol, I know exactly where you are with Forty-seven Samurai. Apparently I have been reading it for weeks. Problem is, the ARC I got has no time limit so it's just sitting there. I really, really want to read it. My February resolution is to start it this week...

As for proof copies on paper, sometimes I get them through my work. It's always a pleasure. The most recent was 'The Only Gaijin in the Village' by Iain Maloney. (Sorry, on my phone so can't do a link). Out next month, he's doing an event with us so I'll get to meet him then.

Alan wrote: "Thanks to all, I've now changed my settings so no more highlights on kindle. Joy.

Carol, I know exactly where you are with Forty-seven Samurai. Apparently I have been reading it for weeks. Proble..."

Yay! I’m glad you’re done with crowd-sourced distraction.

That event sounds delightful.

I'm about 60% in, according to Mr Kindle. I'm really enjoying it more and more. Interesting tension between the budding relationship (watching movies, playing music, playful punches on the arm, kicking a plastic frog outside a chemist's...) which so far seems quite well done, and Sugihara's often casual violence.

I really liked the throwaway line when Kato asks Sugihara how it's going:
'I'm not exactly sure. She's pretty mysterious. She just suddenly appeared and pulled me into her world.'

Sweet. That, and her fondness for jazz, and I couldn't help but hear faint echoes of Haruki Murakami.

Hello All! I forgot I was in this book club reading thread! I read this book last month because it was the only thing in my book clubs I wanted to read at the time. Here are my reactions to some of the things said so far:

Question: Is this how you want spoiler tags to look? I have been in some groups who don't want spoiler tags because they can't see them on their phones.

Sex: I thought it was sweet how the two of them tried to make it special. Did they treat it too maturely? I don't think so. The text indicated it wasn't her first time (I think) but I can't remember. I was a young adult in the 1980's. I was in my 20's. It seemed at that time, sex was a pretty expected part of dating. I'm not sure what it was like in Japan at the time. It seemed for me in the U.S. though, it was unusual for YA people NOT to be doing it. I was surprised at the outcome of their relationship. Was anyone else or did you think she would react that way?

I was not super-interested in the book at first. However, as time went on, I saw that the main character was not so cynical. As the couple started developing their relationship, I thought it was great. (view spoiler)[I liked how they enjoyed music and books together. I loved how they prepared for the opera. (view spoiler)[

The part about how things ended for Katou:

(view spoiler)[I liked how the topic of death was treated. I have frequently felt that people I know treat it in a way that is too dismissive. "We will see them again one day." "They are in a better place". I hate going to funerals because I often don't think people allow themselves to grieve. However, I felt that for Katou, the way his death was addressed was more real. People were expressing grief in appropriate ways. There were people who cried. It was shown how Sugihara struggled with the death. I was impressed by how his refusal to get into a revenge fight at the end showed maturity in his character. He didn't need to prove himself to the other boys he went to school with before. No matter how much they tried to shame him into it, he didn't budge. That made me really like his character. (view spoiler)[

Relationship between Sugihara and his father:

(view spoiler)[I enjoyed watching the development of the father-son relationship. The father teaches how to fight and all about what citizenship in different countries means. I really enjoyed how in the end, the father falls from grace. He seems to get beat up but at the last minute, the father is victorious and keeps his victory. He also keeps his son's respect. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I finally started this. 2 pages in and I’m already enjoying the history lesson. I haven’t read this thread yet but looking forward to it when I finish. :)

Pointless opinion: I’ve been to Jeju, it’s so pretty.

Joanne wrote: "Hello All! I forgot I was in this book club reading thread! I read this book last month because it was the only thing in my book clubs I wanted to read at the time. Here are my reactions to some of..."

I think by mid-month we’re not super worried about using spoiler tags; however you’ve used them well.

Does anyone else have my problem?

Sometimes when I use the phone app for Goodreads, words in comments I’m reading disappear.

The comment above says “I’ve been to Very pretty.


I assume that a destination has been written, but until I check on my computer I can’t see it.

Am I alone.

Sorry I can't help you. I'm the only person left in the world without a smartphone.

Friends don’t let friends use the app.

Stop using the app. For all time. Always access the desktop version on your phone . Always. And angels will sing, and peace may come to the Middle East. What’s certain is that you’ll never have to ask about the app’s lack of functionality and error-laden features again.

@Bill, the only thing you’re missing is that you need to spend more time adjacent to your laptop than might be optimal. Also how will you let us know to rescue you if you’re kidnapped? Other than that, you’re saving easily $60 per month in services fees to some telecom whore. I don’t know how I’d live without texts from my daughter or instant access to espn, but whatever works for you :)

I really like the app for the My Books/Currently reading stuff (so easy to do quick updates), but yeah, it's totally pants at anything else.

@Bill - My Dad and one of my best friends both refuse smartphones. It's a tiny crowd but there are people out there, haha.

Sometimes I need to go for a run to get to my weekly target,... and if I really don't want to, I motivate myself with the idea that I may catch a new pokemon on my run, or hatch a 10 km pokemon egg....
Weird, isn't it. Me, the Proust and Mishima reader.

@Carol - My $6/month dumbphone does texts, just not internet.

Agnetta wrote: "Sometimes I need to go for a run to get to my weekly target,... and if I really don't want to, I motivate myself with the idea that I may catch a new pokemon on my run, or hatch a 10 km pokemon egg..."

I so totally get this : )