Feb 14, 2023

The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase: Japanese Literature Challenge 16

 

 

I like this novel that follows the stray dog Tamon into the homes and lives of several different people along his five-year journey to find his original owner. 

The dog stays with successive new owners, a few of whom are connected to the yakuza (mob), until they can no longer keep the dog or are not in a position to look after him. This was a good way to move the story forward.

I also liked the ending when Tamon's true and newfound owner connects with the family of the first person who took the dog in.  There is pathos and true sentiment in the relationships with his owners as Tamon was seen as a gift from the gods and a symbol of good luck.

Older children and adults would enjoy the book without, hopefully, being too affected by some of the sadder and more serious events in the stories. 

Seishū Hase 

Hase Seishu ((馳 星周) is the pseudonym of the Japanese yakuza-crime novelist Toshihito Bando (坂東 齢人). 
Bando graduated with a BA from Yokohama City University in 1987.

A few of his novels were adapted into Asian films, such as The City of Lost Souls and Sleepless Town, in 2000 and 1998, respectively.

 

This review has been added to the Japanese Literature Challenge 16  hosted by DolceBellezza

16 comments:

  1. This book sounds utterly delightful. :D

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  2. I just love books about dogs. This sounds great.

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  3. Oh I had not seen this one yet, thanks!
    And talking of dogs, I'm so enjoying I Am a Cat, by Natsume Soseki - I am actually listening to it

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    1. Lots of cat books written by Japanese authors! Have you seen this one, The Cat Who Saved Books.
      https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/2023/02/sunday-salon-two-japanese-novels-with.html

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  4. This sounds interesting. I want to explore different books this year.

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  5. Sounds interesting to me as I don't read many books with stray dogs as part of the characters. And for a moment, I thought I read 周星驰 there, lol.

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    1. More info on the author:
      His pen name is based on the Chinese name of the director Stephen Chow (Director of Kung Fu Hustle) Chow Sing-chi(周星馳) written backward then rendered in Japanese.

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  6. You are on a roll with the Japanese Lit challenge!

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    1. I've enjoyed doing it. The challenge ends this month.

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  7. One of the things most people can agree upon is a love for stories about animals. This one sounds particularly good.

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