Author: Shuichi Yoshida
Translated: Philip
Gabriel
Publisher:
Harvill Secker, London. 2014
ISBN:
9781846552373
Pages: 230
A story about a group of millennials
sharing an apartment in Tokyo
sharing an apartment in Tokyo
©
Copyright. 2015. All
rights reserved.
The story is set in downtown Tokyo where five millennials, two men and three women share an apartment. We see each of their lives as they describe their world, life and view of each other through their daily interactions.
Share houses are a relatively new concept in Japan and this story takes us inside theirs to reveal the personalities, preferences and the world they experience as we learn about each character.
Ryosuke begins the novel, a part time worker at a Mexican restaurant in a funky suburb who is studying economics at University. Kotomi is an unemployed girl who hitched hiked to Tokyo to be with her boyfriend who is a popular TV actor. Mirai is a single woman who manages an imported goods store and part time illustrator who enjoys drinking after work. Satoru is a young man who begins living with the four after being invited home by Mirai on one of her drunken adventures. He gets to know everyone as he sleeps on the couch. Naoki is an employee of an independent film distributor who has a passion for movies and is the eldest of the group.
Shuichi Yoshida through his observations and insights really nails some of the complexity of relationships in Japan.
Modern life in Tokyo through the lives, relationship and challenges of a group of millennials as they share a downtown apartment while they figure out their lives.
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