My first Modern Japanese Literature read was 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, and that read has introduced me to the immerse and beautiful Japanese Literature. Before that, I have been drowning to the Eiji Yoshikawa's classic tale of Samurai back in my elementary school-time. But since I want to introduce you to contemporary literature, I will not discuss Japanese classic literature.
Reading 1Q84 is like a personal connection to me because I have never been related that much as a human being to a character. While 1Q84 is not the lightest reading of Haruki Murakami's work, but it has drawn me to Haruki's labyrinth of the mind. But Haruki's writing is not everyone's cups of tea. Some of my colleagues said it is too heavy, and some said it is too random- like his imagination is no limit, the hybrid between fantasy and a contemporary reading, too hard to be digested by the strict reader.
Yes, maybe every Author's work is not everyone's cups of tea, but I talked about the majority person here. And I am devoted fans of Haruki Murakami, even if he writes about today's weather in the newspaper, I might read it.
Haruki Murakami's work is one of Japan's masterpiece of contemporary writing. However, his writing is highly influenced by his predecessor, just like Osamu Dazai or Natsume Soseki. Thru Haruki, I gradually read the writing of his favorite author, and understand the brainstorming process of his mind. But before we go further back to the post-war and Showa period, I would like to introduce you to the recent modern lit of Japan.
I sorted the lightest reading to open the gate of Japan Literature.
Reading 1Q84 is like a personal connection to me because I have never been related that much as a human being to a character. While 1Q84 is not the lightest reading of Haruki Murakami's work, but it has drawn me to Haruki's labyrinth of the mind. But Haruki's writing is not everyone's cups of tea. Some of my colleagues said it is too heavy, and some said it is too random- like his imagination is no limit, the hybrid between fantasy and a contemporary reading, too hard to be digested by the strict reader.
Yes, maybe every Author's work is not everyone's cups of tea, but I talked about the majority person here. And I am devoted fans of Haruki Murakami, even if he writes about today's weather in the newspaper, I might read it.
Haruki Murakami's work is one of Japan's masterpiece of contemporary writing. However, his writing is highly influenced by his predecessor, just like Osamu Dazai or Natsume Soseki. Thru Haruki, I gradually read the writing of his favorite author, and understand the brainstorming process of his mind. But before we go further back to the post-war and Showa period, I would like to introduce you to the recent modern lit of Japan.
I sorted the lightest reading to open the gate of Japan Literature.
1. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
One thing that I can assure you about this book is HILARIOUS! Just like the title, this book told a story about a woman, Keiko who has been working at the convenience store for 18 years of her life. She has a university degree, she is smart, but she refused to let go of her job (from the part-timer to full-timer), because of many complex reasons. And the story told about Keiko is in the crossroad, the peer pressure made her think about her life, her career, and her love life.
From the hand of Sayaka-san, we will understand that working at a convenience store can be a rollercoaster-work also. Beneath the boring face of Konbini (convenient store name in Japan) keeper, there is a dynamics life as well.
Why as an introduction I specifically pick this book? because if you noticed, the Japanese Author out-weight the characterization, both personality and emotion attached. They bring magic by creating such an interesting story from minimum plot and conflict.
If you noticed, switching from Western read to East-Asian read (China, Korea, and Japan), you will realize the big differences. Western literature (movie as well) focusing on the plot development, introduction-conflict-climax-and resolve, meanwhile when you read Japan-lit, sometimes you won't detect any climax or conflict at all. No big bang theories.
Not that Western Lit didn't care about characterization, no! try to read Oliver Twist, the characterization also important, but the story plot is more dominant.
In this book, we will know about Keiko such as our best friend. We understand her character, her flaw and without telling much, we know her struggle.
It is not a tear-jerker story but will make us see a different point of view from the mundane life of Konbini keeper.
2. Kitchen by Banana Yoshitomo
I have a vague memory of this book since I read it 6 years ago, but I understand it is representing my emotion when my father just passed away. I read the same year with my father passed.
Kitchen is also one of the super-famous Japanese literature, telling a story about someone who left behind and how she copes with the death of her family.
The title of the book surely piqued your interest. Kitchen is not related at all with food, chef or any culinary topics. Kitchen happens to be the safest place for Mikage to sit down, listening to the humming of the refrigerator and overwhelmed by the sorrow.
Just like I said previously about Japan-lit that need no Big-bang Plot to made a beautiful novel, Kitchen is also like that. If I write a blurb, it will be very short like this: Mikage was left by the only blood-related person in the world, her grandmother and she feels empty. Then comes an acquaintance of her grandmother that offers the warms of family. Mikage finally felt warms again, but then the mother also father of the acquaintance ((s)he is transgender) was died, Mikage feels heartbroken again.
If we put it like that, it will be bland, right? But in the hand of Banana Yoshitomo, the poignant story of Mikage is felt very personal and emotionally evolved.
3. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
I noticed that most of Japan-author are writing about a single woman or man that has passed their youth as the protagonist. Most of them are middle-aged woman or man (thirty-something) that feels lonely. Even if they are married, sometimes they are dissatisfied with their marriage.
Understandable, because the culture there also happened to be the same. There are a lot of matured communities and single persons.
What you will notice also is Japanese literature rarely speaking about branded items that promoting about consumerism life. They are developed countries and their citizens have purchasing power for branded items, but they rarely boosting about Fendi Bag or Louboutin shoes. Even if the protagonist is super-rich, they will show off their painting collections, or big mansion over the hills.
Strange Weather in Tokyo is telling about a single woman, Tsukiko that lives alone in the apartment and slowly falling in love with her ex-teacher, the Sensei. Sensei is a much older man who just left by his passed wife. Their only tie is the student and teacher connection in the past, but after sharing several drinks and night, Tsukiko is falling in love.
But in the conservative society, it is hard to accept the age-gap between those twos. The Sensei who different generations from Tsukiko, still thinking hard about what others will think. Meanwhile, Tsukiko thinks differently.
But since it is Japan-lit, it won't be focused on them vs the world, but the exchange conversations, their limited physical contacts made up the beautiful love story.
Yes, you will notice the slow read in here, but not dragging. You definitely can enjoy the process rather than the ending.
4. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
In my opinion, Norwegian Wood maybe not his best writing but it is the most important milestone for the Murakami to be acclaimed internationally. Norwegian Wood is his one of less surreal writing but you can get a glimpse of his intense emotions and characterization, one of his signature.
Norwegian Wood is one of the complex plots without losing the emotions between the character. It is a story about Toru Watanabe when he heard about the song Norwegian Wood by the Beatles (Haruki love to use the Beatles as his music reference), his mind back to his teenage life.
Toru, Kizuki, and Naoko are friends at high school, meanwhile, Kizuki and Naoko were lovers. Then, Kizuki ended his life (abruptly) without Toru and Naoko know the signs or the reason. They carried their loss until at University life, and life brings them together, open up about the past and the scar that they buried. They slept together and suddenly Naoko left without a trace. Toru confused and felt guilty. Maybe they never forgive himself for the death of Kizuki, how dare they move on?
In rehabilitation, Naoko tries to find a way to cure her sorrow, and then Toru met another girl. Ultimately, Toru is in between chose Naoko and the other girl.
Norwegian Wood is not an easy read even without surreal writing that usually there in Haruki's novel. The suicide story and scars carried by the left behind are suffocating to read. Deeply emotional.
It is a book that will make you understand the complexity of the human relationship with himself.
But just like I said, Norwegian Wood is not his best work, in my opinion. I'd prefer the latest book, Killing Commendatore. But I will describe Haruki Murakami may be in a separate post.
5. No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
If you feeling okay with reading Norwegian Wood, then you should read the book that inspires Haruki Murakami or maybe any Japan contemporary author, No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai.
Osamu Dazai is the pioneer of contemporary literature, especially the post-war era. No Longer Human is like a piece of how brilliant the mind of late Dazai-san.
Just like post-war-era, No Longer Human spread the pessimism about life. It is a story about Obo Yozo, a bright man who born from a rich family and always used to be a good boy. But then when he attended university, far from his family, he started to change, he was slacking, partying, join the underground organization and prostitution.
Even since he was a child, he didn't understand how society works. He has no purpose in life and always feels disconnected from the people around him. His destruction ended when he is doing suicide and before that, he sends his journal to one of his acquaintances in the hope they will understand Obo Yozo's mind.
It is devastating, even more than Norwegian Wood. The mind of people who want to suicide is to tear your heart apart. And just like the original Japanese work, the plot is minimal. Especially it is a journal that feels like we are drowned into somebody's life.
Well, that was my opinion about Japanese literature. And what I want to highlight, art is self preference. It is no good and bad in art, sometimes it will immensely beautiful to yourself because of your background or experience, but for other people, it is not.
Maybe for other people, Japan literature is too melancholy or romanticism and that's not everyone's cups of tea. But again, I see it as a strong character of Art, it feels so down to earth that made us realize the essence of the human being.
I don't like to be philosophical, because I think I am not that cool to understand philosophy. But one thing for sure Japan literature is less heavy than philosophy.
That's all! Welcome to the beauty of East Asia literature.
Ps. of course there are also Japanese authors that not emphasize the emotions over plot. Like Kazuo Ishiguro, I only managed to read Never Let Me Go at a very slow pace because it is too heavy for me.
Comments
Post a Comment