Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri, translated from the Japanese by Morgan Giles
Published by Riverhead Books, 2020
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Employing a touch of the supernatural, Tokyo Ueno Station explores the very real problem of poverty, highlighting willful ignorance towards widespread homelessness in modern-day Japan.
Kazu is a ghost, seemingly condemned to haunt one of Japan’s busiest train stations, the grounds of which served as a makeshift home to him throughout his final years. Observing those who come and go on a daily basis, he reflects on the events that led him to a tragic end: dejected, alone, with nowhere and nothing to call his own.
Our narrator was born into poverty in the same year his country’s emperor was born into luxury. Throughout the narrative, author Yu Miri juxtaposes the very different paths their lives took from that moment. This allows for a simple yet powerful look at class divides in Japan: the privilege and safety gifted to the imperial family by their wealth sitting in stark contrast with the financial hardship that is passed to each subsequent generation of Kazu’s family.
You can read my full review over on BookBrowse. I also wrote a piece about books narrated from beyond the grave to go alongside it, which you can read here.
You can pick up a copy of Tokyo Ueno Station by clicking here.
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ooo i cant wait to read this! ive been really into japanese fiction lately–especially since i finished Aoko Matsuda’s wonderful Where the Wild Ladies Are (translated by Polly Barton)–and ive had this one on my radar for a while, so im so glad you enjoyed it!! ☺
Ooh, yay! I hope you enjoy this. I’ll definitely look into the one you mentioned 😊
Great review! I’ve been seeing this one around lately but hadn’t really looked into it yet- the touch of supernatural is very appealing! I’m also intrigued by the lighter tone and heavy themes; that’s a tactic that worked so well for me in Djinn Patrol and I’d love to read something else with that sort of balance. I think I’ll add this one to my list.
Thank you! Djinn Patrol is a pretty good comparison for this one in that respect actually 😊
I just started this yesterday! It’s so different than anything else I’ve read and a new glimpse (for me at least) at Japanese culture.
It’s certainly a very singular read! I hope you enjoy it and look forward to your thoughts 😊