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Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
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Tokyo Ueno Station: A Novel
by Yu Miri
Winner of the 2020 National Book Award in Translated Literature
🚆 SURREALISM & SOCIAL CRITIQUE
A devastatingly powerful story of a homeless ghost haunting one of Tokyo's busiest train stations, exploring the marginalized existence within a global megapolis.
Extended Synopsis
In Tokyo Ueno Station, the veil between the living and the dead is pulled back to reveal the unseen casualties of modern progress. The narrative follows Kazu, a man whose life—and death—is inextricably linked to the pivotal moments of modern Japanese history. Born in 1933, the same year as the Japanese Emperor, Kazu's existence is a stark contrast to the Imperial family's prestige. He arrives in Tokyo to labor on the preparations for the 1964 Olympics, only to end his days in the vast homeless encampment of Ueno Park, his spirit ultimately shattered by the destruction of the 2011 tsunami and the announcement of the 2020 Olympics.
Now, as a ghost unable to find rest, Kazu haunts the park. Through his spectral eyes, readers observe the daily buzz of Tokyo life rushing past, completely oblivious to the tragedy of his existence. Yu Miri crafts a deeply intimate personal history that serves as a profound indictment of society's inequalities. The novel exposes how structural constrictions and relentless bad luck can spiral a life into a ghostly fate, leaving moments of beauty and grace agonizingly out of reach. It is a masterful, empathetic look into the shadows cast by a shiny, capitalist society.
Author Biography
Yu Miri is a Zainichi Korean playwright, novelist, and essayist, widely regarded as one of Japan's most brilliant outsider writers. Her work frequently tackles themes of marginalization, identity, and the darker realities of contemporary Japanese society. She has received numerous prestigious literary awards, including the Akutagawa Prize, and continues to be a vital, uncompromising voice in translated literature.
Reader Targeting
- Literary Fiction & Translation Fans: Readers seeking award-winning international voices and masterful storytelling.
- Students of Social History: Those interested in the historical impact of the Olympics and rapid urbanization on Japan's working class.
- Magical Realism Enthusiasts: Readers drawn to narratives that seamlessly blend harsh reality with surreal, ghostly perspectives.
Accolades & Awards
- Winner of the 2020 National Book Award in Translated Literature.
- Selected as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
- Hailed as a "masterwork" and a definitive book for our times.
Product Specifications
| ISBN-13: | 9780593187524 |
| ISBN-10: | 0593187520 |
| Publisher: | Penguin |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Publication Date: | 2021-06-22 |
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