Translated from the Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd
The Japanese reading challenge has totally passed me by in previous years, so having discovered it (finally) I was able to get to read a couple of books that had been on my radar for a while. Hosted by Dolce Bellezza it’s clearly been going for years. The first book I read was Heaven by Mieko Kawakami a short novel shortlisted for the International Booker prize. My first read of 2023 and it was brilliant.
A tough read in many ways, it could be quite triggering for those who have ever experienced significant bullying – so it might sound odd to say I enjoyed it, but I did. I think perhaps that the way the author approaches the subject is key, she makes us care about the two central characters very quickly, and that of course draws us in. School days stay with us I think in some way for many years, we never entirely throw off the old little insecurities that were exposed in those days. We never quite forget what it was like to be side-lined or laughed at, school was not a happy place for me, I wasn’t one of the uber popular or cool kids, I experienced the usual rough and tumble of school, some of which was unkind, but I was never seriously bullied. However, for most people school days remain a significant easily remembered time, and maybe that is what makes this novel work so well, we can all of us put ourselves right there.
In this novel we meet an unnamed fourteen-year-old boy, a pupil at what appears to be a typical Japanese school. He is relentlessly and horrifically bullied – choosing to stay silent about his misery, he goes to school each day, knowing what he’ll face. He is sure the one thing that makes him stand out, the thing that has made him a target is his lazy eye – the other boys call him ‘Eyes’. He is as bound up in hating his eye as he is in hating his tormentors. This situation never gets any better, the bullies never let up, he is psychologically worn down as well as physically attacked time and again. ‘Eyes’ spends long hours thinking about his situation, worrying about what might happen next, analysing why he was selected. This daily torture becomes his whole world, eclipsing everything else. One evening on the TV news is a story about a schoolboy who has killed himself because of bullying, and ‘Eyes’ begins to think about this a lot.
One day, totally out of the blue, he finds a small note folded up in his pencil case. The note says: ‘we should be friends.’ The note turns out to be from Kojima, a girl in his class, who herself is also subjected to bullying at the hands of her classmates – it appears to be the boys who targets ‘Eyes’ and the girls who torment Kojima.
“But I wasn’t crying because I was sad. I guess I was crying because we had nowhere else to go, no choice but to go on living in this world. Crying because we had no other world to choose, and crying at everything before us, everything around us.”
The two are able to provide each other with much needed support and consolation, they have a secret meeting place, and even meet up during the summer holidays. They communicate often through notes, and bit by bit the two become closer, they are each the only friend the other has. In time they begin to talk tentatively about the bullying. It is through these conversations that the author is able to explore the psychology of bullying, why it happens, how best should a victim react, is retaliation or passivity the best way to deal with this kind of daily torment?
“For people to actually live by some golden rule, we’d have to be living in a world with no contradictions. But we don’t live in a world like that. No one does. People do what works for them, whatever makes them feel good. But because nobody likes getting stepped on, people start spouting crap about being good to others, being considerate, whatever. Tell me I’m wrong. Everyone does things they don’t want people doing back. Predators eat prey, and school serves no real purpose other than separating the kids who have what it takes from the ones who don’t. That’s the whole point. Everywhere you look, the strong walk all over the weak. Even those fools who think they’ve found the answers by coming up with perfect little sayings about how the world ought to be can’t escape it. Because the real world is everywhere.”
Gradually we see that the two see their bullying rather differently, while our narrator is certain all he should do is remain passive, that any kind of retaliation would make things worse, Kojima feels that there is a strength in their suffering that will serve them well through life – and for which they will be rewarded. While he feels that if only his eye could be fixed, he would be accepted everywhere just as others are, Kojima likes his eye – says it makes him, him, and views fixing it or wanting to fix it as a betrayal of all they are enduring.
This is a beautifully written novel, compelling and heart-breaking, a poignant exploration of a fragile friendship that has a shared torment at its heart. Can a friendship based on such things really survive?
heavenali 
This sounds really good Ali, I was under the impression that it was YA, but maybe just the subject matter made me think that. Sounds sensitively handled.
I would definitely recommend it, the themes are very well handled.
Such a difficult subject. Interesting that Kawakami chose to portray such different reactions. In Kawakami’s Ms Ice Sandwich, a female character takes a similarly positive response with a male friend who’s bring teased about his crush on a shop assistant. He’s become fascinated by her enormous eyes!
Yes a tricky subject but really well explored. Ms Ice Sandwich and Kawakami’s other books are on my wishlist, as I was so impressed by this.
That does sound good, though it’s a book I’ve been putting off because of the subject. I did read another Japanese title dealing with the same theme, Lonely Castle in the Mirror which softened things a bit through a fantasy element.
Yes the subject matter wouldn’t appeal to everyone. I wasn’t sure myself how I would feel reading it. Yet I was drawn in immediately, though the bullying stuff is quite upsetting.
That’s the reason I’ve been putting it off, how unsettling it would be to read of it. From what I’ve read in reviews, in this book it is quite raw and disturbing.
Yes, it is quite disturbing. You might need to be in the right frame of mind.
Exactly. With Lonely Castle, the fantasy element softened things a lot, though there was one very vivid bullying scene which was upsetting (not violent in any way though).
Bullying is such a massive topic in Japanese schools – not just more prevalent, but also less well handled by teachers and parents. Perhaps they consider it a good preparation for corporate life? So no wonder it is a recurring topic in Japanese books, films, anime and so on. I was very moved by this book (although some of the descriptions of bullying were rather graphic) – and there are some very interesting discussions not just between the two main protagonists, but also between the boy and one of his bullies.
And welcome to the Japanese Literature Challenge – it has been a huge favourite of mine for many years now!
I didn’t realise it was such a popular theme. I recall there was a moment when the boy in this book, thinks about how ashamed his parents would be if they knew what was happening. Culturally, the attitude towards victims is probably quite different
Lovely review, Ali – this does sound like a good one. I was never one of the popular kids either, and had a short phase of minor bullying which I eventually dealth with. But I do wonder if I would feel strong enough to deal with the graphic nature of this book. Certainly sounds very powerful though.
Yes it might be a tough read, I understand that. I do think the author handles the theme well however.
I read this when it first came out and was quite shocked by the graphic descriptions of bullying. It was horribly violent. But the story is an interesting one and I “enjoyed” (if that is the right word) at the time.
Yes, the bullying is graphic, she definitely makes you want to look away. Some readers would find it too much. She does explore the subject well I think.
It’s great to see your take on this one, Ali. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with your observation on Kawakami’s ability to make us care about the two central characters from a very early stage in the book. She portrays their relationship so well. It’s very touching and tender, and we’re immediately invested in these teenagers as individuals. Such a thought-provoking book – as you say, a tough subject handled with real sensitivity.
It was your review of this that made me want to read it. I love the way the relationship between these two characters is portrayed it is very touching, despite all the horrible scenes of bullying. I agree very sensitively handled. Looking forward to reading more by Kawakami.
I’ve not read this author but she’s definitely on my wishlist. This sounds a very sensitive handling of a difficult subject.
It is very sensitively handled, and the relationship between the two main characters is touching. However some bullying scenes are fairly graphic and wouldn’t be for everyone.
Thanks for the interesting review. I have this on my TBR and am glad you thought it was worth reading. I’ve heard that bullying is a problem not just in schools but also in the workplace in Japan and almost considered acceptable or, at least, not something that needs to be dealt with. It must be very hard for those who experience it. I’m glad that the writer has handled this subject sensitively.
Yes, I am beginning to see that culturally, Japan sees bullying rather differently to how the west does. I suppose that also affects how victims themselves feel about it.
An excellent review (that I have come to shamefully late!). I know I wouldn’t be able to face reading this, having been badly bullied (physically and verbally) at school and later in life. But I’m glad it explains it and brings it to people’s attention.
Thank you, yes this wouldn’t be a book you could read. It does make for tough reading at times but it’s so brilliant I was glad I read it.
I agree with you, whole-heartedly, that this was beautifully written, and so poignant. I dot even think one needs to have been bullied in school to relate to the story; quite possibly all of have felt left out, or wounded, by others. I was hoping this would win the International Booker, actually, but sadly it did not. Still, I will never forget the power this book packed. And as to the name, for a moment…Heaven is the name of the painting he wants to show her, but they never get to see it. That carries a lot of weight in my imagination.
Yes the title is very poignant as that picture means so much to Kojima but he never sees it after all.
I think school days are very unifying experience anyway.
Yes, no matter in which country you are attending!